How to get started with Wing Foiling?

Wing foiling is a new and rapidly growing sport that is attracting more and more water sports enthusiasts. Here are a few reasons why you should consider taking up wing foiling:

• Unique sensations: Wing foiling offers exceptional gliding and flying sensations. Flying above the water, you will experience a feeling of freedom and weightlessness, combined with the fluidity of the ride.
• Accessibility: Wing foiling is easier to learn than other water sports such as kitesurfing or windsurfing. Thanks to the foil's lift and the wing's stability, beginners can quickly get the hang of it, progress, and have fun from their very first sessions.
• Versatility: Wingfoiling can be practiced in various wind and water conditions. Whether you're sailing on a lake, at sea, or even in wave spots, wingfoiling offers incredible versatility to explore new horizons and adapt to the day's water conditions.
• Physical fitness: Wingfoiling engages the entire body, providing an excellent cardiovascular workout and strengthening muscles, particularly the legs, arms, and abs. It's a complete sport that will keep you fit while you have fun on the water.

In short, taking up wingfoiling will allow you to discover new sensations, enjoy nature, take on new challenges, and experience moments of pure pleasure on the water. Whether you're a beginner or already a watersports enthusiast, wingfoiling offers a unique experience that deserves to be explored.

Wing foiling involves several components; to get you in the water as easily as possible without risking damage to your equipment, we recommend the following method :

1. Prepare your Wing Foil board : assemble your hydrofoil and attach it to your board, attach your leash to the board.
2. Place it near the water: once the board and foil are assembled, bring them close to the place where you want to get in the water.
3. Get dressed: and prepare yourself as if you were going straight into the water.
4. Inflate your wing : the wing is highly susceptible to wind, which is why we recommend inflating it only just before entering the water. We advise inflating it in a sheltered spot, away from the wind, and if possible, attaching it to an object to prevent it from flying away. As soon as the wing is inflated, immediately attach the leash to your wrist. Avoid abrasion from sand or asphalt.
5. Reach your wing foil board: carry the wing by the handle, positioning the leading edge into the wind to make it wind-neutral and easy to carry. Once you are close to the water with your wing and wing foil board, attach your board leash.
6. Carry your equipment to the water: since you've placed your wing foil board close to the water, you only have a few meters to walk carrying both the board and the wing. Always carry your board on the windward side and your wing on the leeward side to avoid the risk of the wing catching the wind and damaging the foil.

Discover the SROKA Wing Foil range

A key step to getting started in wing foiling and enjoying the sport, taking off isn't complicated, but it does require the right approach. Find our tips and illustrated explanations below to help you succeed from your very first session.

First , sit on the board and turn the kite right-side up . Sitting astride the board will give you more stability when handling your kite. To turn it easily, move your hands to the leading edge and grasp the kite near one of the tips. Then, flip the kite over to position it correctly. If you're comfortable, you can do this while kneeling on the board.

The first step is to kneel on your board and hold the wing (the right way up) using the handles provided. Position the wing above your head so that the wingtips don't touch the water. Keep your board perpendicular to the wind. Position your wing horizontally above your head. Once both hands have grasped the handles, the goal is to control the wing's power and its reaction to the wind, and to find a stable position on the board. Once you are stable and have good control of the wing, you can orient it to better catch the wind by pulling harder with your back hand to propel your wing foil board forward. Bruno SROKA's tip: "When I pull on my back hand, I gain power and accelerate; when I release my back hand, the wing catches less wind and I slow down."

To move to the second stage, you need sufficient speed. To accelerate, pull on your back hand to allow the wind to enter the wing. (Keep your front hand more or less extended). Once you have enough speed to stabilize, you can begin to step onto the board, starting with your front foot, which you should position in the center of the board (along its longitudinal axis). This allows you to stand up in two stages while maintaining your balance.

You can then move on to the third step : getting onto the board, this time placing your back foot above the foil. Maintaining good balance on the board is crucial. We recommend positioning your back foot above the mast and ensuring proper foot placement: your back foot should be centered on the board and ideally positioned just above the mast. Your front foot should be shoulder-length away and slightly offset (apart from the longitudinal axis) in front of you.

Bruno SROKA's tip: "If you have any stability issues, slightly offset your back foot downwind and your front foot upwind from the longitudinal axis. This will allow you to be more stable on the board if the water conditions throw you off balance."

By pressing down on my toes, the board will bear away (turn into the wind); if I press down on my heels, the board will turn upwind.

We recommend initially keeping the wing relatively above your head in a position close to neutral power to balance yourself on the board. Then, gradually lower your wing further forward and position yourself in opposition to it. Sheet in with your back hand to accelerate.

The fourth step is takeoff. Like an airplane, you need to generate enough speed to accelerate and create lift on your foil to get airborne. Go slightly downwind and pull (sheet in) with your back hand to gain more speed. To accelerate even further, you can use a "pumping" motion with both hands to generate more power and accelerate even more. If you've gained enough speed, the foil will lift off almost on its own and smoothly. Help it along by applying light pressure with your back foot to lift the board out of the water.

Bruno SROKA's tip: "The key is your speed; if you don't have enough speed, you won't be able to take off. So, first focus on keeping the board in the water, and then continue to accelerate."

Once airborne, your first sensation will be one of lightness. Your footing on the board should be smooth and without any sudden movements. Transferring your weight onto your back leg raises the foil, and transferring it back onto your front leg brings the foil down. It's important to stay upright and keep your center of gravity above the foil, avoiding any sudden movements to prevent falling.

For riders with a background in surfing and/or foil surfing rather than windsurfing or kitesurfing, it can be challenging to ride using both foot positions ( goofy and regular stances ). As shown in the adjacent photo, it's possible to ride with your back to the sail in one direction and facing the sail in the other. This has the advantage of ensuring good control of the board and foil, but the significant drawback of making upwind riding much harder (it requires twisting the body between the legs and shoulders). We recommend practicing changing positions to be able to ride upwind more efficiently and to switch back to your most comfortable stance at each turn.

When choosing a brand for wingfoiling, prioritizing quality equipment is essential. It's important to remember that price doesn't always guarantee quality. At Sroka Company, we focus on the constant pursuit of the best quality at the best price. Our commitment to quality is reflected in every one of our products, with meticulous attention to detail, durability, and performance.

Choosing high-quality equipment for wing foiling offers numerous advantages. It guarantees better stability, increased responsiveness, a longer lifespan, and a more enjoyable gliding experience. The quality of the equipment also influences the safety and confidence you feel on the water, which is essential for fully enjoying this sport.

But most importantly, it allows you to progress quickly. Unfortunately, not all equipment is created equal, and your progress will largely determine your choice of equipment. Opting for quality equipment will allow you to have the best learning experience.

When you choose Sroka Company, you can trust the quality of our equipment and our commitment to offering you the best value for money. Bruno Sroka, three-time kitesurfing world champion, tests all products and is fully involved in their development . We are passionate about wingfoiling and want to share this passion with you by offering products that meet your highest expectations.

Like all board sports, wing foiling has a technical aspect that makes choosing the right equipment very important. This technicality is amplified by the fact that wing foiling harnesses both wind energy via the wing and wave energy via the hydrofoil.

The hydrofoil consists of a mast, a fuselage, a front wing, and a stabilizer. The mast length has a significant impact on how it rides: a shorter mast is more reassuring and easier for beginners, while a longer mast allows you to gain more height and avoid touching the surface. The most influential parameter of the foil is the front wing: its profile, surface area, thickness, as well as its length and width, all have a strong influence on lift and the wing's behavior (speed, stability, and maneuverability).

The foil board used for wing foiling can vary depending on each person's size and skill level. However, we strongly recommend starting with a stable wing foil board (between 105 and 120 L) so that you can focus more on wing handling and foil management than on balance when you're starting out.

The Wing is a wing specifically designed for Wing Foiling. It can also be used on a SUP board without a foil for beginners, or with a mountain board (medium wind) or carver board (light wind). Wings come in various sizes, constructions, and shapes. A Wing's size is measured by its surface area: 3m², 4m², 5m², 6m², and 7m². A Wing equipped with a boom will be easier to handle but bulkier than one with handles. Finally, the thickness and shape of the leading edge impact the wing's rigidity, performance, and maneuverability. A thick leading edge will generate a lot of power but will be slower and heavier.

OUR ADVICE: Choosing the right wing is crucial, as it's the "engine" of your wing foil. There are two main wing construction trends: those that are very lightweight but poorly reinforced and therefore not very durable (wings are quite fragile), and those that are slightly heavier with reinforcements but are more durable and impact-resistant. Furthermore, it's more advantageous to invest in two wing sizes to cover a wider range of use than in one wing and two foil front fins.

What speed is there in wingfoil?

Generally, the average speed for wingfoiling is around 20 knots . This is a comfortable and enjoyable speed for experiencing the sensations of gliding and freedom on the water. However, with good progression and experience, it is entirely possible to reach higher speeds, around 25 knots or even more. This increased speed is generally achieved by the most advanced riders, who have perfectly mastered their technique and fully exploit the potential of their equipment. But it is still important to note that speed does not define a rider's skill level; in fact, it depends on several variables such as weather conditions, the type of water, and the equipment.

Kitesurfing or wing foiling?

The choice between kitesurfing and wingfoiling depends on personal preferences and the desired experience. Kitesurfing offers thrills thanks to the power of the kite, but ideal conditions are less frequent. Furthermore, kitesurfing requires more complex equipment setup and more space to launch the wing. Wingfoiling, on the other hand, offers a unique sensation of flying above the water rather than gliding on its surface. Wingfoiling is also more practical, as it can be practiced more frequently in a variety of conditions and locations. While it may be slower than kitesurfing, wingfoiling offers an immersive sailing experience and unique sensations. The choice between kitesurfing and wingfoiling will therefore depend on individual preferences and the desire for occasional intense thrills or a more regular and versatile practice.

Wing foiling is a freeride sport where you maximize fun by minimizing equipment. Easy to set up, it's pure enjoyment. The focus isn't on speed or jump height, but on the sensation of gliding above the water and the wind swell, alone or with friends, without any pressure. It's a 100% fun sport made for those who want to have a smile on their face all the time on the water.

Bruno SROKA's advice:

• Start on a flat body of water, sheltered from the swell, and never with an offshore wind.
• Don't overestimate yourself. If the conditions aren't right to start, don't go.
• Buy equipment suited to your level, size and practice location.
• Be mindful of other surfers. As you progress, you'll be going upwind and downwind more often, and with the wing, visibility can sometimes be reduced, so make sure to check downwind that there's no one there before you start surfing the waves.
• Starting with a large front wing is more stable, a little slower, and allows you to fly quickly and safely in lighter wind conditions.
• Choosing the right equipment is key. It's best to invest in a 4m wing and a foil with two front wing options to optimize your wind range and save money.

Need help? Don't hesitate to contact us at 02 98 32 53 69 or at contact@srokacompany.com