Wing foiling is fast becoming a very popular water sport, with new people taking it up every day. It’s a lot of fun, blending freedom and finesse into one fantastic activity. But the learning curve can be tricky, and it’s easy to make a lot of mistakes when you’re just starting out. So, how difficult is wing foiling, and what are the most important things to bear in mind so that you’ll avoid falling into common wing foiling beginner pitfalls?
How Difficult Is Wing Foiling?
Wing foiling has a fairly steep learning curve. Not as steep as other water activities such as windsurfing or kitesurfing, but still challenging. There are a lot of skills to master - board balance and wing control, for example, which all work in tandem. A lot of people need around 5 sessions before being able to consistently wing foil. Take things in stages, and follow the advice below to help you get started.
Do As Much Learning As You Can Before Setting Out
Before you give thought to setting out on the water, spend some time learning about the equipment and techniques you’ll need to be familiar with. Practice with the wing on land; learn how it catches wind and how you need to handle it. Online wing foiling classes and tutorials can give you a lot of important information to keep in mind so that when you do hit the water, you have an idea of what to do.
Ensure That You Have All Of The Proper Equipment Before Starting Out
You need to ensure that you’re equipped with the right gear, which doesn’t just mean any old setup. Some equipment is much more beginner-friendly than others, so prioritise these kinds of parts when you’re putting together your first wing foiling setup. The S-Type 2 front wing is a great example of a piece of beginner-friendly equipment, utilising its low aspect ratio to enhance stability. It provides an approachable experience, with easy take-offs and flights, which makes it perfectly suited towards people who are less experienced in wing foiling.
Be Selective About Your Wind And Water Conditions
The conditions around you will determine a lot about how valuable your first sessions will be as learning experiences. Ideally, you want to avoid areas with high wind speeds, choppy water conditions and dense crowds. All of these factors will be quite overwhelming to a new wing foiler. Wind speeds of around 12-18 knots are generally considered quite forgiving and will allow you to have a much easier time getting the hang of wing foiling as a beginner.
Focus On Your Stance
Your stance will be one of the most difficult things to get to grips with when you’re just starting out, but it’ll form the backbone of your wing foiling technique, so it's important to get it right. Beginners will very often stand too far back on the board and sink the tail before they can even get started. It’s also very easy to hold yourself too stiff or too loosely. Keep yourself centred over the foil mast, and hold yourself with your weight slightly forward. Keep your legs slightly bent, but not too much, and keep your upper body straight.
Follow All Safety Advice At All Times
Safety advice exists for a reason, and it’s important that everybody, even very experienced wing foilers, follows it at all times. It can be tempting to begin pushing your limits when you start making progress, so always keep these tips in mind. Always make sure you’re wearing a helmet and an impact vest to keep yourself protected. Foils can be very dangerous if they hit you. Always keep your leash on as well. Moreover, keep a very close eye out for dangerous conditions and ensure that you’re wing foiling in a group, or at the very least, people know where you are.
Be Realistic About Your Goals
It might look easy when the pros are going at it, but mastering wing foiling is a matter of patience, consistent practice and celebrating small wins one at a time. You won’t be fully comfortable with the equipment and technique in only one session. Keep putting in the hours, approach your wing foiling sessions with reasonable expectations of yourself and don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed at first - that’s the recipe for building up a wing foiling pro over time.
If you have any questions about the various wing foiling products that we sell at Starboard Foils, then don’t hesitate to reach out. For beginners, it can be difficult to know where to start with your equipment, so don’t hesitate to make use of our expertise to help you get set up.
