Wing foil is more accessible than you might think. In this complete wing foil tutorial you'll find everything you need to get started: choosing the right gear (a voluminous board, a stable foil, a wing suited to your size), practicing in the right conditions (sideshore wind, 15-20 knots, a sheltered spot), and mastering the key steps of takeoff. Expect a few sessions before you feel comfortable on the water, and far fewer if you already practice a board sport.
What is Wing Foil?
The Wing Foil is the latest addition to the water sports family. It involves handling a wing held in both hands (the "wing") combined with a hydrofoil mounted on a short SUP board. It's a practice somewhere between wind foil, kite foil and SUP Foil.
The advantage of wing foil is that it lets you move with maximum freedom on any body of water, using the energy of the wind and the swell. The wing adds maneuverability and makes takeoff easier on the foil thanks to a constant force (the wind). This sets it apart from downwind SUP foil, which only uses the energy of the swell. Thanks to the lightness and mobility of the wing, you can alternate between the two approaches within a single session: sailing upwind by tacking first, then running downwind as in Downwind SUP Foil afterwards, for example. It's a very playful discipline that refocuses the rider on their sensations, like no other.
The hydrofoil lets you lift above the water and surf above the surface. Wing Foil is practiced on a short but wide and thick (voluminous) stand up paddle board, so the rider can get up quickly. It can be practiced in any wind direction, but is more interesting downwind, in a crosswind. It's also possible to practice wing foil in waves, and use the lift of the wing to work your way back out past the break.
Why take up wing foil?
Wing foil is a new discipline on the rise, attracting more and more water sports enthusiasts. Here are a few reasons why you should consider getting into wing foil:
- Instant sensations: Wing foil offers exceptional feelings of gliding and flying. Flying above the water, you'll feel a sense of freedom and weightlessness, combined with the fluidity of riding.
- Accessibility: Wing foil is easier to learn than other water sports such as kitesurfing or windsurfing. Thanks to the lift of the foil and the stability of the wing, beginners can quickly find their feet, progress and have fun from the very first sessions.
- Great versatility: Wing foil can be practiced in a range of wind and water conditions. Whether you're sailing on a lake, at sea or even on wave spots, wing foil offers incredible versatility for exploring new horizons and adapting to the water conditions of the day.
- Full-body sport: Wing foil works the whole body, providing excellent cardiovascular training and strengthening muscles throughout the body, especially the legs, arms and abs. It's a complete sport that will keep you fit while having fun on the water.
In short, getting into wing foil will let you discover new sensations, enjoy nature, take on new challenges and experience moments of pure pleasure on the water. Whether you're a beginner or already a water sports enthusiast, wing foil offers a unique experience worth exploring.
Who can do wing foil?
Wing foil is accessible to a wide audience, from beginners to experienced riders. It appeals to water sports enthusiasts looking for new sensations. Whether you're into surfing, kitesurfing or stand up paddling, you can get started with wing foil. However, a certain sense of balance and good physical fitness are recommended to fully enjoy this discipline.
How to start wing foil?
This wing foil tutorial walks you through the basics step by step. Here are the essential steps to follow:
- Take lessons or find a mentor: It's recommended to take lessons at a wing foil school or shop, or to find an experienced mentor who can guide you and give you valuable advice. This will help you learn the technical basics and acquire good habits from the start.
- Choose the right gear: To get started, it's essential to choose the right equipment, opting for gear suited to beginners that will also let you progress. It's also important to take your size into account when choosing your gear. Later in this article, we explain which wing foil equipment to choose based on your size, your goals and your level.
- Choose a suitable spot: Pick a spot with moderate wind conditions and a fairly flat, open body of water. Avoid crowded areas and make sure you have enough space to move around safely.
- Progress step by step: Start by getting used to the board and the wing by sailing close to the beach. Once you feel comfortable, try to take off by building speed on flat water: it's horizontal speed that lifts the foil, pumping comes later. Practice regularly to improve your balance and control of the foil.
- Stay safe: Wear a buoyancy aid and use a leash to attach your wing to your wrist. Check the weather conditions before going out and always follow the safety rules in force.
In what conditions should you practice Wing Foil?
We recommend starting Wing Foil in moderate wind conditions on a spot sheltered from the swell (between 15 and 20 knots sustained). It's easier to start with a sideshore wind so you don't risk being carried out to sea without being able to get back (offshore wind) or being constantly pushed back toward the shore by the wind (onshore wind).
Be careful when choosing your spot to avoid floating seaweed, which prevents the hydrofoil from working properly, as well as any other floating objects. We also recommend spots shaped like a bay. That way, if you drift away, you can always reach the coast and walk back with your gear. Finally, it's ideal to start in water where you can stand but with enough depth so the hydrofoil doesn't touch the bottom. Later on, an intermediate rider weighing around 80 kg can sail wing foil in a wind range from 8-10 knots to 40 knots.
Preparing your Wing Foil gear to get started in wing foil!
The Wing Foil setup has several components. To get in the water as easily as possible without risking damage to your gear, we recommend the following method:
- Prepare your Wing Foil board: assemble your hydrofoil and attach it to your board, then attach your leash to the board.
- Set it down near the water: once the board and foil are assembled, carry them close to where you plan to enter the water.
- Get dressed: and get ready as if you were going straight into the water.
- Inflate your wing: the wing catches the wind very easily, so we only recommend inflating it just before getting in the water. Inflate it out of the wind and, if possible, tie it to an object to avoid any risk of it flying away. As soon as the wing is inflated, immediately attach the wing leash to your wrist. Avoid dragging it across sand or asphalt.
- Head to your Wing Foil board: carry the wing by the handle, placing the leading edge facing the wind so it's neutral to the wind and easy to carry. Once you're close to the water with your wing and Wing Foil board, attach your board leash.
- Carry your gear to the water: since you left your Wing Foil board close to the water, you only have a few meters to walk while carrying both the board and the wing. Always carry your board on the windward side and your wing on the leeward side so the wing doesn't catch the wind and get damaged on the foil.
Discover the SROKA Wing Foil range
Which foil for a beginner?
For wing foil beginners, it's essential to choose a foil that offers enough lift and stability to learn and progress quickly. At Sroka Company, we strongly recommend our beginner foil from the Progress range, with the 1750 cm² front wing, for novices of average build at 80 kg. If you weigh more than 90 kg, we recommend choosing the 2000 cm² front wing. On the other hand, for riders under 70 kg, go for a 1500 cm² front wing. With its large lift surface, a beginner foil makes takeoff easy and offers optimal balance in flight, which makes learning your first wing foil flights easier. However, don't be fooled by its beginner look, because the Progress 1750 foil is also designed to help you progress quickly. Its versatility also lets you try dockstart and venture into small waves. By choosing the Progress 1750 foil from Sroka, you opt for ease of learning, stability, progression and a wing foil learning experience in complete peace of mind.
How to take off in wing foil?
Takeoff is a key step to start wing foiling and enjoy it. Takeoff in Wing Foil isn't very complicated but does require doing it the right way. Find our tips and illustrated comments below to get there from your very first session.
Step 1: Kneeling position
First of all, sit on the board and turn the wing the right way round. Sitting astride will give you more stability to handle your wing. To flip it easily, move your hands onto the leading edge and grab the wing near one of its ends. At that point, turn the wing so it's positioned the right way. If you're comfortable, you can do this while kneeling on the board.
The first step is to kneel on your board, holding the wing (the right way round) by the handles provided for this purpose. Then position the wing above your head so the wing tips don't touch the water. Keep your board perpendicular to the wind. Position the wing above your head, horizontal. Once both hands have grabbed the handles, the goal is to control the power of the wing and its reaction to the wind, and to find a stable position on the board. Once you're stable and in control of the wing, you can steer it to catch the wind better by pulling more on your back hand to move your Wing Foil board forward. Bruno Sroka's tip: "When I pull on my back hand, I get power, I accelerate; when I release my back hand, the wing catches less wind and I slow down."
Step 2: Acceleration and lifting the front foot
To move on to the second step, you need enough speed. To accelerate, pull on your back hand so the wind fills the wing. (Keep your front hand more or less extended.) Once you have enough speed to stabilize, you can start standing on the board by placing your front foot slightly offset to one side of the board's centerline. Simple rule: standing on a 2 cm wide beam is much harder than on a 20 cm wide beam. Both feet on the centerline is the 2 cm beam. This lets you stand up in two stages while keeping your balance.
Step 3: Placing your feet while standing
You can now move on to the third step: placing the back foot. To start, don't put it over the mast: shift it slightly to leeward, depending on your front foot, to keep your center of gravity on the board's centerline. The front foot stays slightly offset to the other side, and the feet are spread shoulder-width apart. It's essential to stay well balanced on the board.
Bruno Sroka's tip: "Pressing on the balls of your feet, the board bears off and turns downwind; pressing on your heels, it turns back upwind."
At first, we recommend keeping the wing relatively above your head, in a position close to neutral power, to balance on the board. Then, once balanced, lower the wing more in front of you and lean into the wing, in opposition to it. Then trim on the back hand to accelerate.
Step 4: Takeoff
The fourth step is takeoff. Like a plane, you need to build enough speed to accelerate and create lift on your foil to get airborne. Bear off slightly downwind and pull (trim) on your back hand to gain more speed. To accelerate harder, you can make a "pumping" motion with both hands to get more power and accelerate further. If you've built enough speed, the foil will lift almost on its own and smoothly. Don't press on the back foot: like an Airbus A380 on the runway, it's horizontal speed that creates lift on the front wing. At most, a very slight weight shift onto the back leg. A firm press makes the foil rise suddenly, and the board drops back down.
Like a plane, a foil without enough horizontal speed is unstable: you can't control your trajectory. If you porpoise, meaning the board dives and bobs like a dolphin, move your foil back 2 to 4 cm on its tracks. You'll take off a bit later, but with more speed, and the flight will be much easier to control.
Bruno Sroka's tip: "The key is your speed. If you don't have enough speed, you won't be able to take off. So at first, focus on keeping the board in the water and keep accelerating."
In flight, a feeling of lightness will be your first impression. Your pressure on the board should be gentle and without sudden movements. Shifting weight onto the back leg raises the foil, and shifting it back onto the front leg lowers the foil. It's important to stay upright and keep your center of gravity above the foil without making sudden movements to avoid falling.
The windsup + Wing package for families to start together
To learn to handle a wing with ease, we offer a SUP suited to sailing (a rear fin plus a center fin to avoid drifting to leeward) and a wing. It's the best way to discover sailing safely, with the whole family.
For surfers:
For riders with a background in surfing and/or surf foil rather than windsurfing or kitesurfing, it can be difficult to sail using both foot positions (goofy and regular stances). As in the photo opposite, it's possible to sail with your back to the sail in one direction and facing the sail in the other. This has the advantage of giving good control of the board and foil, but the major drawback of making upwind sailing much harder (it involves twisting the body between the leg and shoulder axes). We recommend training to switch positions so you can sail upwind more efficiently and switch back to your most comfortable stance at each turn.
Safety rules
Wing Foil is a risky board sport, just like windsurfing, kitesurfing or any other foiling sport. We recommend that every rider equip themselves with the following for each session: board leash and wing leash (mandatory), buoyancy aid / impact vest (mandatory if you go beyond the 300 m zone), helmet (recommended). It is strongly advised not to sail alone, whatever your level: always tell someone about your session and the times you plan to ride.
We recommend practicing Wing Foil only at spots that have been scouted and checked in advance. Marine weather is changeable and unpredictable, so it's essential to stay close to the shore so you can get back in easily and quickly if the wind shifts, picks up or drops completely. Pay very close attention to current effects caused by tides or swell. Sometimes it's better to skip a session than to get into serious trouble.
Wing foil, which brand to choose?
When it comes to choosing a wing foil brand, opting for gear quality is essential. Keep in mind that price doesn't always guarantee quality. At Sroka Company, we focus on constantly seeking the best quality at the best price. Our commitment to quality is reflected in each of our products, with meticulous attention to detail, durability and performance.
Choosing quality wing foil gear has many advantages. It ensures better stability, greater responsiveness, a longer lifespan and a more enjoyable riding experience. Gear quality also affects the safety and confidence you feel on the water, which is essential to fully enjoy this discipline.
But above all, it lets you progress quickly. Unfortunately, not all gear is equal, and your progression will largely determine your gear choice. Opting for quality gear will give you the best learning experience.
When you choose Sroka Company, you can trust the quality of our gear and our commitment to offering you the best value for money. Bruno SROKA, three-time kitesurfing world champion, tests all products and is fully involved in product development. We are passionate about wing foil and want to share that passion with you by offering products that meet your highest expectations.
What equipment should you choose to start wing foil?
Like any board sport, wing foil is technical, which makes choosing the right equipment very important. This technicality is amplified because wing foiling draws both on wind energy through the wing and on swell energy through the hydrofoil.
The hydrofoil is made up of a mast, a fuselage, a front wing and a stabilizer. Mast length has a real impact on how you ride: a shorter mast is more reassuring and easier for beginners, but a longer mast lets you ride higher and avoid touching the surface. The most influential part of the foil is the front wing: its airfoil, area, thickness, as well as its length and width, have a strong influence on lift and on how the wing behaves (speed, stability and maneuverability).
The foil board used for wing foil can vary depending on your size and skill level. However, we strongly recommend starting with a stable wing foil board (between 105 and 120 L) so you can focus more on handling the wing and managing the foil than on balance when you are starting out.
The wing is a wing specially designed for wing foil. It can also be used on a SUP board without a foil to get started, or with a mountainboard (medium wind) or carver (light wind). There are different sizes, constructions and shapes of wing. A wing is sized by its area: 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m, 7m. A wing with a boom is easy to handle but bulkier than a wing with handles. Finally, the thickness and shape of the leading edge affect the wing's rigidity, performance and maneuverability. A thick leading edge will generate a lot of power but will be slower and heavier.
OUR ADVICE: choosing the wing is very important since it is the "engine" of your wing foil. There are two trends in wing construction: very light wings with little reinforcement, which are therefore less durable over time (wings are very fragile), and slightly heavier wings with reinforcements, which are more durable and resistant to impacts. Also: it is more worthwhile to invest in 2 wing sizes to cover a wider range of conditions than in 1 wing and 2 front wings for the foil.
What wing size for wing foil?
The Progress SROKA foil front wing comes in four areas, interchangeable on the same mast and fuselage. You keep the same foil and simply change the front wing according to your size and conditions:
- Progress 2200: the largest area in the range, for heavier riders and for spots with little wind. It generates more lift and makes flying easier. It is also a good choice on a lake: fresh water, being less dense than seawater, offers less lift, and a larger wing compensates.
- Progress 2000: beginners over 90 kg in all conditions, intermediate riders in light wind (12 knots and below).
- Progress 1750: beginners over 70 kg in all conditions, intermediate riders in light wind (12 knots and below).
- Progress 1500: beginners over 50 kg in all conditions, intermediate riders in light wind (12 knots and below).
What board size for wing foiling?
It is important to have a board that is stable enough for your size and level to start wing foil in the best conditions. Be careful about going too small: it is very hard and very frustrating to start with small gear, even impossible, even with good experience in board sports. Board sizes such as 5'7 and 6'0 are ideal for beginners, although a person weighing 50 or 60 kg looking for an evolving board can consider a 5'4... but not smaller.
Our Sky Rider range is available in 3 sizes: 5'4, 5'7 and 6'0. Inflatable models also have their advantages (available in 5'3, 6' and 6'4 for the V2 version, also offered in a complete V2 inflatable wing foil package): impact resistant, knee-friendly, stable and easy to transport, while still delivering great glide thanks to a carbon plate. Read our full article on inflatable boards here.
How fast can you go in wing foil?
In general, the average riding speed in wing foil is around 20 knots. It is a comfortable speed that is pleasant for enjoying the sensations of glide and freedom on the water. However, with good progression and experience, it is entirely possible to reach higher speeds, around 25 knots or even more. This higher speed is usually reached by the most advanced riders, who fully master their technique and make the most of their gear's potential. But it is important to note that speed does not define a rider's level: it depends on several variables such as weather conditions, the type of body of water and the equipment
Kitesurfing or wing foil?
Choosing between kitesurfing and wing foil depends on personal preferences and the desire for occasional intense thrills or for more regular, versatile riding.
|
Criteria |
Wing foil |
Kitesurfing |
| Gear setup | Quick (5-10 min) | Longer (lines, bar) |
| Space required | Small | Large (wing unpacking) |
| Usable conditions | Wide (8 to 40 knots) | More demanding |
| Main sensation | Flying above the water | Glide + powerful jumps |
| Learning curve | Accessible | More technical |
Bruno Sroka's take on wing foil
Wing Foil is a freeride sport where you maximize fun while minimizing gear. Easy to set up, it is pure pleasure. You are not chasing speed or jump height, but the feeling of gliding over the water and the wind swell, alone or with friends, without the hassle. It is a 100% fun sport made for people who want a smile on the water all the time.
Bruno SROKA's tips:
- Start on flat water, sheltered from swell, and never with an offshore wind
- Don't overestimate yourself. If conditions are not right for beginners, stay ashore.
- Buy gear suited to your level, size and spot
- Watch out for other riders. Over time, you will ride upwind and downwind more and more. With the wing, you sometimes lose visibility, so always check that nobody is downwind of you before you start surfing the waves
- Start with a large front wing. It is more stable, a little slower, and lets you fly quickly in lighter wind without getting hurt.
- Choose your gear carefully. It is better to invest in a 4m wing and a foil with two front wing options to optimize the wind range and make real savings
Need help? Don't hesitate to contact us at 02 98 32 53 69 or contact@srokacompany.com
