Wing foilers and wind foilers both have incredibly fun watersports that they practise that make use of a lot of the same principles, but in practice end up quite different. In this blog, we’ll take a deeper dive into both sports and highlight some of the key differences between wing foiling vs wind foiling.
What is Wing Foiling?
Wing foiling makes use of a foil board and a handheld wing that you use to harness the wind and create upwards and horizontal thrust to move the board across the water and into the air. There’s no rigging or tethers involved, which means it’s totally handheld and makes the sport simple, free and adaptable.
What Is Wind Foiling?
Wind foiling is very similar to windsurfing. A hydrofoil replaces the fin that you’d expect to see, which is attached to the mast on the board and delivers great levels of speed in a similar manner to windsurfing. The main difference between the two is that you’ll be above the water instead of cutting through it.
What Makes Them Feel Different?
The feel of wing foiling vs wind foiling is quite different. Wing foilers will enjoy a free-flowing and highly mobile experience, having full control using the wing to allow them to create their own intuitive experience. On the other hand, wind foiling is a bit more methodical and makes good use of continuous power to create a steady, fast-paced experience. It’s really enjoyable in flatwater conditions where you can best make use of techniques and enjoy cruising at high speeds.
Portability And Setup
Where wind foilers have to manage a fairly large array of kit, including a mast, boom and sail, not to mention the larger board size, wing foiling equipment is quite compact. Wings easily pack down to fit inside a backpack, and boards are a fair bit smaller as well. This means that wing foilers will have a lot less hassle packing and transporting their gear than a wind foiler generally will.
Learning Curve
Wing foiling has a pretty quick learning curve, particularly if you’ve had previous experience with other watersports. The wing is quite easy to handle and very lightweight, which will allow people to get to grips with the sport quite quickly. Meanwhile, wind foiling is generally aimed towards people who are already quite experienced with watersports and want to try out something new. It’s a bit technical, so having a good understanding of board handling and sail dynamics will help a lot.
Conditions
When it comes to wing foiling vs wind foiling in a variety of weathers, wing foiling generally has the advantage. It’s an activity that can be enjoyed in a variety of conditions as long as there’s at least a little wind, whether the water is flat or wavy. Wind foiling, on the other hand, is generally more reliant on suitable conditions and is at its best with a steady wind and calm waters to really get flying.
