How to Get Up | Wing Foil | 3 techniques

From small boards to big boards, we share 3 techniques to get you up on your wing foil board. This is an essential skill to master because without it, you can't ride. Standing start, knee start and water start. We know it's not as easy as it looks, so we want to share with you a few tips so you can get up and live your best life on your wing foil board!
0:00 Intro
1:07 Start on your feet (big board)
2:09 Start on your knees (small or big board)
3:15 Sink your board Waterstart (small board)
8:22 Conclusion
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[@joannamarie2486]

Just started learning how to wing foil for the lighter wind days (for now). Love your videos! But I love your sense of humor even more! 😂😂

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Joanna we appreciate you! Thank you!

[@prolifedoc]

Thank you for producing such a great series. This sport is prepared to LAUNCH because of lower costs to enter the sport, and high quality instructional videos like this series. I learned quickly without a lesson because of videos like this one. No wing-foiling instructors are available in the Pensacola, Florida area. PS MORE videos with Harry! The two of you are a great team.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much! Copy that more with Harry! :)

[@jonathankerner2094]

I second the vote for you teaming with Harry. He and I are about the same age so I can really relate.

[@lemonyellow3117]

I'm going to Pensacola from SF Bay Area to visit a friend. Should I bring my gear? Is it windy? Is it warm?

[@Wallancheck]

Just about to have my first lesson and I feel like, having watched Damien's videos religiously, I want to get straight on to the water! These are great, cheers Damien!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Ryan, glad they have helped friend! It is not easy but enjoy the learning process. We appreciate you!

[@plaineduloup184]

You’re the BEST! Thousand thanks! Best from Switzerland

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much! Much love from Florida!

[@gnevesd]

Great job incorporating the video clips with the instruction.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much!

[@mindmagnification-mentoryo1500]

You are fun Damien, you shine lad, glad you have found your passion and shared it with me, I've been deciding which water sport to dedicate myself to, this is it! Thanks brother, really appreciate your energy

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@laurentermellini9710]

Thank you for all your video !! I am 46 and I am going to start because of you 😂🤙🏼☮️

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

You made our day! Enjoy don't give up you will get it. Will take some work, up and down days but totally worth it..... Enjoy!

[@benbhand]

Love the "LeRoy/Tripod" technique to waterstart! Will definitely be using that when I (hopefully) start trying this for real on the water in another week or so. Thank you and keep up the great content!!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Ben enjoy buddy! Thank you friend...

[@youhavequasp]

Love our attitude and your vibe! Keep those videos coming :)

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you John! We appreciate you.

[@robadair]

Great tips, thanks. Method 1.5 for starting is to use the wing for buoyancy and get your front foot placed on the board (& back knee). Pull that wing high and let it pull you the rest of the way up. This has become my preferred method. Thanks again for your videos.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Rob!

[@jdtan0]

Another Great video! I'm getting ready to start building a board!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Yewww buddy! Enjoy it.......

[@MehYam2112]

Just stumbled on your channel, great job on this content! Instead of replacing my aging kite quiver this summer, I'm going to give this a shot. I love the relative simplicity of the gear, and as great as kiting is, the crowded/chaotic launch sites can dunk the vibe. This looks like it could improve that for me. And oh man that chill wave/swell riding...

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Hope we can help live your best summer! Lots of videos hope they can help friend. We appreciate you!

[@OnePunchManu]

I love your videos, you transmit a lot of energy and positivity. Keep it up and I wish the best for you and those around you. Greetings from Malaga (South of Spain).

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much! Have a great day!

[@spocky125]

super nice video! I was starting directly with a small sink board. This was hard but not impossible. As Damien said, put your head into the wing helps a lot. take time for me to inderstand by myself! :( The most difficult think for me is to grab the second handle without falling. with the head above the wing you can grab it. otherwise you have to lift the wing above your head and grab super fast the second rear handle. Thanks to cabrinha to put such nice handle. so you can adjust super easly the hand position once started! also think to go downwind for pumping. another point is to really put your weight on the wing while putting the footstrap. the wing buoyancy helps a lot to have more balance. really help with against chop

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much friend for sharing your knowledge with others epic! Much love....

[@kitecurtis]

Whenever I wanna get to the next level.....I end up whatching a video from Damien! Thanks for beeinv my mentor 😎

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

You made our day thank you! Have a great weekend.....

[@CharlieBaetjer]

Another awesome video Damien. Not only did the guy @3:45 waterstart on a small liter board without footstraps...he did it toeside 🤯that is so impressive!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Right that is Jon Modica! Guy is incredible......

[@christophegrellier4828]

Super vidéo, bravo Damien. Toujours pleins de bons conseils. Merci

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much!

[@ricopo3522]

3 whole sessions in. Somehow managed to get my 6-3 200 lb self on foil in marginal 12 kts yesterday. Thanks so much for the help it really........ helps. 😜

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Yea buddy so epic! Congrats......

[@LJKmusic]

You are the boss bro!!! I love your videos and you made me buy a wing foil set up. Big hug from Norway 🇳🇴 Much love ❤️

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for the kind words! We appreciate you!

[@dannyjensen4954]

Thanks. I need this now

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much! Epic!

[@Ray33416]

KEEP GOING DAMIEN YOU'RE THE MAN

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much!

[@J3Nutz]

Thanks for doing this. You’re awesome

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you!

[@Radiolukas]

Lovely attitude! THX a lot.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much!

[@mateojimenez5905]

Don’t even wing foil but I’m gonna watch the whole video. Love ur content!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much!

[@gregorybenning423]

Love your videos. They are helping me progress every time I’m on the water. I’ve watched some of your videos 10+ times until your tips are second nature on the water. An idea for a future video: how to adjust for non-ideal conditions. I suspect many people are like me and trying to learn in non-ideal conditions especially for the gear they have available . I only have one setup to learn on, so sometimes my 7 m2 wing is too small and usually it’s way too big. Other times it’s very gusty, etc. I’ve found tips the hard way to deal with those non-ideal conditions in order to continue making progress. One other idea for some very specific pointers: leash management while on the water. It took me three sessions to really get that working well.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Gregory, All great thoughts I will get with Gwen and we can go over them! You rock keep at it and we will throw something together for you. Great ideas! Have the best week!

[@lemonyellow3117]

Yes, leash management! I get all tangled with 2 leashes. Got a waist leash for the board. I like it. Still not crazy about wrist leash for wing.

[@lemonyellow3117]

And yeah, me too! Watch ed some of these videos 10 times or more! It's helping!

[@pedroforonda]

Great video,love your passion, love the tip to use the sail to stabilize the user when getting up and keeping the sail above the the head to get going. I would add: use a bigger foil than the one you need when learning. It makes it so much easier to get on foil and it won’t be a waste of money. I am a beginner and I have two foil wings, one for light wind days (10 to 15 mph) and one for normal or windy days (15 to 30 mph days. I use 2400 scms Armstrong and1550 scms for a 185 lbs guy but it’s not the bran, I’m sure there are other brands just as good or better).

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Well said friend..... Thank you!

[@lemonyellow3117]

Yes! I got a high aspect foil and now I can get up! Had a smaller one, too difficult!

[@geoffnicholls8539]

So great, And so much fun. 😊😊😊

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much!

[@wavelength3919]

"Just don't crash. If you don't crash you don't have to start again" 😂 That's me, hour-long session and dry as a bone!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

ahhhhh. Can't wait to see you guys on the water more! :)

[@helenwalcher5142]

I relate to this so much 😭

[@reafmeyers6662]

you make the best videos on YT

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you friend we appreciate you!

[@robertho1770]

You are way too modest Damien - always fun and energising watching you !

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much! We are a good team Gwen and I.

[@fluiditynz]

I went from 63 litres surplus flotation over the weight of me + board to 20 litres under when I maidened my short board a couple of weekends back. First wingfoil sinker board experience. First session I was a bit slow getting up but was also dealing with longer mast, decent waves. The next day it felt super easy. Now to explain a bit further, I'm still not doing foiling gybing. I'm 54. However I had what may be one massive advantage after looking at your video: I designed my board with a scooped out deck and big drain chanel, ONLY around my kneeling and standing area on the board. It's actually this that brought the volume down to 93 litres. I scooped out 100mm thick block in this area to about 40mm, there's only about 5mm above the foil box. Result? My knees are mostly under water and more than half of the board is above my touch points. Very easy to balance the board, I only have to concern myself with balancing myself above the water. I will likely remove the footstraps I fitted as I simply don't need them. I also had a light wind session and noticed same as you mention, I can use a wingtip as a righting point while getting up. So I have a feeling that deeply scooped boards are going to become much more popular.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you!

[@stephanevignet7721]

Great stuff, regards from Curacao

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you!

[@luizneves737]

Excelent!!! I like so much your videos

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much! We appreciate you!

[@bustedpresents]

Nearly stood up today. Baby steps.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

You go this Chris! We are with you friend..... Enjoy the process!

[@giannisparaskevopoulos3974]

U are the best !!!

[@davidcrist1422]

Damien, awesome video. Curious to know if there’s a point where lower volume is actually easier. Example 10L under weight still knee start but after that does it make more sense to just go for an all out sinker that’s more stable under water? Thank you so much for the help and making videos.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Great questions! All comes down the the rider.. A sinker board would be 28L - 40L depending on size. You will need some windy conditions. Most are better with 55L -100L for ease on knees to standing or just standing as most ride in lighter winds. I still find my self on the bigger boards and not a full sinker as if the wind dies I can usually get in easier or still ride in very light winds. A full sinker is only great when its blasting windy if the wind dies down you are not riding and its a lot more work to get up. If you want to ride a lot go with a bigger board... :) Lower volume is never easier.... :)

[@eralin7542]

Love your explanation! Explain how to do tacking

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you glad we could help!

[@kieransammon666]

Just need more wind, awesome as always

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much!

[@henkdevries4687]

Hey man, Dutchie here seeing lots of this spending my winters in dahab Egypt and essaouira. This looks much better for me then kiting, but have some issues like my right shoulder beeing partualy paralized. So not ready able to do much from shoulders and above. You think its maybe still possible? Maybe even adjusting the wing ?if possible to work more down were i got more control

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Henk, Not sure buddy there is always a way! Maybe kiting could be a better option or an efoil! Put your mind to it and you can do anything.

[@humansaremonkeys]

Dont crash. Great tip!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

:)

[@thefoildesigner]

For sinker starts pointing the board a bit downwind helps it climb a lot, conversely going crosswind tend to keep it under water.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Nico for your insight!

[@catvaganay3237]

First, thanks for the funny videos! I was wondering about the use of the raised platform at the end and on top of the foilboard. Are we supposed to put one heel on it for whatever reason? It has to be of some use right? Thanks! cat

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Cat great question! That is a deck pad heal kick. The heal kick is so you can slide your back foot against it and know where you are on the board. It's more of a spot to have leverage when riding waves, Most people never use it.

[@Astrotamtv]

What can i do if my board is too lightweight? I have the ozone apex v1 foil board and its impossible to even stand up without sinking.

[@blech2100]

Does the hydrofoil Foil and Upper Wing add a lot of stability? I tried to just kneel on a naked wingboard and it was surprisingly difficult! (70k and 88L board.) Is it dramatically better to get a larger board that I can stand on (to learn)?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Friend it makes a big difference if you can stand on the board learning 100%. The foil attached with also add stability to the board as it's like a rudder. Sounded like you had no foil attached "even more tippy". Also the wing will have a pull in one direction with the wind, that also can help with stability.

[@jeffg4686]

What if was a "small holdable kite" - let more air in - would that help with getting up fast rather than having to "work it". Not like the big kites foilers use, just a little one to use with regular surfboards.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Yes and no! It's easier and more efficient to say kite foil, but when you learn to wing you can do about the same as a kite. When learning you need more wind on a wing! If it was a big bag "small holdable kite" when you are up on foil it would pull you with to much power. if there was no way to release it.

[@johnmacmillan627]

Thank you

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you John!

[@luizneves737]

Hey, Damien! Can you make a video “How to pump” ?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

I believe it is next week or the week after! Already done.... :)

[@luizneves737]

Thanks! Your videos are the best of WingFoil lessons!!!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4O8iWptiNaZgsU

[@luizneves737]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin I saw this video. It is excellent. My suggestion is about pumping with legs in the downwind! 😁🤙🏻

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@luizneves737 Thank you so much!

[@petrihirvonen]

Again nice tips! What about a wakeboarding-like waterstart where you lie on your back, pull up your knees and roll on the board - how difficult is that with a wing and a foilboard? Thanks!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

I believe its possible in very high winds but in lighter winds you have to get that wing to lift you up vertical!! I will keep you posted if we get some days to try this with higher winds.....

[@petrihirvonen]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin Cool! And thanks for the reply! That does make sense.

[@astridalgra8470]

Great video! And so funny too! You are cute🥰

[@pdrpicker]

KNEES - problem knees - anyone have suggestions for us older guys who cannot kneel because of knee range? I am thinking my learning plan is to use a large windsurfer board to start learning the actual sailing /control, but leaving the foil out of the picture until I can get up reliably. Kneeling won’t be an option, going to sinker with straps is likely how I am going to have to do this. Will likely be late June/July before I can spend the learning time in the water! (Ontario Canada)

[@tsteenaerts]

I'm also an older fella, I get on both knees on the board and place the wing's leading edge on the board against my thighs, then I simply use the leading wing edge to push myself up using my arms. Now I'm standing, have fun and try it.

[@solentfoiler5969]

My two sinker board starting tips are: 1) commit to standing tall quickly which gets the wing high and powered quickly. Even a small board takes a little time to sink when you stand up so use that split second to stand tall and power up. 2) 'longer' small boards are easier as they move around less under water, don't dig the nose in so easy when pumping when you do get it to the surface, and also get up to foil speed quicker too. Footstraps make a big difference which would be my third tip, but that was already covered!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much for sharing your info with others!

[@lemonyellow3117]

Not easy to make me laugh but you sure do!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Glad we can crack a smile! Laughing is a great thing....

[@yyelta]

I what to do this on a class 8 ciclón

[@jonathankerner2094]

Dude, love you back. Now, this is a very good video: love the vulnerability you display so I am ok with the fact that this is killin' me! I'm doing it, and getting slaughtered, but I will persist. You give great advice (front strap on my small board, pin that wing!) and I appreciate it. Also love the funny outtakes. Keep smiling! -jk

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much friend!

[@holg5352]

I'm struggling to balance my board under water - I'm trying it without foil and wing first. I start from a sitting position, put the back foot on and then try to hit the front foot strap. Always missed until now but sometimes I can balance for like 5s max before doing the flipper...

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

I highly recommend putting the foil on, it will help stabilize the board and with good wing handling, should make it even easier. But good on you for learning the concept!

[@holg5352]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin Yes, I tried a bit dock starting using foil (lake spot, not much wind anyway) which felt a bit more stable - speed might have helped too. I only removed it to avoid injuries. Once I improved my balance and there's a bit more wind, I'll try it with wing and foil. But what level do you think I need to reach in balancing before I can take this next step? (75l board, tall 90kg guy) Thanks for your answer and excellent vids btw

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@Holg 90kg and a 75L board will be a knee starter for sure for your size. Very hard to water start it at 90KG......It will take longer to learn than say a 120L where you can stand and go. I would go through the process flying the wing on the board on the land "no foil". Work on flying the wing and going form knees to standing and balancing on the board. When you take it to the water a lot more unstable but you will have the process to get up! The other reason you are struggling is 75L is a lot of volume to stand on under water. Reason I mention knee.. Might be hard to keep it under you! 60L would be ideal for your weight water start.

[@holg5352]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin Yes, I tried the wing already on land and did all the basic stuff up to duck jibes and it's almost like child's play compared to balance 75l under water. I expected it to be super hard (reality is even worse), but I didn't want to spend so much money on multiple boards - I especially started because of foil pumping and wanted a relatively short, light board. Climbing on the board for hours and trying to balance it deep water is a great workout and even if it takes months to learn the water start, it might give me the edge on the surface (once I manage to reach it 😁). I tried to balance on the knees in the beginning for like 2h which resulted in an abrasion. So I switched to the other deep water start technique (wing surf world made an excellent video) using the feet in a crouched position. This makes it much easier to control the enormous buoyancy. If there's only a small volume to weight difference (90l), knee technique should be easier, but if the board sinks very deep anyway feet technique is more advantageous in my opinion.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@holg5352 Stick with it buddy you got this! Soon you will be ripping... Thanks for the note to help others! We are rooting for you!

[@mikemiller774]

And then there is me: went recently 1st time on water - could not get on the board. It just runs away from under me. So no even standing on board on feet. It was really unexpected outcome 😆

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

It will come friend! Maybe try with a bigger board, it will be easier

[@mikemiller774]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin Mistakes were identified. Next time will do better.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

It’s a process, keep at it! 👊😁

[@kylesmith5883]

I want Damien to do well.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Kyle you rock!