Choosing the Right SUP Foil

Do you dream of flying over the swell with a single paddle stroke? SUP Foil is a discipline that will allow you to experience the first sensations of Foiling. Indeed, if you are proficient in Stand-Up Paddle and want to try foiling, we recommend starting with SUP-Foiling. This will help you begin your discovery of foiling, to understand and analyze how it works. You will quickly feel the incredible gliding and speed sensations that this water sport provides. The feeling of freedom and escape when you fly above the water. This will open up the opportunity to discover Downwind SUP Foiling over tens of kilometers, with the only sound being the breath of the wind – it's simply exceptional. Here are our tips for choosing your SUP Foil.

The practice of SUP Foiling consists of flying with a Stand-Up-Paddle board mounted on a Foil, and using a paddle to gain speed to take off. The volume of the board allows you to start directly standing up while paddling to catch a wave.

First of all, starting with foiling requires a minimum of technique and mastery. That's why it's advisable to start foiling with SUP Foiling. Indeed, a paddleboard is more voluminous and stable than a Kitefoil board or a surf foil board. Although this practice is accessible to everyone, we recommend having a good foundation in SUP surfing. It is difficult to start directly with a foil. This practice requires a lot of precision, especially for positioning your center of gravity. Moreover, it can be dangerous if you don't adopt the right gestures.

If you want to start alone, we advise you to choose very gentle waves that break softly, with little power. Also, avoid crowded surf spots to spare yourself conflicts on the water. Ideally, it's interesting to take lessons to get initiated into the practice, especially to overcome the apprehension of falling on the wing and to understand how to control the flight height.

For more information, we have taken the time to give you all our advice on choosing the right spot when starting SUP Foiling in this article.

Pumping in surf foil is a technique that involves making the board fly on the water by using leg strength and foil movement. This allows you to take advantage of the foil's potential, connect multiple waves, and glide on almost invisible swells. Here are some tips for learning to pump in surf foil:

1. Exit the wave at the right time, preferably when it's flat or before it breaks.
2. Make a wide, fluid turn to maintain maximum speed and momentum.
3. Look far ahead, towards the wave or target you are aiming for.
4. Coordinate your arms and legs to give the foil an impulse and make it go up and down.
5. Lighten your weight on the board and let the foil accelerate on its own.
6. Alternate phases of pressure and lightness on both legs.

For more detailed explanations, find our dedicated article on pumping in surf foil to learn the movement step-by-step.

SUP Foiling offers many advantages, especially the ability to have fun in many conditions, even with 50cm waves. Downwinding is even faster with this practice. It's also a complete and interesting sport for cardio: with mastery, you paddle back to the peak by pumping, catch waves, then paddle back by pumping, endlessly!

Are you looking for the SUP Foil equipment that will perfectly match your needs? SROKA Company gives you all its advice in this article. Our goal: to democratize the practice, by designing equipment that we enjoy using ourselves, all at an affordable price. (while building the boards in France)

All our answers to the questions you have about choosing your Foil!

• How to choose your SUP Foil board?

The functioning of a Foil is comparable to that of an "underwater" airplane thanks to fluid dynamics. The speed of movement creates a lift force on the front wing and allows the foil to take off. The higher the Foil's speed, the more the foil will be "pulled" upwards. Therefore, you must put more pressure on the front leg, or reduce the size of the front wing. The rear wing, also called a "stabilizer," helps to balance the lift of the front wing. Note that your weight (center of gravity) will act as a balancer between these two wings.

A Foil consists of a mast, attached perpendicularly to the board and fuselage, and two wings, front and back. The front wing is the larger one, with a curved upper part, a rounded leading edge that quickly gains thickness, then tapers towards a thinner trailing edge. At the back is the stabilizer, whose shape is similar to that of the front wing (but inverted), with a reduced surface area and a different profile. The size of the stabilizer determines the maneuverability and speed of your foil.

In SUPFoil practice, a Low Aspect wing will turn very quickly, but will be slower and less efficient than a medium Aspect front wing. Indeed, the latter will offer you the advantages of a foil that turns quickly, while having a lot of tolerance and forgiving all errors. As for High Aspect models, these can be interesting because they are more efficient for pumping.

The wings:

• A classic wing type S-Foil Classic SROKA (Mid Aspect) will be accessible for all levels and very versatile. Beginners looking for lift and stability will go for the 1750 (XL) or 1500 (L). These two wings will allow you to ride in SUP Foil, Wake Foil, or Wingfoil. It will suit riders around 80kg. The 1250 (M) will be faster and more maneuverable due to its reduced size.
• A High Aspect type wing will offer you performance, but will require a bit more technique. For those who want to move to the next level in SUP foil, the HA 1190 L (Lift) will provide surprising lift and gliding ease.

As for the stabilizer, the S-Foil's is the best compromise between maneuverability and stability. We are working to offer you a wider range, and to make your Foil more playful. (Available mid-2021)

Everything you need to know about the differences between High Aspect and Low Aspect foils

The mast:

The shorter your mast, the easier it will be to start. Nevertheless, a longer mast will be more progressive over time.

• A 70cm mast is ideal for beginners learning foiling. Its relatively short size will be more forgiving for all your positioning errors, and falls will be much less dramatic.
• An 80cm mast is extremely versatile. It will allow you to progress, to pump, to surf, and to maneuver more effectively.

The fuselage:

The length of the fuselage impacts the maneuverability of the foil:

• • a standard fuselage will provide more stability, pumping will be less physical but less maneuverable.
  • a medium fuselage will turn better, be more maneuverable but will require more frequent pumping.
  • a short fuselage will be very maneuverable but will require even more frequent pumping.

• If you want to surf waves under 90 cm, we recommend the S-foil HA 1190 Lift, it will be ideal because it offers good lift and stability. If you want to gain speed or surf bigger waves, the S-Foil HA 1190 Speed is what you'll need.
• Another option is to opt for the S-Foil 1250 which will be the right compromise between maneuverability, lift, and reactivity. The 1250 will be more agile in turns and for effortless carving thanks to its mid-aspect shape (more compact).
• Finally, if you want to enjoy small waves with minimum effort, the S-foil HA 1350 Lift is the foil for you because it allows you to pump very easily and fly for a long time; its glide seems endless.

Our rigid SKY RIDER boards (7’8, 6’3, 5’8 and 5’5) are manufactured in Brittany to implement the best of French expertise. This production technique is more expensive but guarantees incomparable quality and durability. SROKA Company is first and foremost a team of enthusiasts, and we enjoy developing products that we use ourselves. That's why all of them are extensively tested and approved by Bruno Sroka, the founder of the brand, and his team of ambassadors.

CHOICE OF MATERIAL:

• Carbon paddles are the best paddles on the market in terms of quality. Unlike aluminum paddles which are likely to break in this type of practice, carbon paddles are both lightweight and strong. The flexibility of a carbon paddle is more responsive than that of an aluminum one (depending on the percentage of carbon: 100% carbon and 50% carbon, they will be more or less rigid). For SUPFoil practice, or a sporty SUP paddle, we recommend a 50% carbon paddle for optimal paddling, at the best quality-price-performance ratio.

FIXED OR ADJUSTABLE PADDLE?

• • The SROKA Company's fixed paddle was designed for optimal paddling, with a lighter weight than 2 and 3-piece paddles. Consequently, the responsiveness is more interesting: you will have less energy loss during paddling than with an adjustable paddle.
  • The SROKA Company's adjustable paddle has the advantage of being versatile and being able to modify the height according to the size of the practitioner and the practice. Note that the more sections you have (2 and 3-piece paddles), the heavier your paddle will be. Another advantage is that they are undeniably easier to store and transport than fixed paddles.

If you're looking for a high-performance, versatile, and durable surf foil board, the Fast Flyer 4'6 is for you. This 38L volume board will allow you to easily catch all waves, even the softest ones, thanks to its compact and rounded shape. Once in the air, you'll appreciate its lightness, control, and responsiveness, whether for pumping, carving, or even jumping. Its double concave and bevels will prevent you from losing speed during touchdowns, while its concave deck will offer unparalleled comfort and precision.

The Fast Flyer is not just a surf foil board. It's also a multi-support board that will allow you to practice wing foil, kite foil, or wake foil with the same pleasure. It features inserts for footstraps and a perfectly positioned box to adapt to all foils on the market. It will offer you the best compromise between lift and performance, as well as between maneuverability and stability.

SUPFoiling can be dangerous, several precautions should be taken into account before launching.

Practitioners should:

• Choose a deserted spot or one with very few surfers around.
• Choose a spot with sufficient depth (the longer your mast, the more depth is required).
• Choose a spot you are familiar with to avoid rocks.
• When launching, remember to position your foil upside down behind you and slide it on its back until there is enough depth to flip the board over and start paddling.
• Look for soft, rolling waves; these waves generally occur at mid-tide. Ideal and fun foil waves are 40 cm up to 1m for more experienced riders.
• Don't hesitate to protect yourself by wearing a helmet, an impact vest, and any other mandatory or recommended safety equipment.

Choosing the right SUP-Foil package will determine your foiling style. Our advice is to consider:

• Foil choice: To start, a classic medium-sized wing like SROKA's Mid Aspect wing (1750 for heavier riders, 1500 for those under 85 kg, 1250 for those under 70 kg) will be the most suitable. Do you master SUPFoil and want to improve performance and technique? A High Aspect foil with a 1190 L wing will allow you to connect waves easily while maximizing your speed.
• Mast choice: Starting with a 70cm mast will be easier. However, a standard mast (80 cm) will evolve with you longer.
• Board choice: rigid or inflatable, the larger the volume of your board, the more suitable it will be for beginners and heavier riders. This type of model guarantees stability. Medium-sized models will be just as easy to handle but will be more versatile and progressive as you advance. A small volume board will be light underfoot, easy to pump, and will allow you to ride with technique.
• Paddle choice: carbon paddles will be the most suitable for SUPFoiling, offering the perfect compromise between lightness and strength.

Each of our boards is a model of versatility, so you can fully explore everything that foiling and its disciplines have to offer. Whether for Wing-Foil, Surf-Foil, SUP-Foil, Wind-Foil, or Wake-Foil, our Sky Rider boards adapt to you.

The SROKA Air board will allow you to ride in SUP-Foil as well as Wing-Foil, depending on your desires, the spot, or the conditions. You just have to choose the volume that suits you.