LE MAGAZINEOur tips for preparing your wing foil
When preparing your Wing Foil wing for a sailing session, it’s important to check its condition to ensure optimum performance and maximum safety. Here are our step-by-step tips for successful preparation.
Step 1: Check wing condition
Preparing your Wing Foil kite is not at all complicated, you just need to pay attention to a few points. First of all, before setting sail, it’s important to carry out a visual inspection of your kite. The aim is to ensure that there are no defects such as cuts or tears in the fabric. There may also be scratches on the leading or trailing edge. If you notice any damage, we strongly recommend that you do not use the wing until it has been 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 inflation between 6 and 8 PSI (not to be confused with 6 and 8 bar… yes, it does happen). 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 optimum cleaning of your wing foil, all you need is 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 running fresh water over it to remove sand and sea water.
You can rinse your kite after each session to maximize its life. It’s not compulsory, but highly recommended if you’re not going to be using it for a long time.
Step 3: storing the wing
We strongly recommend that you store your wing foil in a cool, dry place. To ensure the longest possible life for your wing, it is essential to avoid damp places. Moisture can cause the fabric to mildew.
If you’re storing your wing for a long time, we advise you to make sure it’s dry and properly folded. To ensure that the wing is properly folded, make sure there are no pressure points that could weaken or damage it. As with kite surfing, don’t fold your wing the same way every time. Folds that are too pronounced could weaken your spinnaker.
A final word of advice? Store your wing high up if you don’t want rodents to get through.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Leaving your wing in the sun: the spinnaker of a wingfoil or kitesurf wing is sensitive to uv rays. That’s why we strongly advise against leaving them exposed to the sun when you’re not in the water.
- Rubbing your wing foil to remove sand: rubbing your wing to remove sand will cause it to rip on the wing and damage the protective layer covering the fabric.
- Exposing your wing to heat for too long: heat increases the pressure in your wing’s bladder, so if you leave it in direct sunlight or in a very hot place, you run the risk of your wing exploding.
If you have any further questions, or if you have any other requests, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Le Magazine
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