How to Wing Foil - Progression from Day 1 to Day 8

If you're new to wing foiling here is an overview of how my progression went from the first day I started to my 8th time on the water. I had experience doing every kind of board sport on the planet and thought my skills would transfer well to wing foiling. This mentality ended up beging shockingly incrorrect. Wing foiling is quite different to any other board sport. The main difference is that riding a foil is much different to riding a board. In this video I go through my full wing foil progression and offer you the best advice I wish I knew when I was starting out.
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[@UtterEntertainment]

Took me a year to get on foil. Slow learner. Never foiled but then tried an efoil successfully and was able to wing foil after efoiling.

[@spencerprice4207]

As a newbie,with no windsport experience or foil experience, however I have been a short board Surfer for a good portion of my life and in the last 12 months, surfing a short, performance stand up paddle board.I Spent 2 sessions learning with my 6.2m wing on my SUP. Picked up my 6ft, 105ltr foil board and 1900cm Konrad foil last week, 2 sessions sloshing in light wind,1 session starting to engage the foil,trying to stay upwind and just skimming the surface, 1 session with short flights followed by some stacks, then today,some long controlled flights with some height off the water(although the mast length is only 70cm).Next challenge jibing on foil and switching my foot stance so I can run heelside both directions. Totally stoked and hooked on wing foiling,after a total of 8hrs water time.Yeeew. P.S. love the high pitched humming noise I get on foil,it's addictive.

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Yess! Thanks for sharing your stoke Spencer! I know exactly what you are feeling. The addiction is real and it keeps growing as you progress. I'm sure a bigger mast will help you stay on foil longer so if you can eventually upgrade you may want to think about that. Keep up the great work. Where are you based?

[@simoncox2707]

Great video. So far I've had six sessions some in very light breeze. As you have said in previous vids 15 to 20kts is ideal to get flying. One thing I would emphasise is how important it is to keep the board level to get flying with equal pressure on both feet until the board rises then immediately shift weight forward to keep things level. As an old school windsurfer I constantly has too much back foot pressure. Once I'm standing a little extra front foot pressure to bare away and a few pumps in decent breeze is usually enough to get me flying.

[@heathermunroe369]

Loved all of this! Thank you!!

[@augustindecre2273]

Totally agree, 15knots will make it much easier… you will have enough speed to take off even with a low technic. What really helped me is that I took some lessons with an instructor, with him I was able to fly and stabilise it faster. Really good video!

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Awesome! Yes, lessons are always a smart way to go. It's tough to be beat learning directly from a person who knows what they are doing.

[@erbartlett]

Great video, sounds like we have similar perspectives… just published the same video for kiting… about to start winging

[@AdamsHadEnough]

Nice, it takes me about four months to get 8 decent Jericho days!

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Haha true. Wish we could get it blowing more consistently. I'm thinking of doing a trip up to Nitinat. Any idea how the wind is mid September?

[@jordanc918]

what size wing do you have?

[@stevenp7597]

I don't have access to a boat. I found a little surf club with efoil near by. I'm gonna try tomorrow (never foil before) I enjoyed your video btw ;!

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Nice! I have heard efoiling is quite a different feeling to wing foiling but I'm sure it will give you a great introduction to flying on the water!

[@mitchikuchiyadayada]

Great video! Very informative. Is 3.5m wing good for beginners? What board/foil size do you recommend?

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Thanks Mitch. Check out 2:40 mark o this video that talks all about gear: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGOQnGB4a6yIpsU There is also a link in the description to download a resourse that provides info and recommendations based on your size and wind conditions. Hope that helps!

[@carlos23161]

I liked your humility. 👍

[@Surfnflycom]

No strap needed in the beginning. Actually just a hassle. Try being 90 degrees to the board when on your knees. Will save you a lot of moves for finding your stance. ;)

[@skobichevskii]

so, you learned to foil, both regular and switch, in just two sessions behind the boat? impressive!

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Thanks! I actually only learned regular stance behind the boat in the first 2 days. It felt so goofy that I might as well have swtiched my stance.

[@stringmatrix]

I had my 7th session yesterday. 120 l, 6' board, 6,2 Wing, 1750 foil. On session 6 and 7 I managed to get on the foil but rarely managed to keep the balance for more than 10 or 20 seconds. That's what I need to find out now. Foiling behind a boat would be perfect for me to understand how a foil reacts. Do you think a 1750 foil is ok for the beginning and for my setup?

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Yes! That foil should be perfect for you. The only advantage of something bigger would be to get up on foil easier but don't think you need it. Getting your balance on foil takes time. Play with where you put your foil in the foil tracks to find a comfortable point. The middle is always a safe bet but moving slightly forward or back might make it easier for finding your balancing point. Most important thing is just to keep going. It takes practice and each time you'll be a bit more comfortable.

[@stringmatrix]

@@westcoastwingfoil Thank you very much, I will continue practicing! Oh I just realized my board is 6'6, not 6'... Not a big difference I guess.

[@user-ql7ln5bj6o]

I have done 2 efoil sessions and found this a great way to progress, probably better than a boat tow?

[@westcoastwingfoil]

I think both are great to get a feel for riding a foil and weight distribution for controlling your foil. Both efoiling and boat tow foiling are a bit different to wing foiling. Just the way you're powered and creates a slightly different feel and technique required. But if you have done either you're definitely better off than someone who hasn't foiled at all! What efoil did you try?

[@ilbotte1]

Do you prefer a single strap instead of the V straps?

[@westcoastwingfoil]

By V straps do you mean the straps that are half open? I like the single strap. Definitely helps with pumping but then still gives you and easy escape when you go down.

[@nebula6137]

@@westcoastwingfoil Means two front straps on angles like a v whereas you have 1 front strap.

[@ICBM89]

Is it possible to only have your dominant foot on the frontside of the board no matter what direction you're going? I'm struggling so bad even after a couple sessions to even stand up and by the time I do stand up I drifted away and am back at the shore 😢

[@westcoastwingfoil]

It sounds like maybe you don't have a big enough board? What's your weight and what is the volume of your board? That's a common issue beginners. The bigger your board, the easier it will be to stand on it and then actually work on getting up on foil. If you're standing on your board and are not on foil, you'll need to put different feet forward depending on the direction. It's too difficult for beginners to get up on foil with the wing crossed over their body.

[@ICBM89]

​@@westcoastwingfoilI only just saw your comment when I came back to the video 😅 85kg/110L 1400ha 5.5 wing As it turned out I just had to keep on trying to ride goofy, it still feels awkward and probably always will but after trying and falling and trying and falling some more I can finally go both directions either regular or goofy 😊

[@westcoastwingfoil]

@@ICBM89 awesome! The more time you spend on the water the better you'll get! Keep at it!

[@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)

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Hey there, I'd go with the bigger 145L. It's so much easier to start. You'll really struggle to lean on the smaller board and will be on your knees a ton. Big board will allow you to do standing starts and result in less fumbling to get started. Hope this helps and good for you for getting into the sport at 61! Let me know how the journey comes along!

[@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.

[@westcoastwingfoil]

@@NeoVdV congrats! Don't be discouraged if it's difficult at the start. It is for most people. Just remember to stick with it and it will click once you have put in some time on the water. Good Luck!

[@NeoVdV]

@@westcoastwingfoil 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.

[@currentsupply]

@@NeoVdV so awesome 👍

[@xstarclubkyiv]

👍

[@machjuan]

Get to your feet instantly. It's much easier to balance when you have more muscle groups and joints at your disposal. You're going to eat it falling in from your knees anyway, so start with what you need to know. Start standing. And keep your knees bent for a while, until you are more at ease with it.

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Defintely agree if you have a big board! If you have a board with less floatation it helps to get a bit of forward momentum first. Thanks for the comment :)

[@nebula6137]

Knees, get a bit of speed then stand. Highly reccomend as once you go to a smaller board you cant just stand. If you are on you're knees sitting on your feet you will have more balance than standing. However whatever gets you going is best for you

[@mathias2410]

Why did you start off having a front foot strap?

[@westcoastwingfoil]

I've always had a front footstrap. I find it really helps when pumping to get up on foil. Some people dont like them because they are worried their leg will get stuck when falling off.

[@mathias2410]

@@westcoastwingfoil Also. I started on a 95litre board, a 1480 frontwing and 85cm mast. I weigh 77kg. Sure I had some problems standing up but it didn't take long for me to ride off. The biggest progression a few weeks in was turning my front foot a bit more forward. That way my body turned a bit forward also and it gave me much better balance.

[@westcoastwingfoil]

@@mathias2410 That's a good tip. I'm glad you were able to get going on such a small board for your weight off the start. I've seen a lot of people with that ratio and they really struggled ot stand up. I'm guessing you had some decent wind to get you moving that may have helped out?

[@mathias2410]

@@westcoastwingfoil That particular day gusts up to 35 knots so yes😅. Had to learn quickly how to manage a 5m2 wing in tough winds. Flatwater is a must when starting. I tried early on in big waves and ooooi some great wipe outs. I feel fairly comfortable now in waves since I had that crash course though.

[@lukeheatley4148]

Ever hit the foil with a body part when falling in? Its the only thing stopping me from getting involved.

[@westcoastwingfoil]

I've had a few close calls. It's definitely a risk but as long as you just fall with your momentum and avoid trying to save your falls you should be OK. It typically happens when you're going down and you try to avoid going in. It's always best to commit to the fall and get some separation.

[@skobichevskii]

its a non-issue. first, most importantly, you should have helmet and impact vest on, and, potentially, some neoprene pants for protection. second, you should always try to fall on the other side of the board from the foil. if, for some reason, you are falling in the direction of the foil, I found that I can use my wing to carry me far enough to prevent hitting the foil. overall its a very safe sport, compared to snowboarding or kite boarding, for example.

[@mikebiagi8898]

How did you mount the camera for the 360 shots?

[@jas4696]

Good spots in the Portland metro for beginners?

[@NeoVdV]

After about already 20 sessions I still could not stay on foil more then 2 or 3 seconds 🤔 :-( 😞 As you know I'm using the Starboard X 145 Lit. with a 1950cm ² front foil wing. I got so frustrated to see other people getting and staying much much longer on foil with less sessions. I tried different foot positions, changed mast positions of the foil ... nothing helped. I also took a 7m² wing I.s.o. the 6m² I gave my setup to other people to try out and they get on foil, so it's certainly not about the equipment. Nevertheless they do agree it takes more effort to get up. Also they mentioned that with a bit stronger wind the board gets quite a lot, relative, cross wind influence. I'm not at to point to give up on the sport yet but ... I tried a 110 Lit. Fanatic sky 5"8 board and a 120 Lit. Gong Lemon 5"4 only to know how it feels. The 110 as the limit in volume for me personally, the 120 had the buoyancy but way to short. I'm selling my 145 to get a 125 Fanatic Sky as that seems to me and for me the best choice to continue and progress without ever again having to change board later as it has enough volume but still at 5"8 so OK for all wind types that I will go out on the water. (More lighter winds) The conditions here on the lake are mostly lighter wind force, very gusty and changes in directions.

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Sorry to hear about the struggle but stick with it and it will come. It's great that you're testing other gearn and finding the best option for you. The best recipe for success is getting a good windy day to provide enough power to let you easily get up on foil. Staying there is another question and that will just take practice. Remember, when you're on foil you're no longer riding your board, you're riding the foil. If you're falling forward it means you have too much weight on your front foot. If the foil is stalling and just coming down, it means you have too much weight in the back. There should be a good balance point but you do need to adjust your weight while riding. Keep at it and I look forward to hearing your progession after another 5-10 sessions!

[@skobichevskii]

are you placing your feet on the center line of the board (front thumb and back heal on the center)? this helped me disentangle pitch control from directional control

[@Ziadha]

Nice! Spanish banks?

[@blaisesack6083]

You got it! Well closer to Jericho :)

[@temporytempory1499]

Inflatable or solid? :)

[@westcoastwingfoil]

Solid! They seem less sticky on the water but only minimal. I personally prefer my board just ready to go without pumping up, even though I have no storage space! I feel you also get better touch downs and take offs but nothing you couldn't over come if you went inflatable.

[@kidbogle]

Massive benefits of inflatable are ease of travel and durability. We live on a boat in the summer and not only no dings to the board but the inflatable board won’t ding the boat either!

[@user-uv2ml6se5j]

За 8 дней. Ну пиздит же)

[@nicolapescasio2316]

Because you learned winging somehow, it looks also without lessons, WHY do you think you're able to teach, give advices or suggest gear to people?

[@ThomasBoyce-li6jk]

Because he is insightful, went through the learning process with a teachers mindset and recorded all of his successes and failures! He also immersed himself in wingfoiling and did his reading, video watching and talked with more experienced riders at the beach!