How to wave ride with a Wing foil?
You already know how to Wing foil and want to take it to the next level? You dream of wave riding while flying over the water, without the board ever touching the water? You're in the right place! In this article, we'll explain how to wave ride with a Wing foil, giving you advice on choosing your spot, wing positioning, the trajectory to follow and the maneuvers to perform. Whether you're a beginner or advanced, you'll find all the information here to fully enjoy this exciting sport.
Prerequisites for wave riding with a Wing foil
What skill level to start wave riding?
- Know how to navigate correctly: you must master the basic principles of Wing foil, speed and direction control, tack changes, etc. You must also know the safety and priority rules on the water.
- Know how to master jibes: It's preferable to be able to perform them without losing control or touching the water with the board before trying to wave ride. You'll find our illustrated guide here that explains how to perform a jibe in Wingfoil, step by step.
If you have these skills, you're ready to wave ride with a Wing foil! Otherwise, we recommend you practice on a flat, calm water surface before venturing into the waves.
« With a Foil like the 1350 Lift, you can wave ride endlessly on the slightest ripple of more than 20cm. It's the best way to turn a bad spot into a dream spot! »
Choosing your spot for Wing foil
- Wind direction and strength: you should favor side shore wind (parallel to the beach) or side on shore wind (slightly oriented toward the beach), which allows you to navigate easily and return to shore if needed. Avoid offshore wind (blowing toward the open water), which makes returning difficult and dangerous. Wind strength must be sufficient to inflate the wing and make the Foil take off, but not too strong to avoid being unbalanced. Generally, a wind between 10 and 25 knots is recommended.
- Wave size and shape: you should choose waves suited to your level and equipment. To start, it's better to opt for small, soft and regular waves, which allow you to get familiar with gliding and takeoff. To progress, you can move toward steeper and faster waves, which offer more sensations and maneuver possibilities. Avoid waves that are too big or too breaking, which can be dangerous. You can also easily start in choppy water and make your first rides.
- Available space: make sure you have enough space to navigate without bothering or being bothered by other practitioners. You must respect priority rules.
How to wave ride with a Wing foil?
- Spot a wave forming and turn around in front of it, or at least navigate in the same direction as the wave. You must position yourself at a sufficient distance to have time to prepare and position yourself.
- Adapt your speed to the wave's speed to get as close as possible. The goal is to be on it, without being too early or too late. You must use the wing to accelerate or slow down, by pulling or releasing the handles or the wishbone.
- Once on the wave, put your wing in neutral position by holding it by the Leading edge handle. This allows you to be freer and truly wave ride. You must keep the wing above your head or to the side, depending on the wind.
- Adjust your trajectory based on the wave's shape and movement. You must orient the board with your feet and torso, keeping your knees bent and your gaze toward the horizon. You can adapt your speed and direction with the wing, by moving it slightly and smoothly.
- If you're going faster than the wave, you must go at an angle to the wave, to avoid passing it or losing it. If you're going slower than the wave, you must stay perpendicular to the wave, to avoid being caught or falling.
What equipment for wave riding in Wingfoil?
The "Classic" range
Classic Foils have a medium aspect ratio. They are easy to handle and offer good stability and maneuverability. They are ideal for beginners or riders looking to have fun in the waves or make transitions. They are available in several sizes, ranging from 1250 cm² to 2000 cm². The 1250 is intended for experienced riders or very light beginners (-50 kg).
The "High Aspect" range
High Aspect Foils have a high aspect ratio, meaning a larger wingspan relative to the chord. They are more efficient for wave riding because they glide longer. They are also better suited for light winds or soft waves. They are available in several sizes, ranging from 950 cm² to 2000 cm².
| Front wing | Wave riding behavior |
| HA 1350 | Glides endlessly on the slightest ripple. Perfect for choppy water, small Swell and waves under 50 cm. Ultra effective at Pumping. It's the ultimate wing for having fun in Wing Surf and Surf foil in small conditions. 100% compatible with Surf foil. |
| HA 1190 Lift | Glides very long and carries a lot. Perfect for choppy water, small Swell and waves under 70cm. Very effective at Pumping. 100% compatible with Surf foil. |
| HA 1190 Speed | Glides very long, gains more speed than the 1190 Lift but requires a few more centimeters of wave to glide as much, due to its faster Speed profile and less lift-oriented. Perfect in small, medium Swells and waves under one meter. Very effective at Pumping when you have some speed. You'll have more difficulty relaunching it with Pumping if it loses speed, compared to the Lift version which can restart very easily at low speed. 100% compatible with Surf foil. |
| HA 950 | Perfect in Swell over 50cm to glide effortlessly. You gain enormous speed with lots of control. |
| Classic 2000 | Very powerful, it's the wing that offers the most lift. A large rider can make their first wave rides in waves or Swell between 20 and 60 cm. |
| Classic 1750 | It's the perfect fin to start with Wing foil. It allows medium-sized riders to learn Wingfoil in the best conditions and make their first wave rides with ease. |
| Classic 1500 | It's the perfect fin to start with Wing foil when you have a small build (-60kg). It allows light riders to learn Wingfoil in the best conditions and make their first wave rides with ease. 100% compatible with Surf foil for larger riders. |
| Classic 1250 | It's the perfect wing for carving and exploiting the maximum of waves from 30 to 80cm for a medium build (80kg). 100% compatible with Surf foil. |
