Our tips for preparing your wing foil

When preparing your wing foil for a sailing session, it is important to check its condition to ensure optimal performance and maximum safety. Here are our step-by-step tips for successful preparation.

Step 1: Checking the Condition of the Wing

Preparing your Wing Foil wing is nothing complicated, you just have to pay attention to a few points. First of all, before you set sail, it is important to carry out a Visual inspection of your wing. The goal is to ensure that there are no defects like cuts or tears in the fabric. It can also be scratches on the leading or trailing edge. If you notice any damage, it is highly recommended that you do not use the wing until it is repaired.

We then advise you to
test the air pressure
in the wing. To do this, use the pressure gauge on your pump. Make sure the pressure is within the manufacturer’s specifications. For our Wing V3, we recommend inflating between 6 and 8 PSI (not to be confused with 6 and 8 bar… if it happens). If the pressure is insufficient, add air until it is correct. If the pressure is excessive, do not go into the water and release some air to reach the recommended pressure.

Step 2: Cleaning the Wing

For optimal cleaning of your wing foil, you will only need fresh water. It may be hard to believe, but the best way to clean your wing is to rinse it well with soft, clear water. Start by inflating your kite (or not deflating it after the session) and run the fresh water over it in order to get the sand and seawater out.
You can rinse your kite after each session to maximize its lifespan. It’s not mandatory but it’s still highly recommended if you don’t plan to use it for a long time.

Step 3: Storing the Wing

It is highly recommended to store your wing foil kite in a cool, dry place. To ensure that your wing lasts as long as possible, it is essential to avoid damp places. Moisture can cause the fabric to become mouldy.

If you are storing your kite for a long time, we advise you to make sure that it is dry and folded properly. In order for the wing to be properly folded, it is necessary to make sure that there is no pressure point that could weaken or damage it. Be careful, as with kite surfing kites, you should not bend your wing in the same way every time. Indeed, bending too much could weaken your spinnaker.
One last piece of advice? Store your wing high up if you don’t want rodents to pass by.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Leave your wing in the sun: the spinnaker of a wingfoil or kitesurfing kite is sensitive to UV rays. This is why it is strongly advised not to leave them exposed to the sun when you are not going into the water.
Rub your wing foil kite to remove the sand: by rubbing your kite to remove the sand, it will rip off the kite and deteriorate the protective layer that covers the fabric.
Exposing your wing to heat for too long: heat increases the pressure in the flange of your kite, if you leave it in direct sunlight or in a very hot place, you risk seeing your wing explode.