Does Winging Ever Trump Kiting? (6 Scenarios To Consider) Inland Riding

GREEN HAT KITEBOARDING - greenhatkitebo....
This video details 6 scenarios to consider with inland riding where wing foiling may be the better option than kiting. Just because you ride in an inland location without waves, is not a reason to think that you can't find enjoyment with winging.
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[@chrismriscin9161]

Love your videos bro! I've been windsurfing and kiteboarding for about 35 years and I learned how to wing on a traditional SUP in about 30 minutes and was up on an Armstrong foil in another 30 minutes. Now granted, this was at Real in perfect conditions with an instructor on a Jetski but who's judging. lol 20 years ago, it took me about 6-8 to become only lightly proficient at flying a kite on the land and in the water before I ever actually got up on a board. Since I've been kite foiling for over 2 years, the wing foiling came natural but I still think there is less going on and less to manage with a wing vs. a kite. My big motivation to get into wing foiling is the water accessibility in otherwise unlaunchabe spots and inland lakes with cruddy wind.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Thanks Chris. Good info 👍

[@profusionlifetv7183]

I’ve been surfing, skim boarding, skateboarding for a while. Never thought of any wind sports. One day while surfing I met a kite boarder who happens to be my neighbor. He had me so hyped on kiteboarding I went to take a lesson. I think the beach was too crowded. I felt really uncomfortable with that huge kite that was attached to me and more powerful than me. I will probably try again someday but at that moment I just felt like it wasn’t something I wanted to pursue. But, I was so hyped in wind sports I went and bought some wing gear. I love it! Depending on conditions I use the wing with my skimboard, skateboard, SUP and foil. Can’t compare it to kiteboarding but for now I’m loving the wing.

[@matthewdavies4144]

I love your video's, you crack me up. I started winging pretty much right at the start of 2020 after 20 years of kiting but with zero foil experience. I was one of the first on my coastline in the UK so I had nobody to teach me so it was a hard learning curve. 18 months on and it is literally the most amazing thing I have ever done. I can't forget the sheer amount of joy that kiting has given me but have to say I've not kited now for about a year. Winging is awesome.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Thanks Matthew! Spread the propaganda. This sport needs more nudging than most for others to give it a go. Worth it though. I agree.

[@Ludwighaffen1]

Thanks for this great video. Fully agree with you. This sports really starts being popular here on swiss lakes. I rarely kiteboard on my local lake due to sketchy starting/landing spots and winds. But I am now enjoying my first wingfoil rides and my time on water increased A LOT. That was the main driver to try wingfoiling. I will still keep kiteboarding on holidays though, as I am addicted to airs 🙂.

[@martinomovies]

Awesome vid. Having a great time winging in Chicago in Lake Michigan and on inland lakes in Wisconsin. Finally met a couple other wingers (all going through a middle age crisis with disposable incomes and flexible schedules). Glad that you talk about the financial issues and accessibility that this sport needs to overcome to grow.

[@yes2cookies651]

I would add a criteria for winging is do you want a truly depowered wave only surf ride. This is why many of us in the great lakes region are pursuing it. PS my back problems have disappeared since winging - so true of what you say- whole body core like exercise.

[@mmnnmt]

Nice one. I'm a liter but plan to try winging later this year. Deffo room for both in my world.

[@michelcote]

In many ways, the wing is comparable to a windsurf sail. You are understanding what I was trying to explain to my friends why I kept my windsurf gear after starting to kite.

[@fluiditynz]

I must kite again... some time... Love the big air component. but I kited 5 years, still have all my kite gear and yet the last 8 months all but one session has been winging !!?? I do it for the flexibility in wind directions and launch spots, for knowing I can wing in more wind variation than I'd need 3 kites for, for the safety in the high winds, for the workout in the light winds and for the feeling of something new. Oh.. and for me- The challenge in designing and the fun in riding my own foils and board! I'm the only competent kiter in my area who has made the switch. Do I care if others change? Their decisions. I'm just happy with a great new sport and I'm definitely not alone in the feeling!

[@kippywylie]

Can you address the physical strain on the shoulder tendons wing vs kite. Old torn rotator issues have kept me with kites

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Understandable Kip. Much more shoulder involvement in winging for sure. The key is to use back muscles and not allow the wing to “pull” on shoulder joint. So you want to engage your shoulder blades to squeeze together during winging.

[@pcbfoiler]

Can be difficult convincing kiters to get into winging, i hear a lot of them say “that doesn’t look fun”..but they are heavily invested in kiting, and don’t want to dedicate the time it takes to learn the new sport. It’s a pretty good workout, and it can kick your butt when the winds are light. I didn’t think I would ever be able to do it in the waves, and just did a big downwinder here in Hatteras w/ Dimitri and friends.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

I saw the pics Wayne. Looked like a lot of fun. Some day I would love to try the waves out, but it will be a learning experience for sure.

[@ArthurKite]

i just bought a wing. still not sure if it is going to like it, but i took the risky of bé happy with another discipline. 😂

[@torstenrode6072]

You forgot to mention the endless pleasure when you pass Windsurfers struggling to plane or Kitesurfers with their Kites droped down waiting to relunch. After a fall it is just a few seconds until you are set again to get going😁

[@TylerKaraszewski]

After getting competent on the wing, I'm mostly back on the kite, but I'm trying to go racing and my "winter home" has great (but relatively light most of the time) tradewinds. I think the kite is more exciting, but the wing is "easier" (where easier is partly things like accessibility and lack of intimidation from too much power, not physically easier). With the wing, I kinda got to the point where I could ride it pretty well and was thinking, "Ok, now what?" It is a lot of fun in waves that are no fun on a surfboard, though.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

You like to go fast Tyler…you’re excused 😂

[@rnelias]

in my case, budget and wind restrictions are the main reasons I have never tried winging. Kitesurfing is amazing due to its flexibility. Just change the board and is a completely new sport, however, in order to start winging, we must invest not only on a new foil board setup but also in a new "propulsion system". Moreover, I'm now in love with hydrofoil. Just by changing the board it has opened a new sport for me and extended my time on water for those light wind days that I'd stay at home ;)

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Agree Renato. The financial hurdles are still the largest for this sport.

[@scottw8792]

Great video!

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Thanks Scott!

[@AdrianKerr]

Another great video mate.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Thx Adrian!

[@bohdanafanasyev3642]

I was debating to add wing to the water sports quiver. And you sold it 😂💪

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Great Bohdan. Let me know how it goes.

[@SalvadorSantiago]

Nice video again, fully agree!

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Thx Salvador!

[@gulliverdalton8680]

Wingings good if the winds crap. I get bored of it much quicker than a kite session with a surfboard though. I would take winging over twin tip kiting though, big air bores me pretty quick too. If I was inland, I would move, nothings going to be that great.

[@kiter9271]

Great vid! How would winging affect a guy (age 70) who has chronic lower back issues treated weekly by TENS and scraping (fascia release)?

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Hard to say Randy but I wouldn’t say winging is high stress on the low back. The 70 part is definitely not a road block.

[@targadave]

Randy I’m 62 and have had chronic low back issues ever since I had surgery in 1987. I too was worried about low back stress but was surprised at how easy it is on the body once you a up on foil. Sure, the learning phase is tougher with plenty of tiring “knee” starts and falling but your stance is upright, the wing is very easy to depower, and even riding toeside puts very little twist pressure on the back with proper technique. I kitefoiled for 2 years prior to winging and kiteboarded with a twintip the previous 18 years, and windsurfer for 20 years prior to kiting. Winging creates the lowest back stress for me with kitefoiling coming in second. Kiteboarding and windsurfing create much higher back stress for me even with a low seat harness.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

@@targadave thanks for the input and your experience. Very valuable 👍

[@targadave]

Great review! I just have to laugh at the naysayers who won’t give up. Reminds me of the video Gunnar Biniasch did explaining why he was winging so much instead of kitefoiling. Awkward looking? Flat water boring? Just look at the what the pro’s can do now,….and how smooth some of them have gotten. There are dozens of flat water freestyle moves getting invented every month. The bigger thing I notice; you were frequently “apologizing” for having to settle for flat water riding like it’s an inferior form of winging. I get the whole “it’s all about wave riding” because it’s been that way forever! But those perfect Maui type conditions are rarely found in most coastal locations. It’s more like blown out onshore winds with a nasty shorebreak to hammer at you. There is plenty for us mere flat water mortals to aspire to. Me; 62, windsurfed for 20 years, then twintip kited for 18 yrs, then kitefoiled for 2 yrs, and now wing foiled for 1 1/2 yrs. Cheers! and keep up the great work😀

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Thx TargaDave. Good words!

[@Marlow88]

Youre going to need to let us know who makes that swaggy shirt, brother. No lie. I mean the salmon polo.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Lol. All are Travis Mathew. Thanks!

[@Marlow88]

@@TheOKKiteboarder Haha thanks brother! And keep the videos coming. Nice work! One day you will convince me to lay down some money on a wing-foil setup.

[@madsteeez]

I'm undecided whether to get the flysurfer hybrid or invest into winging gear.. i like kiting with jumps and all but I'm actually a surfer and i find it annoying to be on a wave with a kite that i have to actively loop etc for it to not fall from the sky.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

I think you’ve already answered your contemplation 😆

[@madsteeez]

@@TheOKKiteboarder haha really? What's my answer??

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Time to wing

[@JJ-cx4ci]

Another great video, thanks for that good work. I am thinking in buying a wing, but I live near the sea, normally between 8 to 11 knots, 10% days is between 11 to 14 knots, never more. I kitefoil 3 years ago with Soul 12m whith winds down 10 knots, and with O Rodeo Roam AA 10m when winds are up 10 knots. Do you think winging in this conditions is possible and fun? THaks.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

More difficult to learn in those conditions but after learning you could wing with something like an FOne CWC and a larger high aspect front wing in those 11-14 conditions. Fun? I actually enjoy the challenge of light wind riding but to each their own 🤷‍♂️. Thx for the kind words.

[@blakoemail]

I windsurf and kitesurf. I don't use foil in either sports. I kite surf when the wind is from 12 up to 20 knots and I windsurf when the wind is above 20. I believe that if you do two wind related water sports there isn't a need to learn a third one. I really can't see the point of wingsurf. I also think that visually it looks very awkward compared to kitesurf and windsurf.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

I agree it’s very internal satisfaction. What I rarely hear though is : “I learned how to wing and I don’t find it enjoyable.” Most often the response is : “I’ve never learned to wing and it looks ridiculous.”😄

[@profusionlifetv7183]

I agree that it looks awkward. When I first saw Kai Lenny doing it I thought it looked too uncomfortable to be enjoyable but then I got a wing and it is super fun! Not awkward at all once you understand the wing. I use the wing to foil but in the right conditions I use it with my skim board, skateboard, and SUP.

[@fluiditynz]

The sport is growing pretty fast so most of what you see are still relatively new people who do make it look awkward. grace, fluidity in a sport take time for most of us.

[@IRWE905]

Great Overview OKK, as someone who KiteFoil's, Wingfoil's, Windfoil's you covered most of the bases. My wife who would never Kite now is WingSUPing and who knows maybe WingFoil next. I think the direction for maunfactures should be for beginners - Large boards that you can walk around on and stand on to get Wing in the air (not kneel launch) and 'indestructable' foils on short masts

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Good points. Thanks

[@KristanDL]

The biggest issue that stops me from winging is the price. For the same price I can buy complete set of kiteboarding equipment: kite, bar, twintip and harness. Wings are ridiculously overpriced. Couple of years ago I have bought an inflatable windsurfung sail for my SUP, made by North, for the same 4sqm size the price of it was only a half of the price of 4sqm wing, while being far too niche than wings right now. Winging would solve quite a lot of my issues regarding inland riding as well, I'd be able to ride the local lakes instead of driving 150km (100 or so miles) to the closest kite-able lake. On the other hand with the winds that required for wingfoiling I'd rather be kiting, and invest money into other sports when wind is not blowing.

[@SalvadorSantiago]

Prices are dropping fast, especially wingboards. And wings are cheaper than kites, and don't need a 400+ euro kitebar. The issue with wing prices is that due to shortage (?) shops are not eager/willing to give discounts as they do with kites. Of course a foil can be expensive (these are dropping too), but same applies for a kitefoil. Btw, I use the same 1250cm2 foil for kiting and winging...

[@KristanDL]

@@SalvadorSantiago if anything, kiteboarding and related equipment does never go cheaper. Only more and more pricey over time.

[@SalvadorSantiago]

@@KristanDL you are correct that a certain brand doesn't drop prices, but what you see happening in the market is that cheaper options/brands become available, and that shops start giving discounts (20-30% is definitely possible).

[@craigobikes123]

Yeah mate. Yeah.

[@raphmermontagne]

Lake advantage is only if you are unlucky and not live by the sea... Other reasons are minor. The only real good use case is wave riding. But even there the kite surf foiling with a Peak trumps the wing. There might be a feeling of freedom not using an harness as well

[@robadair]

I beg to differ - ease of launching is a huge advantage. Wings can launch anywhere you can get in the water, like rocky, tree lined shores. The instant off depowering of a wing is also a major advantage.

[@howleyboy3664]

I have to disagree. Surf foiling with a wing is vastly superior to the kite. You can completely flag out your wing on downwinders and ride waves indefinitely. You simply cannot do that on a kite. You have to always be mindful of the kite, and therein lies the rub. With the wing it becomes pure wave riding. If you do go with the kite you are limited as to how you can surf the waves as well. You cannot just ride the wave where it takes you. Say you are going in one direction and hop on a bump that takes you directly into your kite, your screwed, especially in light wind, so you avoid those maneuvers. I’m not giving up my kite any time soon but the wing does have its place in my quiver.

[@raphmermontagne]

@@howleyboy3664 you haven't read my comment carefully enough. I have covered that point. Kite foil surfing is also superior because you can ride a smaller, more manouverable board and foil.

[@BoardsAndWetsuits]

At my kite beach, wingers can always get out in lighter wind than me (learning) kite foiling

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Soon that will switch. Keep riding.

[@BoardsAndWetsuits]

@@TheOKKiteboarder I think I need a bigger kite. My 7m Code Zero flies in less than 10 knots but I have trouble generating enough power to get up and riding. Think I need a 9m.

[@canolando3499]

Financial hurdles are the biggest challenge. Next challenge is wife challenge. Try to convince her you need to spend $2000 for more kiting gear. It's a tough economy now. I guess I'll just virtual wing it.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Lol. I can always count on you Aero Venus.

[@pcbfoiler]

Sell some of that kite gear to buy some used wing gear, you won’t regret it.

[@canolando3499]

I can't sell some of that kite gear because its all new upgraded stuff this year and I kite all ocean it's too rough to be out there on a foil.

[@hugovanderzee4944]

I hear a lot of arguments in favor of wingfoiling, it's convenient, less dangerous and easier (than for example kitefoiling), and now a new one, ‘a better workout’. I find these arguments so little convincing. For me the important factor is the feeling, and I think the feeling of kitefoiling is on a whole different level. I have to say, I never tried wing foiling, and I probably never will. It just looks too awkward to me.

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Sounds like winging may not be for you Hugo, but you’ll never know unless you give it a go.

[@fluiditynz]

Body flexibility certainly helps with it. Proficiency reduces the exertion. But personally, I'm over weight, 55 and I need the exersize. I like my exersize to be on the water and kiteboarding doesn't really get me that exersize, a bit of knee pounding but that's about it. There's more whole body coordination required in winging and in my mind, that's a great bonus.

[@ignaciosernacampillo9527]

Fear limits progression, for an advance kiter u an go solo almost in every situation safely. Low wind, worse case..swim in.. end of story

[@howleyboy3664]

Wing dings are like mopeds and fat chicks. They are super fun to ride but you don’t want your friends to see you with them...

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

…interesting take Howley Boy 😆