Super slow speed foiling is crucial for learning in a safe and effective manner. We've found that a taller mast (70cm +) is good for learning because it gives you good height and keeps you from breaching in ocean chop or swell.īeginner foilers will want to look for foils that don't need a lot of speed to get up, meaning you'll be able to get on foil at slower speeds.
When choosing a foil, you'll want to look for foils that are stable, have good glide and plenty of lift. The foil is made up of a mast, fuselage and wings. Many high-level riders are using surf foil boards with less than 50L of volume. As a general rule of thumb, the more advanced you get, the smaller board you'll want to ride. With bigger boards your balance doesn't have to be as good so keep this in mind when choosing your first set-up-if you're more experienced in watersports you may be able to start on a slightly smaller board.
Bigger boards provide enough float so that you can concentrate on learning how to control the wing without also having to focus on balancing on your board. For example, if you weigh 80kg, go for a 120L board.Īs you progress, you'll be able to move to a smaller and more maneuverable board but for at least the first few sessions, you want to maximize your learning time. A good rule of thumb is to have 30-40 liters of volume over your body weight. The best thing to do is demo a few different setups to get a feel for what you prefer!īeginner wing foilers should choose floaty and stable boards-yes, you actually want to be able to stand on the board while you're just floating there. Each version has pros and cons as well so once again, choose what feels more comfortable. Leashes are usually attached either on your wrist, usually attached to your "front" hand, or to your waist leash. Each has its pros and cons so just choose what you're more comfortable with.įinally, consider your choice of leash attachment or how you'll maintain a connection to your wing.
You'll find two primary means of holding the wing, either soft handles running along the center strut or a hard boom that is attached to the center strut from tip to tail. The second thing to consider when choosing a wing is how you'll hold it. A good starting wing (as a general rule) is to start with a 4m wing for anyone up to 70kg or 155lbs and a 5m wing for anyone over that weight. We've found that it is easier to get started with more power than less and therefore you'll want to go out in stronger winds and also start on a bigger wing. Once you're out and moving slowly across the water, you'll begin to focus on getting up on the foil.Īs a beginner, you'll most likely want to start with just one wing. Focus on understanding how the wing works and how to power up and depower the wing. It can be helpful to start on land and get used to how the wing moves. Your primary area of focus as a beginner will be learning to steer the wing. The best place to start! Wings are still in the relatively early stages of development but already we've seen great strides in performance and ease-of-use. Read on for the Global Wingsports Association guide on how to choose your wing foil set up. Giving yourself the best opportunity to learn to wing means choosing the most appropriate gear for your level. But that does not make it any less crucial to find the right gear for you. The beauty with wing foiling is that there's less gear to manage, store, clean and haul to the beach for a session. Getting started with wing foiling necessitates a much different set-up than when you're working on advancing your skills but no matter your level, you'll need a wing, a board and a foil. One of our main goals here at the GWA is encouraging more wingers to get into the sport in a safe and effective way.