What Is Wing Foiling? Understanding the Basics of This New Extreme Sport

You wouldn't believe the number of people that have asked us, "What Is Wing Foiling?" Wing foiling is a new activity that combines windsurfing, SUPing, kiteboarding, and hydro foiling into an exciting and new watersport that adventure-seekers and adrenaline junkies can enjoy!

What Is The Difference Between Wind Foiling And Wing Foiling?

Wind foiling, or windsurf foiling, utilizes a sail connected to the board to catch the wind. The rider stands on the board while holding a boom attached to the sail and mast, regulating the sail's angle and wind orientation. Once a specific speed is reached, the hydrofoil beneath the board lifts it above the water, minimizing drag and allowing for high speeds and smooth rides even in turbulent weather.

Wing foiling, on the other hand, uses a handheld inflatable wing. The wing is not physically attached to the board, which provides a unique sense of freedom and challenge. Riders hold the wing and pump it to generate power, controlling direction and speed using their body movement and weight. The foil, like in wind foiling, elevates the board above the water surface once it gets enough speed, allowing the rider to glide easily through the water.

What Kind of Gear Do You Need for Wing Foiling?

Wing foiling is one of the few wind sports that can be done with a remarkably minimal amount of gear, unlike many other wind sports. All of your winging gear may be stored comfortably in the trunk of a hatchback car or SUV, provided that the backseat is folded.

The Wings

Wing foiling, unsurprisingly, requires wings to give you lift and forward speed. Thus, finding the ideal set of wings is vital to learning wing foiling. If you are a beginner in wing foiling, please note that starting with more power is easier to ensure that you have enough propulsion to get up on foil. The size of the needed wing foil wing, like the size of the board, changes based on the rider's weight. The larger the wing, the heavier the rider, as they will require more power to begin moving. 

Aside from the weight, the height is likewise a limiting factor with very large wings due to tip drag. For instance, if you're 4' tall, you'll have a hard time keeping an 8m wing from hitting the water occasionally because the 8m wing will have such a wide wingspan. However, if you're 7' tall, you'll have enough height so that it'll be easier to keep the wing elevated and not in contact with the water, even during lulls in the wind.

Similar to purchasing a board, it is also required to purchase a wing leash to ensure that you do not lose control of your wing. With wing leashes, you'll experience the thrill and pleasure of wing foiling without worrying about your safety or losing your wing.

The size of your rig, like any other watersports, is determined by the strength of the wind. The more intense the wind, the smaller the wing, while lighter winds necessitate a considerably larger wing.

The Board

There are many wing foil boards to choose from. When starting with wing foiling, using a more stable board is best. This will help you get the hang of it more easily. Our rule of thumb is to go for a volume around 40 liters larger than your rider's weight in kilograms when buying your first wing foiling board. We recommend a 120L board as the right size for most beginners in the 150-180 lb (68-81 kg)-range and adjust up or down based on weight, experience, and other significant factors. This is helpful when you are still learning since the bigger the volume, the more floaty and stable it is, which will help you develop a better feel for the wing.

As you get more experienced with wing foiling, you will likely want to scale down to a much smaller volume board.

When selecting the right board, consider which type you want to use: hard or inflatable. By definition, an inflatable board will be lighter and more portable while maintaining durability. A hardboard has more rigidity and can withstand rougher water conditions, is easier to repair if broken, and allows you to get in the water faster because there is no need to inflate your board. Remember, however, that you'll need a board leash, which is not normally included when purchasing a board but is an essential purchase.

The Foil

As previously stated, a foil is comprised of a fuselage, mast, and two wings (front and back); these components can vary in size and influence your foiling style.

If you're a beginner looking for your first foil, we suggest starting with a medium-length mast in the 70-85cm range. A longer mast gives you more flexibility to manage your balance while riding without falling or diving into the water. Also, a long mast requires deeper water and is tougher to dodge if you fall, therefore making it riskier. Thus, most people prefer a mast between 70-95cm, especially beginners and intermediate foilers, who tend to choose masts in the 70-85cm range. You'd also want to look for a foil that only requires a little bit of speed to generate a lift. This will enable you to begin foiling slowly until you feel more confident in your abilities. 

We'd typically recommend beginners in the 150-180 lb range start with a foil that has a front wing area of around 1600 cm and adjusts larger or smaller based on rider weight, experience, expected conditions, and other factors. 

The tail wing or rear stabilizer that goes with it will be significantly larger than other foils, but this is to help give you a smoother ride. Here at Windance, we have a large selection of foils for you to choose from dependent on your requirements.

Safety Gear

Rider safety is imperative, as it is in any sport. While wing foiling is a generally safe activity, it still has risks. This is why we advocate wearing at least a helmet on the water. When looking for the ideal helmet, it is essential to consider the prevailing weather conditions.

Consider wearing a helmet with a visor when you go wing foiling in the sun to reduce the glare that hits your eyes. Similarly, if you're going to be traveling to a spot known for its rough seas and strong winds, it is highly recommended that you purchase a helmet that offers ear protection.

We also recommend a wing or wake-style impact vest to protect your torso from falls. Even though the ride can feel very quiet and tranquil when up on foil, you're typically going faster and are higher up than you'd be on a surfboard, so falls from your foil board can pack a surprisingly heavy punch. Protect your ribcage from both the water and the foil by adding an impact vest for that extra layer of protection. It'll keep you warmer too!

Optional equipment available on the market includes harnesses. A harness allows you to hook into the wing when you choose and let your body take the load more directly and relieves your arms and back on long reaches.

Can I Teach Myself To Wing Foil?

Yes–absolutely! To get started, you must determine your experience and current ability in the water. Are you a seasoned competitor in board sports? Do you have experience with windsurfing or kiteboarding? Do you know how the wind works, and can you tell which direction it blows from? Or have you only recently started participating in watersports?

Learning to wing foil has two methods: with an instructor or by yourself. If you fall into the latter category, meaning you have no water experience and zero board sports background, you can still learn by yourself. You can find a lot of great online instruction via Youtube and instructional phone apps. However, it is still highly recommended that you look for an instructor to guide you and accelerate your learning progression.

Either way, you'll want a learning spot with onshore or side-shore winds (winds that drive you toward the beach), a simple launch and landing area that isn't too shallow, and minimal obstacles. When first learning to wing, having a grassy lawn to rig and unrig on next to a safe launch and landing spot is convenient.

How Safe Is Wing Foiling?

Wing-foiling is a safe activity, but it should still be regarded as an extreme sport that can become highly dangerous if the guidelines are not properly followed. Here are some tips for Wing Foiling safety:

• Steer clear of large shore breaks at all times. Hauling your gear through them can be risky, posing a danger to your equipment and you.
• Maintain control of your board all the time. Pointing the foil towards the direction of the wind (windward) and carrying the wing with your other hand in a neutral position in the direction of the wind (leeward). Because a foil setup is sharp and can damage the wing, avoid holding the wing too near to the foil.
• Inspect the water depth at your launch area. Extend your walk until the foil is beyond the seabed. Take note of any reefs and rocks.
• Keep a safe distance from cliffs, piers, and rocks. Always ride in spots where you can readily return to the beach. Avoid regions where sailing isn't permitted.
• Share a ride. Practicing with other foilers who could call for help in an emergency is strongly advised.
• Only venture out in rough seas alone if you have a support boat always watching you.
• Avoid riding in extremely high winds and waves. Avoid more than 40 mph winds or seas of more than 5 feet.

We might be showing a bit of favoritism here, but we genuinely think wing foiling is one of the most unique and engaging sports today. Wing foiling brings a unique sense of balance and gracefulness, like a calm yoga session on the waves. It's smoother and more controlled, offering a different experience compared to the pure power felt in kiting and windsurfing.

If you're looking for high-quality wing foiling gear and wing foiling packages, or if you’d like to know more about wing foiling, we've got you covered. Check out our store and own those waves (and wind)!