Learning to Wing Foil- Ke'ehi lagoon, tips for beginners

[@seanpowell1567]

Great video! Been watching your wingfoiling videos and they've really helped me at all the different stages of learning to wing. As I progress I watch again and manage to pick out something else I either missed first time or wasn't at that level. Looking forward to more wingfoiling tips!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks. I’m always surprised how popular the wing foil videos are, we will keep em coming for sure 🤙🏼

[@boardmeetingusa9405]

Great video and narration Robert. Enjoy your Board Meetings.

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏😎🤙🏼

[@radridellc4749]

Rad video, thanks for all the great tips, can't wait for the drone video.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you! We got some more great footage today and will post another Wing-surfing video this Saturday.🤙🏼

[@1tridad]

Awesome. Keep the how-to vids coming! I think a key point here is going somewhere where you are NOT committed to NEEDING TO STAY UPWIND. The constant upwind battle while sailing just the board (not on foil) as you are learning prevents you from getting out on that 90degree "Beam reach" where your wind power is, and for us bigger 200lb guys, we need that. Once I committed to doing a beach walk of shame EVERY TIME, I was able to really focus on the foil aspect of it. Mahalo!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, going downwind and not having to do the “walk of shame” accelerates the learning curve! 😎

[@paulalferez4339]

Tip: Sailing Upwind - 1.Get up to speed 2. Keep front arm high, Rake Wing back towards tail 3. Adjust weight forward to outside rail 4. "Aim High" 👍🤙

[@blueplanetsurf]

Good tips, thank you Paul.

[@bleeper808]

Thanks for all the vids Rob!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks Mike, I hope it helps with your progression!

[@bleeper808]

@@blueplanetsurf 100% they help!

[@lukememminger8672]

This was very helpful. I needed to hear all the techniques and info, while watching the turns.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for the comment Luke 🤙🏼

[@Doom_Head621]

how far should the mast be placed compared to riding behind a boat? im addicted to these videos. exited to hit the water and hopefully add to the community.

[@blueplanetsurf]

I would use the same settings as behind a boat as a good starting point.

[@Ocanadakiter]

Do you think it would be possible to ride a surfboard with a wing in the future.? Possibly with a bigger wing and stronger wind

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, that is already possible but the low drag of the foil and being higher off the water is what makes foils ideal for using with handheld wings.

[@hardwaterfishing]

On the wing, do you like the bar to hold on to, Doutone, our the fabric straps, like naish?

[@blueplanetsurf]

I like the boom 👊

[@MrWhitianga]

Hi, great vid thanks. How durable are the foils? I want to give this a go but I windsurf in a shallow location so might hit the muddy bottom now and then with the deep foil.

[@blueplanetsurf]

A muddy bottom should not damage your foil. Foils are usually strong enough for minor impacts, its not uncommon to touch bottom several times during a session. You can also use a shorter mast in shallower water. 🤙🏼

[@IRWE905]

What is the average length mast your group is using? Keep the videos coming!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Some are using their regular surf foil mast of around 26” but we find longer is better especially when it gets rough. I have been testing a 36” mast and like it a lot. The downsides are that you need deeper water; it’s also slightly harder to get on foil and feels a bit more tippy, otherwise I would say longer is better for sure. 🤙🏼

[@bohdanschatschneider9962]

This is a total nubie question, but do you always have to keep the leading edge upwind? I kept thinking that I would always point the leading edge in the direction I wanted to go. When going upwind this tended to work. But when I was trying to go downwind the wing kept wanting to flip into the ground/water. Could you do a video on how the wing should be with respect to going upwind vs downwind?

[@blueplanetsurf]

The wing needs to flow over the wing from the inflated leading edge to the trailing edge. When going downwind you have to open the clew (trailing edge), so the wind can flow over the wing. If you pull in the clew too much the flow will collapse or reverse, which will cause it to drop or flip over. If that happens, open the clew by releasing the backhand and opening the wing so the wind can flow from the leading edge to the trailing edge, I hope that makes sense. It's best to practice wing handling on land until you feel comfortable and learn to orient the wing properly to the wind direction.

[@bohdanschatschneider9962]

@@blueplanetsurf Thanks for replying! What you're saying makes sense. After watching the video above, and realizing where the wind is coming from with respect to everyone's wing, it's clear to see. Hopefully I can make it work a bit better tomorrow. Regards.

[@wildhogget69]

I guess it's a bit like windsurfing, bear off the wind to get speed up quickly then you can start pointing upwind I guess??

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes but you don’t want to bear off too much as you loose pressure in the wing. The hard part is getting off the water and up on the foil.

[@georgelewis1316]

What wind speed were you experiencing during your session

[@blueplanetsurf]

I would say the wind was between 10 in the lulls to 25 knots in the gusts

[@pieterw72]

What was the apx windspeed that day? Looks pretty strong. I have been struggling to get flying with my 5m wing in anything less than 15mph. Might have to get a 6m or bigger (also I weigh 225 :-)

[@blueplanetsurf]

I would say it was 10-20 knots that day. When you are starting out you need a bigger foil and wing or stronger wind to lift off. As you get better you learn to pump up on the foil and can use the same gear in lighter wind. The foil wing size should be determined more by rider weight and ability while the wing size is determined more by the wind speed . Which foil are you using?

[@TuanNguyen-ie8zc]

Hi Robert, what size of foil board most beginners would use? I am trying to progress from Sup and not sure what size for my weight (190lbs and going down ; )) ), Thanks Mahalo. Tuan

[@blueplanetsurf]

Hi Tuan, something like our 7’6 Easy Foiler would be a good size for you to learn on. www.blueplanetsurf.com/sups/foil-sups/

[@georgelewis1316]

What is the approximate wind speed during the session?

[@blueplanetsurf]

I would say 10-20 knots

[@owenconnors9119]

How often is Ke'ehi windy enough for wing foiling? Looking at a Slingshot infinity 99 with a 6 or 7M Wasp.

[@blueplanetsurf]

You need about 15+ knots steady trades, which probably happens around 80-150 days per year would be my guess.

[@owenconnors9119]

@@blueplanetsurf Thank you

[@blueplanetsurf]

🤙🏼we don’t sell Slingshot but we do carry Ozone wings, we currently only have 3 and 4m but getting bigger sizes in soon.

[@zackjordan808]

Another great video, thanks! Amazing to see everyone progressing so fast, it’s definitely not easy....

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, it’s not as easy as it looks, I’m stoked you find the tips helpful 🤙🏼

[@zackjordan808]

blueplanetsurf I’m heading to Hukilau to work on my tacks right now haha . I’ve done one or 2 each reach but they are hard! You’re killing it.

[@josephmanalo980]

So sick!!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks!

[@Doom_Head621]

I'm also thinking about how an increase angle of attack might benefit wing foiling... I'm going a little crazy waiting for my wing to get here 😓

[@blueplanetsurf]

A well designed foil should not need to have the angle of attack changed. If you try to tilt mast forward too much you have to ride with nose pointed down at speed which can lead to bad wipeouts.

[@Doom_Head621]

@@blueplanetsurf thanks! ill try not to over think it too much.

[@SurfPeteDK]

Nice relaxed "real life" video, I like that, instead of all the "superman" commercial videos we see ;-) But amazed to see how many who use footstraps? We dont, here.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks. Yes, footstraps are popular here and on Maui, they do give you a bit more control but I like going strapless too.

[@blueplanetsurf]

@@SuperFlo8888 I think Kanaha or Kihei are good spots for wingfoiling on Maui.

[@Oahure1]

Robert I like that upwind tack! Would love to see a video of that in slow motion and breaking down what you are doing and giving some tips. I did not know an air tack was possible so I never even tried it.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for the comment, we will make a "how to tack" video soon!

[@Windsurfcoach]

👍👍👍

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏😀💪🤙🏼

[@christophemeletiou9078]

Good for you, all non-essential activities are not allowed here in Europe.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, I hear watersports are banned in many places, bummer.

[@SurfPeteDK]

Only in some places, not the majority :-)

[@FREISme]

…Houdini would be top notch getting untangled from the leashes…

[@blueplanetsurf]

Having two leashes takes some getting used to. I really like my retracting reel leash, it never gets tangled.

[@ralphgraber7096]

great tutorial but can't listen to this dude smooch his lips one more time - had to turn it off early

[@blueplanetsurf]

Haha, sorry, I have to stop doing that.