How SAFE is WING FOILING

[@catalinbvro]

Hello DamianI love your videos and have learned so much from them. I'm truly grateful for all the knowledge you share. That said, I'd like to share my perspective. The way safety is presented feels a bit superficial, and you make it sound easier than it actually is. I run a center, and I've witnessed terrible beginner accidents despite the use of all the safety gear currently available. Right now, there’s no safety equipment specifically designed for wing foiling. Wearing a helmet, an impact vest, and neoprene didn’t prevent injuries like a uterus cut, an eye being taken out, or a foil completely piercing someone’s leg, all these example of beginers. No tricks, no hazard. In my experience, it seems brands are prioritizing performance over safety. This is an extreme sport, but it's still in its early stages, and safety needs to be a critical consideration-especially when it's being presented as "easy to learn" to parents with young children. Wishing you all the best in your efforts!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for the kind words and for sharing your input! Really appreciate you, we are always learning so thank you!

[@SacksBill]

100% agreed with your point at 1:08. I was driving this past Sunday AM on the way to go wing foiling with a new board/foil/wing setup and was rear-ended. Car totaled, gear damaged, but I'll live to wing another day!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Hope you are ok friend sorry to hear! Great positive attitude though, good for you!

[@martinomovies]

After a while you learn how to fall so the foil doesn't hit you. But it always helps to wear some leg protection (ankle length skin suit or wet suit), even when you get more advanced and start doing gybes and wave riding. Biggest threat is the water itself. When going out in large bodies of water, beginners should stay paddle distance to shore or go out with a group of people until they learn how to read the conditions.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thanks for your insight friend...

[@imuahayn8082]

watching this video with stitches on my head the from mast, lol should've been wearing my helmet

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Sorry to hear friend... Heal up fast!

[@wildhogget69]

It's amazing I walk down to the water with my wetsuit on, impact vest on and helmet, then I look at others in shorts.... Then again I ride a motorbike 900cc with a full face helmet and leathers and see others with shorts and a T-shirt on. It's all about risk management at the end of the day and what you want to expose yourself to. I need to work to allow me to have fun, so I need to be safe and ensure I don't get injured. I still have fun like the guy with shorts on, but hey we have different outlooks on the sport. Nice video guys!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Well said friend!

[@Baodehui]

On a practical level, I'd say there are some things everyone seems to learn to stay safe that are worth listing: - WEAR PPE!!!! Helmet and impact vest are absolute musts early on - Keep yourself upwind of the board as much as possible when you crash, and keep a hold on the wing so it also stays upwind (and it's one more thing between you and the board) - Extremely gusty/windy days are more dangerous because there is enough wind to catch the board and flip it over, exposing the foil and then bringing it down like a hammer - If you start losing balance on the foil, bail EARLY - If you know you're going down, try to kick the nose of the board down toward the water rather than stepping off the back and shooting the board into the air (I'm very guilty of this one) IMO the common dangerous situations are either scissoring onto the board edge or foil, usually caused by a gust pulling your upper body downwind and trying to fight for control of the board rather than bailing out early, or a situation where you fall off downwind of the board and kick the board into the air as you fall, then the wind carries it back into you. You'll be at most risk when you're first learning to get on foil, then again when learning new skills like jibing.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Toby for sharing

[@jimheaven]

An impact vest is a must must must. I’ve been tapped on the head with a helmet, but have taken major hits to the body with broken ribs. Interestingly I learnt to foil behind a boat and I would warn people about holding on and fighting the fall, the foil has a mind of its own when powered up when being towed. I like to wear footstraps but again this is a major area of potential for injury. If both your feet stay in the straps (or worse just one) it’s a hell of an awkward fall….now after about 50 hours of riding (according to my Apple Watch) I’m pretty good and not worrying so much about injuries. Once you learn the ways of the foil you are less likely to be surprised by a strange movement that catches you.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you James for your insight! We appreciate you

[@murraybruce3802]

Great vid. Thanks! I wear a Gath helmet with retractable face shield. The primary reason is to protect the skin on my face from the sun but it also works super well for impact protection. Floating the board upside down while getting out of the waves the foil has dinged my helmet a couple of times. No problem ; )

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Murray we appreciate you!

[@zekesteggall2176]

Enjoying your videos. Is there one covering the difference between inflatable wing boards and traditional fibreglass ones ? Thanks

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

No we have not made that yet. :). Thank you for the kind words.

[@mellocello]

In one of your videos (step 1 or 2 I think), you said the camera operator properly banged up his knees, blood and all. Can you do a video on suggested safety equipment, and why you need it? Knee pads, mouth guards, helmets with face shields, lifejackets, gloves, kevlar, etc.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

The knees, blood on the knees, Gwen did not have on a wetsuit or booties for his feet. Or knee pads. It can help when learning as you are on your knees then climbing up to standing. The rubbing on the board! Hope that makes sense....

[@matija3791]

Thanks for the vid. I could not stop wondering the whole video though, how you two guys ride with 3 boards but only 1 Wing xD

[@SolePilatesNYLocustValleyNY]

Learn in flat water if you can. Even small waves and shore break can be VERY dangerous when youre learning.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Great insight thank you!

[@t7639]

I have had my leash come off my wing in the middle of a session. That is dangerous if you are gassed already. Fortunately the wing ended up sticking to the water 200 feet away and I swam to it. The other day though I went over the bars and raked the top of my foot across the foil tip. No cut thank goodness, but a major blood vessel cut and abrasion. Compared to other sports.....it's as safe as you make it. Great video

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for your message to help others!

[@ColoradoMikeC]

The risk is worth the reward people!!!! Get out there!!!! But be smart about it!!!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Amen buddy! Right......

[@kiterJ]

Nearly anything is safer than kiting 🤣