Emissary - Parawing and Advanced Lightwind Wing

78L Emissary, All I Hoped it Would Be

Got my new 78L Emissary a week ago after a 1 on 1 call with Finn to figure out the right size. Was leaning towards the 66L but after the consultation decided on the 78L and glad I did given my conditions (generally light wind; most commonly on a 6m wing, smallest I've ever needed at my local spot is 4.5m), use case and ability (80kg intermediate winger starting the transition to para, both flat water and in the surf). My main requirement was a performance board that offered easier takeoff in marginal conditions, light wind winging and a parawinging oriented shape. After a minute to get used to the right foot position, take off was so easy compared to my 85L Skybrid. The Emissary's displacement type hull and width over length is so good at accelerating through the water, particularly in the second phase of take off, it effortlessly just continues to build speed compared to the planeing type hull of my old board. This is where I used to struggle; in marginal conditions, if my pump wasn't just right, or a wave came at just the wrong moment, or I was pumping into the swell (which i usually am on my dominant stance), my old board would bog down during the second phase and that would be that. With the Emissary, you can actually hear the difference, it make a clear distinctive slappping sound and you know at that point nothing can stop it from take off (not even my lack of ability). It also bounces off the water so well in touchdowns, even with the aggressive slap downs I was giving it as getting used to where the center of lift was. On my second session, I went out in (for me), very light conditions, ~10kts with that sense of foreboding, fully expecting to get skunked, then have the walk of shame past all the onlooking beach goers, but the Emissary didn't let me down, instead just impressed me even more and made my session possible (for sure I would have been skunked on my old board). This was exactly what I was looking for in my new board. So 2 sessions in, I've had my 2nd ever parawing session, overpowered on my 5.3m Pyro where I was easily able to get up ride around and stay upwind before becoming overpowered and switching to my 4.5m wing where I completed some flat water maneuvers I've never managed before, followed by a very light wind winging and this board has covered all the bases so far. I don't know if I'm making this up, but it seems to somehow pump better than my old board. Only thing I'd like to see on it is some reference marks/graphics on the deck pad, though I assume the need for this fades pretty quickly. I was a little worried the additional length would bother me, but I don't even notice it since most of that is out the back of the board. Despite being 10" longer than my old board I'm actually standing slightly closer to the nose. Love it, worth every penny, thank you Greg and the Omen Team.

100% WORTH IT! Don't hesitate.

Just wanted to say I've had a few sessions on my 78L Emissary and I'm STOKED. I ride at Crissy Field where the wind is famously fickle. 25 one minute, glass the next, with current doing its own thing. So dropping >$2k on a board I'd never tested felt like a leap. Worth it. 100%. This board solved all the issues I had with my last one and is exactly what I was looking for. Starts are so much easier, and low-end is now on par with where I was winging with a same-size wing. I could see sizing down, but I don't know that I'd gain much, and the safety factor is a big deal in the bay. The board is light, balanced, and almost feels as pumpable and nimble as my 55L prone board. Genuinely didn't expect that from something this size. Best of all: it's absolutely BOMBER. I've already slammed it into rocks in the parking lot more times than I'd like to admit. Harness hook explosions while learning to tack, the whole deal. And the thing still sparkles. No joke. I've been telling everyone how good it is, and the reaction is consistently "oh I know!" or "I've been looking at getting one too!" Loaned it out to a few friends and they all come off the water glowing. Will keep letting people try it and keep spreading the word. Awesome board. Will be returning to Omen for my next one. Thank you Greg and team very much!

Magic.

I’m 77kg, but over 80 in a wetsuit and vest. Went with the 66L on Greg’s recommendation. My skill level is probably early-intermediate (gybing/foot switches/swell riding fairly confidently). I didn’t demo it, and was a bit nervous to spend on a full price/new board given all my prior boards were on sale or 2nd hand. But, since a lot of my gear is from 3 years ago, I wanted to splurge a bit and get a modern/high end board. For reference, I’m writing this in late November, 2025. I’m glad I went for it, because this thing is pure magic. My impressions after my first ride in light wind: It’s shocking how easily it rises up to, and detaches from, the surface. It was hard to tell when it even left the water because the transition is so smooth, and it has so little resistance before takeoff. I'm used to riding a very pointy/narrow 99.5L downwind board (Freedom Dagger) for light wind winging, and the 66L Emissary feels even easier to get going. In the air, I'm equally stunned at how stable it is. It's so, so well balanced, and ridiculously stable in foot switches. Even towards the end of my session, getting tired and sloppy with my foot switch hops/landings, the Emissary just caught me and didn't seem to mind at all. It usually takes me a few sessions with a new board to dial in my foot switches, and with the 70L Appleslice v2 even then I really had to get my speed up and be very intentional/careful or risk driving the nose of the board down too hard when landing. After about 2 minutes on it, the Emissary felt so intuitive and so confidence inspiring, really crazy for a first session for me on a 66L. Also, it's so much less squirrely when half sunk in the water while I'm kneeling on it and getting my hands up onto the wing. The Appleslice, and my old (sold) 68L Cabrinha Code were so much less stable when stationary in the water. On those boards I had to keep a hand on the nose and really be quick about reaching up to grab the wing. On the Emissary, not a big deal at all, it doesn't try to jump out from under me, it just sits there politely. Really incredible. Even standing on it and letting it sink over my knees, it still wasn't too jumpy. I hope this doesn’t come across as hyperbolic or just fluff. This board absolutely deserves all the praise it gets. I’m not a pro, I’ve owned 6 boards and ridden a few more as rentals/demos. I’m probably going to sell the 3 others in my garage, because it’s hard to think of when I’d take them out instead of the Emissary. Greg really captured something magical with this board.