How to make a successful jibe in Wing Foil?
A whole session without touching the sea, that’s the promise of the jibe. Jiber allows you to turn around and provides an exhilarating feeling of acceleration. It’s also the fundamental maneuver to start having fun on the swell and tackle your first waves in WingFoil. In addition, mastering this technique will allow you to progress in Wing waveriding, and achieve Bottom Turn (half jibe) on a wave. Once acquired, the jibe allows you to go from surf to tack, without ever leaving the pleasure of flying. Are you wondering how to make your first jibe in Wing Foil ? Here are our tips.
Just like in Windsurfing, jiber in Wing-Foil allows you to turn around with the wind at your back. This manoeuvre is learned before tacking because it is easier to do. Before starting, choose a flat body of water, without too many people, with 15 to 20 knots of wind, without onshore wind. In addition, it will be easier to start without straps. We are more mobile to make up for our mistakes and thus correct any mistakes we may have on the board.
To make a successful jibe in WingFoiling, there are two essential methods. The Regular Stance or Jibe to Switch, which requires you to change your stances once the curve is over. It is also very simple because you attack the curve in front of the wing to come out of the back. The second method is the Switch Stance or Switch to Jibe, which requires you to reverse your feet before triggering the turn. This jibe is the most accessible, because you don’t have to worry about rotating your feet at the end of the curve. However, this is still very personal. You may be more comfortable performing a standard jibe on one side and a switch to jibe on the other. It’s up to you to test both to see which one is easier for you.
How to jib in Wing Foil?
Before we explain these two methods in detail, here are some basic rules:
- Jible on your natural stance (goofy or regular).
- Take a good look around you to avoid an accident by lifting the wing to see the trajectory in front of the leading edge or by putting the wing as an “umbrella”.
- Check the wind axis and your speed before engaging in the manoeuvre (a jibe will always be done from drop to drop).
- In order to switch your feet with as much balance as possible, position the kite a little more above your head to better see your trajectories.
- To switch your feet, pressing down on the back leg will bring the foil up and thus give you a little more time to swap your feet.
- Engage your jibe by pressing down on the board inside the curve.
Method 1: Jibe to switch
To perform this maneuver, you must rotate your feet at the end of the curve. We will press on the toes to engage the curve.
1. Starting position
To begin with, you need good speed. You have to be in flight, stable, with a crosswind. The foil is not too high on the water, to prevent it from stalling during the manoeuvre. The feet are positioned in the longitudinal axis of the board.
2. Engage the curve
Knock down slightly while transferring the weight of the body to the toes. The board then tilts towards the centre of the turn, moving away from the wind. The wing rises gradually, until it is almost horizontal, above the head. The feet stay well in the longitudinal axis of the board.
3. Changing the wing side
When you arrive downwind, or the wind axis is slightly exceeded, you start by changing the position of the front hand. Engage a wrist motion to rotate the wing. Then we let go of the back hand. Rotate the wing with your front hand. The free hand becomes the back hand. She takes back the wing and gives power back. All the way, keep your support on your toes to continue to engage the curve and gradually get closer to the drop and then the abeam.
4. Change of foot/switch position
We’ve gone beyond the axis of the wind. The wing is on the right side, we just need to reposition our feet. Above all, don’t forget the little impulse on the back to give yourself height before the swap sothat youcan lighten your support on the board. Then we make the switch, we take a chased step to swap the front and back feet. The feet should remain centered on the board.
5. End of the curve and raise
Now it’s time to pick up speed. The feet return to their original position. The wing tilts towards the water. You can pump a little to restart the board and pump with the Wing if needed.
In short
- Start your jibe with good speed and a crosswind.
- Tilt the board towards the water, wing it horizontally above your head. Engage the curve.
- Change the positioning of your hands when you arrive downwind, in order to rotate the wing, while continuing to engage the curve.
- Make the switch. Don’t forget the little push on the back to give yourself height before the feet are swapped.
- Raise at the end of the curve by pumping.
Method 2: Switch to jibe
This technique consists of rotating the feet before the curve. After taking a forward chase step, the back foot and the front foot are swapped. Push down on the heels by raising the wing above the head to engage the curve.
1. Starting Position:
This is the same as for the first maneuver.
2. Change of foot/switch position:
Just before switching the supports, give a small push on the back foot to make the board go up and thus lighten your support. At this precise moment, swap your footing on the board (during the ascending phase of your board). Your board will tend to nosedive since your center of gravity has shifted forward (hence the interest in bringing it up, which will give you a little more flight time). This step will guarantee you height and make it easier to get back on track. Once the impulse has been given, a chased step forward is taken. The position of the two feet is reversed. We end up with both heels towards the wing (downwind). Balance is better if the position of the front foot, a little downwind, (and the back foot slightly windward) makes it easier to engage in the turn.
3. Engage the Curve:
Press down on the heels to engage the jibe. The board moves away from the wind. Gradually raise the wing above the head, until you are almost horizontal. The curve should be constant and wide. This keeps speed going until the jibe exits. You then feel a nice feeling of acceleration when everything is working well. Throughout the trajectory, keep your support on your heels and not your toes to continue to engage the curve.
4. Changing Wing Sides:
The principle is the same as the first manoeuvre. Raise your wing slightly above your head (close to the horizontal) in order to make it change direction. The back hand takes the place of the front hand and vice versa.
5. End of the curve and raise:
Now it’s time to pick up speed. The feet return to their original position. The wing tilts towards the water. We can pump a little to restart the board. Fix your gaze in front of you and not on your feet to better control your trajectory.
In short
- Start your jibe with good speed and a crosswind.
- Switch your feet after giving a small impulse on the back foot to make the board go up and thus lighten your support.
- Engage the curve by pressing down on the heels and gradually raising the wing above the head, until you are almost horizontal.
- Switch the wing by swapping hands.
- Accelerate again at the end of the curve.
How to Train
- To work on the permutation : on one edge, practice switching your feet without jibering, and navigate in this position. (don’t forget to bring your board up before turning on your switch)
- To work on the trajectory of your curve : in the early stages, it is possible to engage the first part of the curve and then return to the trajectory through and start again several times without changing your supports. Practice making ‘S’ on the water, focusing on changing sides of the wing.
To work on the rotation of the wing
: without swapping your supports, practice making ‘S’ on the water, focusing on the positioning of the wing.
Advanced tips/pro tips:
- Look ahead to anticipate your trajectory. (Gaze directs the trajectory)
- Coming into the curve with the wing a little overloaded/with a little more power than necessary. This allows you to have enough speed to finish the manoeuvre.
- A little pumping at the exit of the curve allows you to restart the board and the flight and compensate for the lost speed.
- You can tighten the curve by accentuating your support on the heels or toes. You have more speed and a greater feeling of acceleration. It is therefore important to remember to lose as little speed as possible when cornering.
If you still have questions about this, or for any other request, please do not hesitate to contact us !
