LE MAGAZINEThe different wing disciplines foil
Wing Foil : much more than just a water sport. It’s a true experience of freedom that transports you above the water. Imagine yourself, carried by the wind, gliding lightly over the ocean, lake or river. SROKA invites you to discover this unique sensation thanks to its top-of-the-range equipment, designed for all levels.
But where does wing foil come from? This sport was born from the meeting of windsurfing, kitesurfing and foil, offering a unique combination of sensations. SROKA has been one of the pioneers in the development of this sport, offering innovative, high-performance products. The brand was created by Bruno SROKA, 3 x kitesurfing world champion.
Why is wing foil such a success? Its ease of learning, diversity of sensations and playfulness make it a sport accessible to all. What’s more, wing foil is an activity that can be practiced in natural environments, offering a moment of disconnection and well-being.
Ready to take the plunge? Discover our complete range of wing foil equipment and find the perfect fit for you:
The different wing disciplines foil
Freestyle: the expression of creativity
Freestyle is the ultimate discipline for lovers of aerial tricks and thrills. Riders link rotations, handle passes and other spectacular maneuvers.
- Objective: To create technical and aesthetic figures.
- Equipment: The wings are relatively small, the foils are small and easy to handle, making them easy to turn, and the boards are compact and responsive.
- Organization: Freestyle competitions are often held in a “best trick” format, with riders performing a series of tricks that are marked by a panel of judges. The events are often very spectacular and attract large crowds.
The Race: pure speed
For lovers of speed and competition, the wing foil race is the ideal discipline. Riders compete on defined courses, the aim being to be the fastest and arrive first at the finish line.
- Objective: to be the fastest on the course.
- Equipment: Wings tend to be large for maximum power, boards long and narrow for better glide, foils offering high speed with more span to get upwind, or compact to go fast.
- Organization: Race competitions take the form of line races or slaloms. The courses are marked by buoys and starts are in a line.
The Wave: surfing the power of the ocean
Wing foil wave is the ideal discipline for surfers looking for new ways to play with waves. Riders use the power of the waves to perform powerful, technical maneuvers.
- Objective: Surf the waves using the kite as a support.
- Equipment: Wing medium-sized surfboards adapted to foil, foils offering good manoeuvrability with maximum control.
- Organization: Wave competitions take place at well-known surf spots. Riders are judged on the quality of their waves, the variety of their maneuvers and their style.
Freeride: the freedom to ride
Freeriding is the most accessible and versatile of all disciplines. It’s all about enjoying the freedom of the slopes, without constraints or precise objectives.
- Objective: Have fun and explore new spots with friends.
- Equipment: Versatile equipment, suitable for all levels.
- Organization: No particular organization, other than getting together with friends to share your passion.
Downwind: the quest for the horizon
Downwind consists of covering long distances following the wind. It’s a demanding discipline that requires good physical condition and excellent equipment control.
- Objective: To cover the greatest possible distance following the wind.
- Equipment: Wing small, very long and narrow boards, foils offering excellent glide with high aspect ratios.
- Organization: Downwind competitions often take place over long distances, at sea or on lakes. Riders are equipped with GPS tracking systems to record their performance.
Big Air: touch the sky
Big air is an emerging discipline that involves impressive vertical jumps. Riders use medium-sized wings in very strong winds and foils offering maximum lift to rise above the water.
- Objective: To jump as high as possible.
- Equipment: Wings with high lift, special boards, foils offering high lift and maximum speed.
- Organization: there is as yet no competition in this discipline.
In short, wing foil is a rich and varied sport that offers a multitude of possibilities. Whether you’re looking for thrills, sporting challenges or simply a moment of relaxation, you’re bound to find the discipline that’s right for you.
Feel free to explore the different disciplines and find the one you’re most passionate about!
In response to this diversity of disciplines, we offer a range of fin shapes and sizes at foil.
Choose your discipline according to your profile
Your choice of discipline will depend on your preferences and your level.
- Beginner : Start with freeride or wave to learn the basics. Choosing a standard SROKA pack will enable you to start and progress easily.
- Advanced: If you’ve mastered the basics, you can go for freestyle, race or downwind. In this case, you’ll need to choose boards, wings and foil according to what you want to do. To glide longer, you’ll need foil wings with greater aspect ratio. For freestylers, you’ll need more compact wings with good lift and speed.
- Competitor: To reach the highest level, wing foil race is the ideal discipline. It is accessible to all levels and ages.
Discipline-specific equipment
Choosing the right equipment is essential to progress quickly and safely. SROKA offers a complete range of equipment for almost every discipline:
- Wingfoil wings. Lightweight, high-performance and durable, SROKA wings are designed to offer maximum thrills. We have two models in the pipeline. The Standard V4 version and the Elite version are steeper and more powerful, and will satisfy the most demanding riders. For junior riders, the Elite wing will do just fine, but for pros, you’ll need a double-skin wing.
- Boards: SROKA’s hallmark is quality construction and solidity. Stability, comfort and maneuverability are the watchwords of SROKA boards.
- The foils: SROKA foils, designed for excellent glide and precision, will enable you to glide easily. If you want to ride waves, go for the Control range, if you want to do freestyle, wave and race, go for the HA range, if you want to do Downwind, free ride or race, the UHA and DW range will be interesting for you.
Where can you practice wing foil?
The world is your playground! Numerous spots in France and abroad offer ideal conditions for wing foil. All you need to do is find a lake, a stretch of sea or the ocean to enjoy wing foil.
The future of wing foil?
Wing flying foil is a fast-growing sport. More and more people are becoming passionate about this activity, attracted by its freedom and unique sensations. SROKA is proud to contribute to the growth of this sport by offering innovative, high-performance products. We have a complete range of products to suit all disciplines and levels.
Join the SROKA community and share your passion with us!
If you have any further questions, or if you have any other requests, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Le Magazine
