For SUP foil, the reference foil is a UHA 1260 front wing, a 70 cm mast, a medium fuselage and a 180 stabilizer. The front wing surface is the only parameter that really changes depending on your conditions: the softer the wave, the more surface you need. The rest changes little.
This page covers the foil only. For the board, the paddle and learning, see our guide how to start SUP foiling.
How does a SUP foil work?
A foil works like an airplane wing under water. Speed creates a lift force on the front wing, which raises the board above the surface. The faster you go, the more the foil is pulled upward: you compensate by putting weight on the front leg, or by reducing the wing surface.
It consists of four parts: the front wing, which generates lift, the mast, which connects the whole to the board, the fuselage, which holds the front wing and the stabilizer, and the stabilizer itself, which balances the lift of the front wing.
Your center of gravity arbitrates between the two wings. That is why foot placement matters as much as the equipment.
Which front wing for SUP foil?
This is the choice that decides everything. In SUP foil, you are looking for a lifting wing, which takes off at low speed and pumps efficiently to prolong the glide. The UHA range covers all situations.
| UHA front wing | Wave SUP foil | SUP downwind |
|---|---|---|
| 1550 | Very small waves, or need for maximum lift | Very light conditions. It allows you to fly in almost nothing |
| 1260 | The reference for starting out and progressing | Light conditions |
| 1100 | As the level rises, more speed and maneuverability | The versatile one for downwind |
| 930 | Riders comfortable in waves with energy | Sustained conditions |
| 800 | Rarely used in waves | Strong conditions, for experienced riders |
The principle does not depend on the brand: the larger the surface, the easier the takeoff and the slower the flight. The more it is reduced, the more speed and radicality you gain, but it needs energy in the wave to power it.
The Control range remains an option for a complete beginner, but it is end of series.
Which mast length?
The 70 cm mast is our default recommendation for SUP foil. It limits flight height, forgives placement errors more, and makes falls less dramatic. It is especially safer on a beach break, where waves break close to the shore and the bottom rises quickly.
The 85 cm is available as an option. It becomes interesting if your spot is choppy or if you ride in more developed waves, where a short mast forces you to fly too low.
The safety rule does not change: the longer the mast, the more depth you need under the foil.
Which fuselage and which stabilizer?
The fuselage determines the longitudinal stability of the foil and its ability to oscillate when you pump.
- A long fuselage stabilizes and makes flight control easier, but makes the foil less maneuverable and pumping less efficient.
- A short fuselage makes the foil lively, easy to turn and to make oscillate, at the cost of less stability.
- A medium fuselage is the right compromise for wave SUP foil.
The 180 stabilizer is our reference for SUP foil. A larger stabilizer stabilizes but restricts maneuverability, a smaller one makes the foil more responsive and requires more precision.
One point often overlooked: these three parts compensate for each other. If you want more maneuverability, reducing the fuselage alone gives a moderate gain. Reducing the front wing and the stabilizer at the same time radically changes the behavior of the foil.
See all the parts in the SUP foil foils collection.
Aluminum foil or carbon foil?
Both work; it is first a question of budget and use.
Aluminum is more economical and more resistant to impacts. It is also more modular: the parts can be disassembled and replaced one by one, which allows the foil to evolve without buying everything again. On the other hand, it is heavier.
Carbon is lighter and more responsive. The gain is felt mainly in pumping and in re-accelerations, where every gram counts. However, it is more expensive and more fragile on impacts.
To start, aluminum is the reasonable choice. You can switch to carbon later, or only change the front wing.
How to upgrade your foil?
The advantage of a modular foil is being able to change one part at a time. The order that gives the most results, in order:
- The front wing. It changes the behavior the most. Going down one size transforms the session.
- The stabilizer. A smaller model frees up maneuverability once you control the flight.
- The fuselage. To shorten if you want to turn tighter and pump harder.
- The mast. Last, and only if your spot justifies it.
Just one additional front wing is often enough to double the number of sailable days in the year.
SUP foil FAQ
Which front wing surface to start SUP foil?
A UHA 1260. Move up to the 1550 if your waves are very small or if you need significant lift. Go down to the 1100 then the 930 as the level rises.
Which mast length for SUP foil?
70 cm by default, it is the easiest to control and the safest near the shore. The 85 cm is available as an option if your spot is choppy or if the waves are more developed.
Which front wing for SUP downwind?
The range is wider than in waves: from the 800 UHA in strong conditions up to the 1550 UHA when conditions are very light, with the 930, 1100 and 1260 for most sessions.
Which stabilizer for SUP foil?
The 180 is our reference. Larger, it stabilizes but restricts maneuverability. Smaller, it makes the foil more responsive and requires more precision.
Should you use a carbon or aluminum foil for SUP foil?
Both work. Aluminum is more economical, more resistant to impacts and more modular. Carbon is lighter and more responsive in pumping, but more expensive and more fragile.
Which part to upgrade first on your foil?
The front wing. It changes the foil's behavior the most. The stabilizer, then the fuselage, come next. The mast last.
Bruno Sroka, triple world champion, quadruple European champion and triple French kitesurfing champion. Kitesurfing crossing of Cape Horn (2008), English Channel record (2012), France-Ireland crossing of 444 km (240 nautical miles) in 16 h 40 (2013). Former PE teacher, founder of SROKA Company, a Breton brand of foil, wing foil, SUP and parawing. Designer of the PushBar System® with Gaël Contal, SROKA ambassador who originated the idea of sheet-in/sheet-out.
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