Downwinding in foil is an increasingly popular discipline where the practitioner uses the wind and waves to propel himself over long distances, often by going downwind.
This practice, which combines the use of a board equipped with a foil and sometimes a wing, allows you to glide on the water with a feeling of flying above the waves.
Downwinding in foil requires good technical mastery and adapted equipment to maximize stability and performance.
Downwind boards are optimized to paddle very early or with a Wing in your hands.
Their longer length with little width makes it easier to gain speed and glide and allows you to row with very little swell or in very light wind.
One of the keys is the stiffness of your board.
To optimize the responsiveness of your board, we opted for a full carbon construction with sandwich reinforcements under the pad and the US rails glued in PVC blocks crossing to the deck.
This rigidity will give you maximum responsiveness and responsiveness in the board.
Downwind boards will give you maximum glide to fly in all conditions.
Light wing foiling boards are specifically designed to sail in light wind conditions, usually between 5 and 12 knots.
These boards stand out for their generous volume and optimized design to facilitate take-off and maintain stability even with little wind.
They are often longer and narrower, which allows for better glide and faster take-off.
In addition, they are usually built in full carbon sandwich (for the best constructions) and their aerodynamic shape makes them ideal for prolonged sessions with light winds.
One of the keys to performing in these practices is the choice of the right board: the shape of the board, its length, width, stability and rigidity are the criteria that will undeniably influence your speed of progress.
The larger the board, the stiffer it will need to be to increase the overall responsiveness of the board.
To be rigid, you need to increase the amount of carbon and reinforce the cases (deck/hull) to improve the responsiveness of the foil.
This brings another advantage: it increases the longevity of the board.
We build all our boards in full carbon:
An incredible flying feeling.
The shape and rigidity of the board will bring you maximum pleasure and stability, whatever your level.
Exceptional glide.
We have particularly worked on the hulls to provide maximum glide while maintaining excellent stability on rough waters.
Stiff and strong : One of the keys to performance is the stiffness of the boards.
We have worked particularly this point to provide maximum stiffness and responsiveness by increasing the number of carbon layers and improving the force recovery of the US rails (axle/hull).
Downwinding foiling is an aquatic discipline where the practitioner uses the wind and waves to propel himself over long distances, often by going downwind.
This practice allows you to glide on the water with a feeling of flying above the waves.
Light wind boards are designed to sail in light wind conditions.
They offer better stability and make it easier to take off even in light wind, thanks to their generous volume and optimized design.
When choosing the size of your light wind board, it is important to consider your weight and skill level.
In general, it is recommended to choose a board with a volume that is at least 10 liters higher than your weight for an average and a volume equal to or less than your weight for an advanced to expert level.
Downwind boards are generally longer and narrower to maximize glide and make it easier to take off on the swell (because you take off with the strength of your arms).
Light wind boards, on the other hand, are designed to provide better stability and easier take-off with a wing in light wind conditions.
They are generally shorter and a little wider.
When choosing a downwind board, it is important to consider the length, width and volume of the board.
A longer, narrower board will provide better glide, while a board with volume that matches your weight will allow you to maintain stability and make it easier to take off.
If you’re in a place where the wind swell isn’t very powerful, get a larger board.
If you are in a place where the swell pushes hard, a smaller board could be an alternative depending on your level.
For downwinding, it is recommended to use a foil with a large front wing extension to facilitate take-off and maintain stability.
The recommended front wing sizes for beginners are generally between 1260 cm² and 1500 cm² with a high aspect ratio.
For the light, a foil with a high aspect ratio will allow you to optimize the start very early and allow you to glide with very, very little wind.
For the super light, a front wing between 1000 and 1300 will be suitable.
If the wind is stronger, you can quickly go down in front wing size of foil.
Yes, some boards are versatile and can be used for both downwinding and light winding.
However, it is important to choose a board with the right features for both practices to maximize performance.
For example, the DW 7’2 can be a good alternative if you are looking to practice light wind and downwind.
It’s just a matter of compromise.
If you take the 8’3, you will also be able to practice both disciplines, but this 8’3 DW will be more downwinder oriented and a little less maneuverable for winging (because the board will be bigger).
It’s a question of compromise.
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