Wing Foil tips for beginners- how to avoid the most common mistakes

[@hughwanzakaffi7348]

Thank you! I’m a beginner. I’ve been out a bunch of times. I found everything in this video very relatable. It was good for me, in comparing my progression with the skills presented here. Thanks again!

[@blueplanetsurf]

👍😎🤙🏼

[@mikewang3821]

So cool seeing somebody learning it brand new.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, it’s fun to watch! 🤙🏼

[@oolong2]

Spent all last week practicing with the wing on land and on a big floaty dagger board. Took me a few days to tack upwind, but finally did it. Now I'm waiting on my own gear to arrive. A wing and a slightly smaller foil board, about 10-20 liters above my weight. I'm hoping that the board is not too small to inhibit progress, but not too big that I outgrow it. I found that a lot of practice with the wing on land is pretty critical. I had a 5m wing in some pretty strong gusty wind, which typically wouldn't be good for a beginner, but all the practice on land made the wind entirely manageable and I never got overpowered. BTW I think learning to juggle on a balance board is a lot easier 😅

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, 100% agree that land practice is key, the more the better. Learning to juggle took me a while too, so I'm not sure on which is easier to learn. Maybe comparable to juggling sharp knives while standing on a balance board, haha.

[@yannickgiau3928]

Nice video. Tanx so much for the tips. Aloha from Tahiti

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you, Maruru 🤙🏼

[@NeoVdV]

Hallo, I'm almost 61, nevertheless each time I see some video of wingfoiling I get that feeling of wanting to go out and try it. I live close to a lake where I can do it. I have only experience with watersports as SUP, kayak and Catamaran sailing. No skateboard, snowboarding or any foil experience at all. As I live in Belgium winter is almost here. With that this is a time that people sell boards, foils and wings as they want to progress in smaller and better gear next year. There is no store anywhere close to my location, no place to rent or try out some gear. Best, and probably only way, to start is buying my own gear and go out learning with try and error till I get it. I now have the opportunity to buy some good 2e hand gear. Not much to find here either. But what to buy ? I want to buy something I can start with as a newbie but can keep for longer without having to sell, with loss, and buy new. I already bought a wing, Cabrinha X2 6m and a foil, Shinn 82cm mast, 1950cm² front wing. Now I have to decide on a board. I've the choice between a Starboard X wing 145 or a Fanatic Sky 110 So one has more volume, the other a 20cm shorter and relative significantly lighter. What to take ? I'm 175cm tall a d about 82Kg (in shorts !) Oh yes, so for lake conditions. More volume, more buoyancy, more stability, more drag, more sticky on the water, ... needs more speed to lift on foil ? Less volume, takes longer to learn, less water contact surface, faster lift ... ? So ... 145 or 11o Liter board ? (I tried 2x on my SUP but that I won't do anymore as I got downwind way to fast and to far, plus only a short part of walk of shame is possible walking in the water (not on shore) as other part is deeper than standing depth)

[@blueplanetsurf]

Hi, it sounds like you did your research and the wing and foil will work for you to learn on. I think either board could work got you but since you have no foiling experience, I would recommend the longer board with more volume. You could learn on the smaller board but it will be more challenging, for sure. I hope that helps.

[@NeoVdV]

Well ... as I'm alone and my B-day is coming up ... giving myself a present ... and knowing that there are only 5 boards (a 35, 75, 95, 110 and 145) in Belgium on 2e hand sites ! ... I bought the 110 and the 145 ... just to be sure not to miss out on it as both of these are really as out of the box condition for a good deal. Selling the 145 hopefully soon when at the level to go onto the 110 😉 I hope the weather will permit me to go out on the water with my gear (as i don't like the cold) to discover this new sport. Find out how the progress will be for me as a total newbie, no other watersport experience to fall back on.

[@blueplanetsurf]

@@NeoVdV excellent!

[@NeoVdV]

Got out on the water, ... dark grey sky and had rain too, wind ranging from 8 to 15kts. 5 runs up and down of 3 with walk of shame back to reset. A lot of balancing acts and acrobatic falls ;-) And who was there along with me, even on the same board (Starboard X wing 145) ... the king of Belgium , Yes really ! Also getting his debute in winging.

[@jamesc6137]

So what are the drawbacks on learning on a say 8 foot 132 liter foil board… with an 1850hs Armstrong foil kit? I’m 180lbs and foil behind a boat regularly inland with that 1850hs kit on a shorter board and started out with that 1850hs kit on the 8 footer behind the boat. I ask because I’m only at the coast twice a year and just want to cruise in the waves on the big 8 footer so I can standup start with my wing. Is my thinking correct? I ask because everyone says "learn on a big foil board (which I have), but you’ll quickly out grow it”…. I dont think I’ll out grow it winging once or twice a year at the coast in waves. Thx in advance….youre vids are awesome help

[@blueplanetsurf]

It sounds like a great board to learn on. Once you are up on foil, a smaller board will make it easier to control the foil which is why we like to use the smallest board we can get away with as we get better. Still, a bigger board makes it easier to get going and you can foil on it just fine. The longer board will touch the water sooner when pumping and will feel more sluggish but you can keep using it until you feel you have outgrown it and then pass it on to a beginner.

[@myphilippineslife1804]

She did well... Too big the wing when attempting the beach exercises. Obviously too small the board...but it’s great to see you 3 having fun. I feel this video gives a broader perspective to learning, it’s a “just how it is” kinda learning day. excellent location by the way.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you. Yes, I think it shows well how challenging it is at first but yes a smaller wing and bigger board would make it easier but that’s all Daniel had.

[@myphilippineslife1804]

@@blueplanetsurf just getting out there...when time allows, is easier said then done. Congrats on the tube success mate. You guys are pioneering the direction on an “end user” level. Thinking more on the gap stage between wing sup displacement, and flying the foil. Cheaper e-propulsion is the holy grail.

[@blairj88]

What spot is this ?👍

[@blueplanetsurf]

Kahala

[@meshmellow]

I will use this framework to teach my daughter (9). What was going on in Daniel’s mind when he put her on the small board? 😁

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏😎 He’s just using what he has but a bigger board would be better no doubt! 🤙🏼

[@Hydrosurf_]

Hey that's Jericho nice

[@blueplanetsurf]

👍😎🤙🏼

[@warrenp8502]

I thought she did really well all things considered. Maybe a follow up video showing her progression?

[@blueplanetsurf]

👍👍I like that idea! 🤙🏼

[@IRWE905]

It would be helpful for you to put an arrow in for Wind Direction, and define terms - upwind and downwind. I find Beginner Wingers without a Windsports background find these concepts challenging. Then the real fun begins once they are out on the water. As always another informative production.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@oliverpolden]

Hmm, why are they talking back winding when she can't even handle the wing yet? I would say the most important thing is to learn how the wing reacts to the back hand: Sheet in and out for power, push down to keep the nose up and prevent the tip from going down, that also reduces power as it comes over head, lift the back hand up to bring the wing back down into the power band.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Agreed, wing handling is the first thing a beginner should learn. The back winding question i asked Daniel is meant for more advanced wingers trying to learn that move, clearly not for beginners.

[@martinomovies]

I’m sorry. Watching the young woman on a sinker is painful. Also the wing is too big for her especially on a windy day. She is not going to get on foil yet so she should be on a big SUP board (with a dagger) and be using a tiny wing so she can learn how to sail. Otherwise the beach exercises were good. For a complete beginner, it’s also important for them to wear a life vest, a helmet, and know how to detangle themselves when the two cords get wrapped around each other or around the foil mast.

[@blueplanetsurf]

100% agree. Daniel only had this board available though and has taught another friend, Nani on the same board and she is now ripping in the waves on a small wing foilboard, so although it is unnecessarily hard to learn on a small board, it's clearly not impossible.

[@jamesc6137]

In my opinion that’s not a sinker board… my 39 liter id consider a sinker. As long as she can float that board on her knees and it not go under it’s at doable threshold with practice. But bringing up a “sinker” board is interesting…. I’ve recently thought that using my 39 liter with foot straps and letting it completely sink with me standing on it and using a wing as sort of a tripod affect luffing wind under, a slowly ramping the board and foil out of the water. I’ve always been to Lazy and chicken to try that but I swear I see how it could work…. And you’d already be in the right standing position. Balance and patience would be the key but as you start ramping the board upward and it starts coming out of the water your wing in the air would stabilize you. Maybe I’m crazy…

[@IvanGrozny777]

I like yor wing ) like Russian flag