Prestige with Foil Drive
The Prestige is an ultra-high-aspect foil with a very thin, efficient profile. Cabrinha specifically positions it for pump, surf, tow and downwind, and the 905 is rated for all rider weights.
The big advantage with Foil Drive is that the motor removes much of the difficult
part of getting a high-aspect foil up to flying speed. Once you're flying, the Prestige's low drag and glide become the big advantages.
A recent independent test of the Prestige 905 found that it:
- lifts surprisingly early despite the thin profile
- carries speed exceptionally well
- pumps extremely efficiently
- remains surprisingly manoeuvrable for a 1 m span foil
- works very well for downwind riding
- has excellent glide between pumps.
There's also direct user experience with the Prestige on Foil Drive: one rider reported using a 905 on Foil Drive, as well as extensively with parawings, and described it as unusually easy and high-performance.
Which Prestige for you?
| Prestige | 85 kg + Foil Drive | My view |
|---|---|---|
| 1150 | Very easy | Great for light wind, small waves, learning |
| 905 | Excellent | ⭐ Best all-round choice |
| 760 | Fast/demanding | Excellent for stronger wind & speed |
The 905 is 1,000 mm span, AR 11 and 905 cm². Cabrinha rates it for approximately 10–20 knots in wing use, but with Foil Drive the practical range can be considerably broader because the motor handles the takeoff.
For Canterbury
I'd actually favour the Prestige 905 over the 1150 if you're already a competent foiler.
Canterbury gives you plenty of situations where speed + glide + pumping are valuable. The 905 should let you:
Foil Drive up → accelerate → switch off → pump/glide → catch bumps → link swell → restart when necessary.
That's exactly where the Prestige makes sense.
The 760 becomes attractive when you're concentrating on stronger Canterbury days, speed and bigger swell. Cabrinha rates the 760 for advanced/pro riders under 90 kg and 15–25+ knots.
One important point
I'd recommend:
85 kg Canterbury / Foil Drive → Prestige 905 + 78 cm mast + 160 tail
rather than the 180 tail if you're prioritising speed and manoeuvrability. The 180 gives more pump/ease, while the 160 makes the 905 noticeably quicker and looser.
And interestingly, the Prestige 905 + Foil Drive + Pocket Rocket V2 could make a very good Canterbury combination: Foil Drive for marginal/flat conditions, then the PR V2 when the wind comes up and you want to ride powered.
