How to go faster in wingfoiling?
Wing foiling , a hybrid and exhilarating watersport, offers a unique feeling of freedom and speed. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider, the pursuit of speed is often central to the experience. But how do you optimize your speed in wing foiling? SROKA Company and Bruno SROKA (world kitesurfing racing champion), an expert in watersports equipment, reveal the secrets to multiplying your performance tenfold.
So we're going to go over the different tips together to go even faster in Wing foil .
Why is speed crucial in wing foiling?
The speed record in wingfoiling is 37.89 knots, or 70.17 km/h for one second , while hovering one meter above the water. To reach these speeds, the rider used a kite foil designed for the Olympics with a very small front wing surface area (around 500 cm²).
1.1. Sensations and Adrenaline:
Speed provides an exhilarating experience and an unparalleled adrenaline rush. It allows you to fully feel the power of the wind and the glide of the foil. It also makes all maneuvers on the water easier, allowing you to jump higher and jibe more easily. Speed is essential for greater stability on the water.
Not all spots are suitable for speed. Therefore, you must choose your spot carefully depending on your goals . Sailing on flat water, ideally with no current and a steady wind, is essential for speed. Spots like Leucate, with offshore winds or relatively enclosed waters, are recommended because the water will remain flat even in very strong winds.
1.2. Performance and Progress:
Speed is a key element of wing foil performance. It allows for more radical maneuvers, higher jumps, greater distances, and better upwind performance. But speed isn't innate; it requires learning, understanding how to tune a foil, and progressing to push the limits.
Choosing the Optimal Wing Foil Equipment for Speed (SROKA Expertise)
2.1. The Wing: The Propeller
The wing foil is your engine. It's therefore important to choose a wing suited to the conditions and your size. Not all wing foils allow you to go fast.
- A thin, elongated wing profile reduces drag and promotes acceleration. SROKA wings, like the V4 Elite series, are designed with aerodynamic profiles optimized for speed. Compared to the SROKA V4, they offer 2 knots more speed.
- Surface area: A wing surface area suited to your size and the wind conditions is essential. Opt for a range of sizes to meet all your needs.
- Shape: The shape of the wing (dihedral, sweep) influences its stability and responsiveness, and more specifically the sail tension and the profile used in the wing. Some wings generate a lot of power but little speed, and vice versa.
- Materials: The rigidity of the fabric and structure is crucial for efficient power transmission. SROKA V4 Elite wings are made with high-quality materials for maximum durability and performance. Stiffer materials such as Dyneema, Alulla, and P85 are commonly used. A wing generates drag, so ideally, if you want to go fast, choose a medium to small wing size. Wings with ultra-thin leading edges, such as the SROKA V4 Elite wing made of P85, will offer unparalleled air penetration and exceptional profile rigidity.
Finally, a wing with a rigid handle will be more efficient than a wing with a flexible handle. This will provide rigidity and control at high speeds.
2.2 The wing foil board.
A fast wing foil board shouldn't be too wide. It's recommended to choose a narrower board with a bit more length to optimize your planing start with a small foil.
- Size: A narrower, less wide board reduces drag and promotes speed. SROKA boards, such as the Superfly or LW ranges, are perfectly suited to this purpose.
- Shape: The shape of the board influences its glide and planing ability. SROKA boards offer a shape optimized for speed and acceleration: reduced width and slightly increased length.
- Construction: The materials and construction of the board determine its stiffness and weight. SROKA boards are made with high-quality materials for maximum durability and performance. The stiffer your board, the easier it will be to control at high speeds. Therefore, it's best to choose a board with a full carbon sandwich construction to maximize stiffness and responsiveness.
The Foil: The Support
The foil is the key element for going faster. As we mentioned earlier, there is 800 times more drag in water than in air. The foil therefore has a major impact; it's the part that's in contact with the water.
- Front Wing: A small front wing with a medium aspect ratio (around 8) is ideal for speed. SROKA foils, from the HA range, were designed for this, particularly in smaller sizes, offering exceptional glide and minimal drag.
- Stabilizer: The stabilizer influences the stability and maneuverability of the foil. A smaller, thinner stabilizer promotes speed. A larger one will provide stability but will also increase drag.
- Mast: A stiff, thin mast reduces vibration and drag, improving steering precision. SROKA Elite 14mm carbon masts offer one of the best performance/stiffness compromises, made with high-quality materials for maximum rigidity.
- Fuselage: The fuselage length influences the stability and maneuverability of the foil. A shorter fuselage offers more responsiveness, while a longer fuselage provides more stability.
If you wish to increase your speed, we recommend upgrading to a 550 S HA, 670 S HA or 810 S HA fin.
Having the right equipment isn't enough. You have to adjust it. To go fast, you need stability. If you're unbalanced along your longitudinal axis, you'll never be able to go fast. To achieve this, we recommend using stabilizer adjustment shims.
Tips from Bruno SROKA
- Personally, to go faster, I add a little more stabilizer, that is, I increase the stabilizer angle using a positive angle shim (raising the rear of the shim). For my 80 kg, I use a shim of +0.75° (0.25° + 0.50°).
- I back the foil all the way into the US rails
- And I move the straps all the way forward.
- My quiver for going fast: 550 S HA or 670 S HA, Elite carbon mast, 180 stabilizer. Superfly 5'1
Positioning on the board
Adopting a wide stance is crucial for maintaining complete control of your board at high speeds. You can also use footstraps. These will give you better control of your board and thus increase your speed.
Foot pressure on the board.
Foot pressure plays a major role in gaining speed. It's important to have the majority of the pressure on the front leg. This allows for better board balance and control, reducing the risk of stalling, which would lead to a loss of speed. Leaning your weight forward also promotes a smoother glide and helps maintain the foil at an ideal flight height for greater speed and reduced drag.
Body position
By leaning your body slightly forward, while keeping your shoulders down and your back straight, you improve your aerodynamic efficiency and therefore a smoother glide. Keep your arms slightly bent to better react to changes in wind strength. This also helps to increase your enjoyment and sailing time by reducing muscle fatigue.
The counter-gîte
Counter-heeling is a sailing technique that involves shifting your weight towards the wind while sailing. This tilts the board, causing the foil to tilt and thus accelerating the foil. To achieve this, you must sail with the sail low and shift your weight towards the wind (more onto your heels) without luffing (heading upwind) or bearing away (heading downwind). This, combined with the foil's tilt, increases the pressure on your front leg, thereby increasing speed.
Weight and balance management
It's important to sail with the sail low but not touching the water, while pushing the sail forward to optimize propulsion. Keeping the sail stable will help maintain consistent acceleration and speed through the water.
Wing positioning
It's important to sail with the sail low but not touching the water, while pushing the sail forward to optimize propulsion. Keeping the sail stable will help maintain consistent acceleration and speed through the water.
Weight and balance management
To sail fast, it's important to maintain a stable flight with the sail low and your weight forward. This allows for better control while sailing. You must also constantly analyze the water conditions to anticipate wind shifts and changes, as well as the overall water state. Don't let your speed catch you off guard. Therefore, it's crucial to learn to sail fast by progressing gradually.
The Adventure of Speed with SROKA Company!!
In summary, it is important to remember that going fast in Wing foil is not something that can be learned overnight.
You need to start by getting used to sailing fast with small front wings. Choosing the right equipment is crucial to pushing your speed to the next level. Opt for a narrow board with good length to optimize planing, a wing with a thin leading edge and a stiff profile for better wind penetration, and a foil such as the SROKA Elite 14mm carbon foil with a front wing like the SROKA 550 S HA, 670 S HA, or SROKA 810 S HA.
Going fast isn't something you can simply decide to do. You have to learn to push your limits. Experience and training will be essential to breaking your records. Finally, it's easier to try to push your limits with others than alone. So motivate each other and try to be better than your teammate.