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There\u2019s been a lot of buzz around wingsurfing over the last year, and I\u2019ve definitely been caught by the winging bug!
Although I have yet to go winging myself, I am no stranger to picking up new water sports. I have spent most of my life on the water and have been an active sailor, windsurfer and kite surfer over the years. My next venture is the new sport of wingsurfing. I really enjoy spending time doing my research into new parts of the water sports world, and recently I have learnt as much as I can about wingsurfing. Through the time I\u2019ve spent trawling the internet, there have been 3 key things that stand out to me with regards to wingsurfing.\u00a0<\/p>
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The front wing of your foil<\/strong><\/p> 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The wing shape.<\/strong><\/p> 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The board size<\/strong><\/p> 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The front wing on your foil<\/u><\/strong><\/p> This seems like one of the most important choices you\u2019ll be making as you learn to wing. The foil is going to be doing the bulk of the work for you while winging. Therefore, the size and shape will be making big differences. Most articles and videos recommend you use a front wing that has an area from 1800cm2 to 2500cm2, depending on your size and the wind conditions. The smaller you are, or the stronger the winds, the smaller surface area you can go. The opposite is true for larger foils \u2013 nice and simple.<\/p> \u00a0The other things you will often see when looking at foils, is whether the foil is low or high aspect. Broadly speaking:<\/p> -\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fat foils (low-aspect) are slow but easier to ride.<\/p> -\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Skinny foils (high-aspect) are fast but harder to ride<\/p> If you\u2019re interested in why, here\u2019s my understanding. A high-aspect foil<\/u> has a shape that is long in wingspan, but short in depth. Theses foils will provide far more glide and top end speed, but you compromise manoeuvrability due to their large wingspan. On the other hand, low-aspect foils<\/u> will have a slower top speed, but far more manoeuvrable in carving. See the images below to see the differences in shape. For most people learning to wing, lower aspect foils are going to be the right choice. It will be easier to learn and allow you to progress much faster.<\/p> 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Wing shape<\/u><\/strong><\/p> The most obvious piece of kit but potentially the least impactful on your learning curve in this new sport. From what I have read and watched, there are only a few significant differences between all the wings out there. The most obvious is price and build quality. The more expensive wings tend to be made by manufactures that use lighter and stronger materials (hence the price). Cheaper wings appear to be heavier and may not last as long. The second thing is the shape of wing and how this affects your riding.<\/p> -\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wings that are more full in their shape provide more power in low winds, but are more difficult to control in stronger winds<\/p> -\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wings that have flatter profiles will be more controllable both while riding, and when flipping the wing over when you\u2019re in the water.<\/p> 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Board size<\/u><\/strong><\/p> As a beginner, you will want plenty of volume to learn as you spend a lot of time getting on and off the board. Typically, you go for your weight in kilograms and add 40kg. This however does potentially create an issue if you see yourself progressing quickly and looking for a more manoeuvrable board. This personally is my biggest dilemma currently and is stopped me committing to buying all the gear. I would love to be in a position where I can use a 75litre (or lower) board in a range of wind conditions, but I think that might be a little ambitious. By going for a smaller board, I am going to have a steeper learning curve and potentially slow my rate of progression initially. Realistically, I will need to spend time learning on a bigger board and then downgrading the size once I have learnt the basics.<\/p> The final consideration I have found with boards, is whether I go for a wing specific boards or a sup foil boards. The choice you make is an all-round board that lets you tap into another discipline, or full commitment to the craze that is wing foiling.<\/p> I hope you can find some useful things to consider in your journey into winging, and please let me know your thoughts on this new sport. We\u2019d love to hear any additional suggestions from anyone who has already had a go on Instagram<\/a> or Facebook<\/a>. Below are links to videos that I have found helpful and well worth your time in checking it out. If you're ready to take the plunge, check out the second-hand wingsurfing kit<\/a> for sale on SecondSurf, with new listings getting added regularly!<\/p> \u00a0Andy Great sources of more information:<\/p>
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Secondsurf co-founder<\/p>