What weather conditions should I use for wing foiling?

There are several weather factors to take into account to practice Wing Foil in the best conditions. Here we will see what these factors are and what are the tools to analyze them.

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.

Important Weather Factors for Wing Foil

The height of the waves

Wind speed and direction : the wind is the main source of energy for wing foil, so it is important to know its speed and direction to choose the right spot
Wave height : The height of the waves varies depending on the weather conditions. High waves can naturally make wing foiling more difficult, or even dangerous if you are not experienced enough.
Swell direction : Swell direction affects your stability and wave quality for surf foil. It is better to choose a swell that arrives on the spot in a regular and stable way.
Temperature : Temperature is an important factor for your wingfoil equipment. You have to be careful with the heat. If you leave your board in direct sunlight, the pressure inside may rise and damage it. To avoid this, you should slightly unscrew the pressure relief screw when the board is going to be exposed to heat for a long time. Be careful, however, to remember to screw it back on before going into the water!

The ideal conditions to start Wing Foil

Wind speed

For beginners in Wing Foil, the recommended wind speed is between 13 and 15 knots. Starting wingfoil with 13 knots will make it difficult for you to take off, especially if you are a tall guy. However, this will allow you to get your bearings on the board and move forward on the water quietly, without risk. Once you are comfortable with the support of the kite and the board, you will be able to go for a little stronger wind. A wind speed of 15 knots is ideal to be able to fly.

Wind direction

In order to start wingfoil in the best conditions, we advise you to choose a day when the wind blows in the same direction, constantly. This will allow you to focus on learning the basics of wing foil without being disturbed by changes in strength or wind direction. The direction of the wind also influences the quality of the body of water.

The different wind directions:

Offshore and Side Off : An offshore wind, i.e. one that comes from the land to the sea, should be avoided at all costs if you are a beginner. It’s dangerous because, if you’re in trouble and you don’t know how to go upwind yet, it will take you out to sea.
Onshore : a completely onshore wind is not ideal either (straight from the sea to the beach). It’s a reassuring but annoying wind to start with. The start will be difficult and you will be pushed towards the beach all the time.
Sideshore et side on : These are the best wind directions to start with! Here the wind blows diagonally, from the sea to the beach (Side on) or sideshore. These are the optimal directions to start with. They are reassuring but also ideal for having fun and progressing easily.

The height of the waves

To start Wing Foil, we advise you to choose the flattest body of water possible. The best option is to learn on a lake. Indeed, a flat body of water allows you to concentrate 100% on learning basic techniques and maneuvers without being unbalanced by the waves. However, it is important to know that on inland bodies of water such as lakes, the wind is often gustier.

How to predict the weather conditions for Wing Foil?

Weather conditions are not an exact science, you have to keep in mind that the weather can change very quickly. However, to plan your Wingfoil, surfing or kite sessions, many apps offer fairly reliable forecasts for 1 or 2 days:

Wind Forecasting Websites & Apps : If you’re sailing at sea, there are sites like Windguru or Marine Weather which will provide you with forecasts on wind, swell, tide, temperature.. These sites, also available as an app, are very useful for estimating the weather conditions of a Wing Foil spot.
Live Wind Conditions : Several sites offer free real-time readings to share the wind strength live. This is the case of Windy , for example, which offers an interactive map. To quickly find the weather beacons that give the live wind conditions, you can type in “live [Votre Ville/Spot]wind reading”. Some of these sites, such as Winds-up or Infosvent , offer live readings, but the free version only gives access to readings from the last few hours.
Wave forecast websites : To find out the wave forecasts, you can use sites like Surf report or Surf forecast which are useful for Wing Foil and rather reliable.

Frequently asked questions about the weather conditions for Wing Foil

What is the minimum wind speed required to practice wing foiling?
The minimum wind force for wingfoiling is usually 7 or 8 knots. Nevertheless, it depends on the skills of each person. A beginner in Wing Foil will need a minimum of 13 knots to sail comfortably.

Is there a maximum wind speed beyond which you should not wing foil?
In general, it is strongly discouraged to practice Wing Foil when the wind speed is higher than 30 knots, i.e. about 55 km/h. However, this can vary depending on height, weight, and experience level.

Can air and water temperature influence wing foiling?
Not especially, the temperature of the air and water mainly influences your sailing comfort.

Can rain affect wing foiling?
Sustained rain can only degrade visibility between riders.

Common mistakes to avoid:

A wind speed of between 13 and 15 knots is ideal for beginners in Wingfoil.
Favor Sideshore (Side) and Side On (sea) winds for more safety and easier learning.
Keep in mind that weather conditions are not 100% reliable and may change during the session.
If you are discovering a spot for the first time, whether you are a beginner or an experienced bird, do not hesitate to talk to the regulars to find out more about the particularities of the spot or the optimal conditions for Wing Foil.