How to learn Wing Foil ?
Can I learn wing foil alone?
Wingfoil is a water sport accessible to all, whether you have already practised a gliding sport or not. It consists of sailing on the water with a board, a foil and a wing. Although this new sport is easy to learn, it is not recommended to learn it alone. When we start a new sport, it is quite normal that we do not know much about it. That is why it is better to be supervised by professionals during your first steps. You need to understand several parameters to avoid any risk of injury or danger. It is essential to understand how your foil works in the water, as well as the rules of navigation. You also need to understand the characteristics of the water and the sailing conditions. What are the ideal weather conditions to start WingFoil? What clothing is best suited for this sport? What equipment should I invest in? To answer all these questions, there is nothing better than the opinion of experts in the sector. The best thing to do if you want to progress quickly and efficiently is to sign up for a course. WingFoiling is in full expansion, and many clubs or schools are developing around this practice, within the French Sailing Federations or independently. You will have no trouble finding a club near you. During these sessions, you will be supervised by instructors who know the specificities of this sport perfectly. The courses are also an opportunity for you to discover the best spots to fly over the water and get valuable advice on what equipment to get. What courses are available to learn wing foiling? You don’t have to live on the coast to find a spot to take a Wingsurfing course! Lakes and water bodies are great places to start and progress. Contrary to what you might think, Wingfoil lessons are quite widespread in the Ile de France. Go to one of the many water sports schools that offer courses to learn this new sport. Throughout France, these schools also offer introductory courses during the summer and school holidays for children. In these water sports centres, you can choose between private lessons and group lessons given by professionals in the sector. It’s up to you to choose what suits you best for a successful learning experience! In addition to offering supervised and safe lessons, the schools lend you the appropriate equipment you need for your wing foil sessions (board, wing, hydrofoil, helmet…). An element not to be neglected because to be equipped in full can have a certain cost.How long does it take to learn wing foil?
Learning to wing foil can take more or less time depending on your profile. People who have already practised board sports such as surfing, kitesurfing or windsurfing for example, will tend to progress more quickly. Don’t worry, even if you have no previous experience in water sports, WingFoil remains accessible. The first sessions allow you to become familiar with the wing and the hydrofoil. You can learn how to handle your wing and find the right position on the board.
Once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s time to get up to speed and learn how to launch the foil. It is necessary to position the wing above your head, while orienting it in a windward axis. Like a plane, the foil will take a horizontal speed and slide. This will generate lift and lift your foil. Pump your board and sail slightly to gain speed and activate the lift of the foil. The goal is to fly above the water and get the full thrill. The duration of the flight will evolve with time and your ability to manage the weight distribution on the board, and the orientation of your sail.
To give you an idea, the first flights usually take 6 to 8 sessions of 2 hours for a person with no previous experience but with a good physical condition. In wing foil, the learning time depends on the equipment used, the physical condition of each person, their size… And logically, the more time you spend on the water, the more you can progress.
Above all, keep in mind not to be too impatient, take your time otherwise you could hurt yourself or damage your equipment. Not getting to the level you want as quickly as you thought? Persevere and don’t worry, you’ll get to the point where you feel good, no matter what your level.
What are the techniques to pass a level in wing foil?
Once you are comfortable on your board, can handle all the equipment simultaneously and can fly away from the shore and back to the shore, a multitude of techniques are available to you such as:
- THE JIBE. This movement consists in turning around in mid-air and allows you to feel strong acceleration sensations. To do this, stand on your feet with your wing high enough, then once downwind let go of the wing and pick it up on the other side. It is a movement almost similar to windsurfing and quite technical. Once you’ve mastered it, you can start having fun on the swell and surf your first waves. To learn more about jibe and its different techniques, we invite you to read our complete and illustrated tutorial.
- THE PUMPING. This technique consists of pummeling the foil with the legs to produce mechanical displacement energy and create speed. Good pumping combined with good speed allows you to move with much less energy. Pumping with a foil requires technique, coordination and, above all, learning, but is accessible with practice. Find our detailed step-by-step tutorial for foil pumping on this article.
- THE JUMP. On choppy water, get as much speed as possible with your sail and foil. When you find a section to jump, bend your legs and then straighten them to generate momentum with the wing high above your head. Click on this link to learn your first Wing Foil jumps.
There are many other techniques and tricks (backflip, 360, downwind…) to perform in Wingfoil that you can perform as you progress.
The advantage of this discipline is that you don’t need too much wind to get a good feeling. Therefore, every day with wind is an opportunity to get out on the water and make a little more progress. Wing foiling requires a bit of stamina and willpower but the results are truly fantastic. After a few hours of intensive lessons, get ready to literally fly over water! Unforgettable.
Our SROKA packages to learn wing foil
JOIN US
Share all your moments on the water on Instagram: @srokawatersports and #besroka, or on Facebook : Sroka Sessions. Discover all our tutorials on Youtube, or in our News&Tutorials section:
How long does it take to learn wing foiling?
Learning to wing foil can take more or less time depending on your profile. People who have already practised board sports such as surfing, kitesurfing or windsurfing for example, will tend to progress more quickly. Don’t worry, even if you don’t have a background in water sports, WingFoil is still accessible. The first sessions allow you to become familiar with the wing and the hydrofoil. You can learn how to handle your kite and find the right position on the board.
Once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s time to build up speed and get the hang of the foil. It is necessary to position the wing above your head, while orienting it in an axis facing the wind. Like a plane, the foil will take a horizontal speed and slide. This will generate lift and lift your foil. Lightly pump your board and sail to gain speed and activate the lift of the foil. The aim is to fly over the water for a thrilling experience. The duration of the flight will evolve with time and your ability to manage the weight distribution on the board, and the orientation of your sail.
To give you an idea, the first flights usually come after 6 to 8 sessions of 2 hours for a person with no previous experience but with a good physical condition. In wing foil, the learning time depends on the equipment used, the physical condition of each person, their size… And logically, the more time you spend in the water, the more you can progress.
Above all, keep in mind not to be too impatient, take your time otherwise you might hurt yourself or damage your equipment. Not getting to your desired level as quickly as you thought? Persevere and don’t worry, you’re bound to get a good feeling no matter what your level.
What are the techniques to pass a level in wing foil?
Once you are comfortable on your board, can handle all the equipment simultaneously and can fly away from the shore and back to the shore, a multitude of techniques are available to you such as:
- THE JIBE. This movement consists in turning around in mid-air and allows you to feel strong acceleration sensations. To do this, stand on your feet with your wing high enough, then once downwind let go of the wing and pick it up on the other side. It is a movement almost similar to windsurfing and quite technical. Once you’ve mastered it, you can start having fun on the swell and surf your first waves. To learn more about jibe and its different techniques, we invite you to read our complete and illustrated tutorial.
- THE PUMPING. This technique consists of pummeling the foil with the legs to produce mechanical displacement energy and create speed. Good pumping combined with good speed allows you to move with much less energy. Pumping with a foil requires technique, coordination and, above all, learning, but is accessible with practice. Find our detailed step-by-step tutorial for foil pumping on this article.
- THE JUMP. On choppy water, get as much speed as possible with your sail and foil. When you find a section to jump, bend your legs and then straighten them to generate momentum with the wing high above your head. Click on this link to learn your first Wing Foil jumps.
There are many other techniques and tricks (backflip, 360, downwind…) to perform in Wingfoil that you can perform as you progress.
The advantage of this discipline is that you don’t need too much wind to get a good feeling. Therefore, every day with wind is an opportunity to get out on the water and make a little more progress. Wing foiling requires a bit of stamina and willpower but the results are truly fantastic. After a few hours of intensive lessons, get ready to literally fly over water! Unforgettable.
Our SROKA packages to learn wing foil
JOIN US
Share all your moments on the water on Instagram: @srokawatersports and #besroka, or on Facebook : Sroka Sessions.
Discover all our tutorials on Youtube, or in our News&Tutorials section:
