Wing foiling is a sport that can be practiced all year round. So if you also want to ride all year and make the most of all your sessions even when it's cold. Here are some tips from the Sroka team on where and how to wing foil. To wing foil in winter, there are two possibilities.
- Either you equip yourself properly to face the winter,
- Or you opt for a trip to a country with a mild climate and suitable weather conditions for wing foiling.
How to wing foil in winter while staying at home? How to equip yourself?
Riding in winter is not the most pleasant sensation if you are not well equipped. But it can become a real pleasure and sensation-filled experience if you choose the right equipment.
First of all, choose a spot adapted to your level and always check the weather. In winter, weather conditions change quickly on the water: safety must remain your priority. Make sure that access to the spot is safe and that you can practice safely in case of a drop in wind or equipment problems.
As for equipment, whether for wing foiling, downwinding, surf foiling, pumping... it is essential. Here's what you need to go wing foiling in winter.
The Equipment
Whether it's for learning, progressing in wing foiling, or simply continuing to ride in winter, equipment makes all the difference.
1. Full winter wetsuit
If you're not too sensitive to cold, a 4/3 or 5/4 wetsuit will largely suffice.
A winter wetsuit with an integrated hood is the best choice for wing foiling in winter while staying warm. A full wetsuit with an integrated hood will provide better protection from the cold and also prevent water from infiltrating the wetsuit.
What to remember: 30% of our heat is lost through our extremities. For those who are very sensitive to cold, 6/5/4 wetsuits are available, such as those from Hoalen.
2. Hood, booties, earplugs
If your wetsuit doesn't have an integrated hood, you can wear one separately. This helps to retain heat, protect you from the cold (wind and water), and allows you to have only one wetsuit for riding with or without a hood.
The same goes for winter booties, which keep your feet warm. Opt for flexible booties to maintain a good feel for your foot placement.
Finally, don't forget earplugs to prevent exostosis.
3. Gloves
Gloves are a very important element for winter riding. Not everyone likes to wear them, but they protect very well from the cold.
There are two main types of gloves:
- Full gloves that offer maximum protection against the cold but can in some cases reduce sensation in the hands when holding the handles and cause forearm cramps.
- Open mitt gloves that allow to avoid cold fingers and hands without losing sensation in the handles.
4. Impact vest
The Sroka impact vest will insulate you from the cold thanks to its neoprene construction and reinforced foams, while protecting you from impacts.
Penultimate tip
Tip 1: If you are in a rather cold place, avoid taking out boards with a volume of 40 liters. If you have the possibility of taking a board with more volume, it will prevent you from spending a lot of time in the water and swimming for too long if the wind drops.
Tip 2: When you go for a session, lay your kitesurf or wing foil wing on the beach as soon as possible. It is better to avoid sharp rocks and asphalt in strong winds. Indeed, if your wing slips due to the wind, it will rub against the ground and this will cause wear on the seams or the spinnaker.
Wing foil destinations abroad during winter
If the desire for sun is stronger than anything and you can't stand riding in the cold, you only have one solution left: find a paradisiacal destination to ride in the sun.
Here is a list of the best spots abroad where wind conditions are excellent for wing foiling in winter. This list is not exhaustive but will surely give you travel ideas.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is an area where the trade winds are present in winter. They will offer you a pleasant temperature during the winter, between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius. In addition, they benefit from constant trade winds offering ideal conditions for wing foiling. So French Antilles like Guadeloupe, Martinique... are ideal places to travel in winter and benefit from optimal conditions. A little more exotic, you can opt for St. Barth or the Grenadines.
Zanzibar
Located off the east coast of Africa, Zanzibar is an increasingly popular destination for water sports enthusiasts. It offers ideal wind conditions all year round. From December to March is the Kuzi season, which means high-altitude winds blow constantly, offering ideal conditions for wingfoiling and other water sports. This is an ideal period for wing foiling and working on basic techniques.
Sri Lanka
In addition to favorable temperatures all year round, Sri Lanka, like Zanzibar, benefits from constant wind favorable to wing foiling.
The Kalpitiya area, on the northwest coast, works particularly well from May to October with often constant wind and flat lagoons perfect for progressing. In the European winter, you can also ride on the south coast, although the wind is generally lighter there.
Between warm water, reliable wind, and varied spots, Sri Lanka remains a very good option for an exotic wing foil trip.
Cape Town in South Africa
Cape Town, and especially Langebaan, is a very popular destination for kitesurfing. Known for its very strong and constant winds, particularly from November to March, Cape Town works perfectly from November to March. These conditions are ideal for wing foiling if you like riding with small wing sizes.
The Canary Islands
In winter, it's not the strongest wind period, but you can still have good sessions, especially for wing foiling, surf foiling or kitesurfing. In addition, the water and air temperatures are mild and pleasant. (Water temperature: around 18°C and between 20 and 25°C for the air)
Cape Verde
This archipelago, located off the west African coast, is an ideal destination for board sports like wing foiling. With its landscapes, fine sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, it attracts more and more water sports enthusiasts, including wing foil lovers. Boa Vista, the island off Senegal, offers perfect conditions in winter, whether in waves or on flat water; you'll find what you're looking for with warm water and consistent wind.
Brazil
Brazil is known for its constant winds during the winter period in France, offering strong and consistent winds. Spots like Jericoacoara and Cumbuco are popular with wing foil enthusiasts.
- Jericoacoara: located on the northeast coast of Brazil, Jeri is famous for its consistent winds and waves in lagoons. All of this offers ideal conditions for wing foiling.
- Cumbuco: is another very famous spot in Brazil, offering fine sandy beaches, lagoons, and excellent wind conditions, especially during the European winter, which is suitable for wing foiling.
Morocco
It is often said that Morocco has more waves in winter and more wind in summer. Nevertheless, the wind remains constant all year round, with an average of more than 20 days per month with 12 to 20 knots on average. So if you go on a trip to Southern Morocco in winter to ride, expect to have wind during your vacation. With spots like Dakhla and Essaouira, you will have a multitude of spots to satisfy your wing foil desires.
Tarifa
Tarifa is located at the southern tip of Spain, a few kilometers from Morocco. With more than 300 windy days a year, Tarifa is considered the European wind capital. This makes it one of the most renowned destinations for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and also wing foiling enthusiasts. With spots like Playa Chica, Bolonia, Tarifa town, or even the more difficult spot of Canos de Meca (with its rocky reef that can sometimes come out of the water in certain places), Tarifa offers ideal wind conditions for wing foiling throughout the year. Allowing to ride with wind and mild temperatures in winter. When the Levante wind rises, the wind strength is generally 6-7 Beaufort, offering strong and constant wind conditions.
In summary
In summary, you have two options.
- If you want to ride every weekend, you'll need to equip yourself properly for riding in the cold by choosing a warm wetsuit and protecting your extremities to avoid losing too much energy.
- If you only want to ride in the warmth, choose a sunny destination for winter riding with mild temperatures.
In this case, two options are available to you. Either you choose a destination where you can rent equipment on site, or you take your board bag with you to ride with your own equipment (discover our wing foil packages). In the latter case, check the excess baggage prices according to the airlines. The price is different for each company.
If you still have questions about this, or for any other request, do not hesitate to contact us!