Wing Foiling in Big Waves: Joys and Perils

[@FoilIsland]

That was an absolutely epic wing save by Derek!! Very impressive. Nice jump on the wave too. On the subject of getting back out past the white water, your trick of throwing the wing above is what we do too. All those years of paper airplane throwing in the classroom were not wasted.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Haha, yes, it’s a bit like throwing a paper airplane. 🤙🏼

[@Mizofoil]

amazing wing rescue full ninja mode

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, Derek in Ninja mode 🥷🔨

[@pubfixture]

You guys are awesome. Championship retrieval from Derek. I got your retractable leash too, and it's sweet. Mahalo

[@blueplanetsurf]

Nice. We don’t guarantee the retractable leash for use in big waves like this but note that it did not fail. It’s also safer since it keeps the board far away from you in a wipeout (and away from the wing if the wing leash does not break) 🤙🏼

[@pauljarine]

Robert, thank you for this video. But I must say: DEREK!!! DA FAQ BRADDAH!!?!? You did something no other one can do. Unbelievable it’s caught on video.

[@blueplanetsurf]

We see Derek pulling stunts like that all the time so I’m not that surprised but yes, I don’t know anyone else who could have pulled that off. 🤙🏼

[@jimheaven]

Amazing prone wing rescue! 👏🏻

[@blueplanetsurf]

Derek is da man! 🤙🏼

[@robertzeeland]

Great sailing and fabulous drone flying. Thanks Robert!

[@blueplanetsurf]

I’m stoked you enjoyed it! 🤙🏼

[@1JOHNHEARN]

Mahalo Robert for taking the time and effort to make and publish all these great videos. Great to watch and learn. Mahalo.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Glad you enjoy them 🤙🏼

[@bruce02]

impressed how fast and efficient you are from your knees to getting your feet in the holds .

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks, with practice it happens automatically 🤙🏼

[@jamesmckenzie4572]

Good advice to those of us who seldom encounter real surf. And excellent coverage of the self rescue incident. Thanks.

[@blueplanetsurf]

👍😎🤙🏼

[@riccaesar]

Hi. Very inspirational. How can such a great spot be so uncrowded? Amazing. Can I please give a huge thanks to the drone pilot. The footage is just wonderful. I live in the UK so this is a real treat. Thanks! Ric

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you, I will pass the compliment to Lucas, the drone pilot 🤙🏼

[@christoph4333]

very nice video ! thanks Robert

[@blueplanetsurf]

Stoked, thank you 🤙🏼

[@martinomovies]

Let’s see. When I lose my wing, just go prone, catch a huge wave, prone foil high so my foil doesn’t hit the reef, pump like mad, come around just downwind and jump on the wing. That’s all just a little out of my wheelhouse!

[@aschwa5]

🤣yeah, but it'd be a lot cooler if we could...

[@blueplanetsurf]

Haha, this definitely counts as advanced technique!

[@goldcoastmartialarts]

Are you using quick release on wing or not at all in big stuff or did your wrist leash break

[@SuperBacDoc]

HaHa! Yes no worries it’s easy! 🤪

[@jhet75]

Every day is a school day. Become teachable and a teacher will show up! Thanks for teaching me.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Always keep learning, glad you enjoyed it 🤙🏼

[@jacobstr]

Amazing to watch!

[@blueplanetsurf]

🔥😎🤙🏼

[@erikalane2807]

I learned a lot thanks for this video 🙌🙌 Derek’s self rescue was incredible 🤯

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, he has next level skills 🤙🏼

[@simoncossettini9680]

Thanks for the walk through. Very informative - coming from a bg in kiteboard twintip/surfboard in mostly windy conditions - looking at investing in wing and foil that I can mix and match for more light wind versatilty, as well as more stress free watersport in crowded beaches. This really helps a lot as the wing foil kicks out at the point where I am usually stalling the kite and board to get into the break and ride the face.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Glad it was helpful! The consequences of getting pounded with a wing are much higher, so being more cautious makes sense.

[@jacekpsi2]

Wooow insane rescue!!!!!

[@blueplanetsurf]

👍🤯🔥🤙🏼

[@holandaque]

Great Video Thanks!!!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Glad you liked it!

[@genki007]

Great video!

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏😎🤙🏼

[@a.g.4-1-7-1]

If you don't mind let me share a technique I have been using. It's not for everyday, but in days when the wind stops completely and I have to paddle through a big shore break to get back to the beach I just deflate the leading edge ( only le, not the strut ) enough so it can fold like an umbrella when the wave passes. If its extreme you can even let go of the wing , deflated like that it will drift slowly to the beach instead of being carried fast downwind by the wind . Just don't forget to close the valve😃! It can be used in other circumstances of corse, like a problem with the foil for example, whenever there's the risk of waves bursting the wing.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes that is a good technique but like you said, close the valve. So you have to deflate it and close valve before you get into breaking waves. Salt crystals will damage your bladder.

[@a.g.4-1-7-1]

@@blueplanetsurf if it doesn't sink 😂!

[@steevpeyroux7001]

I’m often in big surf, and sometimes the wind is unreliable and i freak out about having to paddle in. This deflate the leading edge is just the solution for me. I’m easily gonna be able to get out the back if i feel the wind dying, and will have heaps of time to deflate and get the valve back in.

[@Tobeon2]

👀😳.. You lose your wing, then prone foil to chase down your wing to recover it.. 🙄😒... What a show off!! Ha!! 😁😎.. That was super awesome.. Thank you for the tip of releasing your wing for the wave... I am far from riding a wave yet, but I will remember this!

[@blueplanetsurf]

😂🤙🏼

[@brianbartlett2089]

wow

[@blueplanetsurf]

👍😎🤙🏼

[@kvenrecords6657]

Love it🤙🏻

[@blueplanetsurf]

😁🤙🏼

[@Destination360]

Great to see all disciplines out there sharing waves 🤙🏽

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, it’s nice when everyone is tolerating everyone else 🤙🏼

[@irf888]

Hi. Thanks for making this video, it's incredible. And you gents have very big cojones. I would've been 50-100m to the shoulder just for double safety! Great work, Regards.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks 🙏😎🤙🏼

[@steevpeyroux7001]

Another thing about big surf is hitting maximum speed for the foil you’re on. Sometimes you need to suit the foil to the lighter wind, not the bigger wave. I’ve maxed out a few times and was glad for my long leash

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, I have had the same experience, it’s frustrating when the foil can’t match the speed of the wave. 🤙🏼

[@andysampson7486]

I need to buy one off your foil

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for supporting Blue Planet! 🙏😎🤙🏼

[@fernandodelarasillasiri3368]

Hi, great vid!! Insane. What mast length do you use on those conditions? Thanks!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you. I like to use longer masts, 90-100 cm. It gives you more margin of error 🤙🏼

[@Thatspec1]

Wow, that was an awesome wing rescue! Thanks Robert but if I may... Your videos tend to be quite long. It would be helpful if you could post the time stamps of the important points in the description😀

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, but I think it’s all important! 🤙🏼

[@blueplanetsurf]

And I did make a short 60 second version as well

[@steevpeyroux7001]

They’re not too long

[@aminefadous5875]

Awesome vid, thanks for the tips. What’s Dereck’s set up I’m on Gofoil as well. Cheers.

[@blueplanetsurf]

I’ll ask, he always tinkers with his setup

[@Rocco_Kurokawa]

Hah, what a coincidence. A few days ago the same thing happened to me, surfing the first big winter winter swells in Fuerteventura, the wind died and I paddled out, and after 5 minutes of nothing, suddenly a massive set rolled in, first one broke my wing leash and took the wing 60 meters far, the second one I caught, barely keeping the foil under control flying on my belly, didn't had the time to stand up but with no wind the wing was just sitting there, caught it and hold on when the last wave came, and then I was lucky knowing that the next big set would come most likely in 5-10 minutes, so I tied a few knots and paddled out of there.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Wow, that sounds like a challenging experience. You were lucky, losing the wing in very light wind is not as critical as in strong wind where it’s almost impossible to catch it without help from others. 🤙🏼

[@lindz151074]

Good day for foil drive? 😊

[@blueplanetsurf]

I’m not sure a foildrive would be fast enough for these waves

[@joeblow1942]

0:12. What’s the name of that spot?

[@radridellc4749]

wow, good stuff! did his wing leash break or did he somehow get it off his wrist while being tumbled? I'm wondering if there is a technique to ditching the wing quickly in this situation? thx!

[@blueplanetsurf]

The wing leash broke, in this situation something had to give. There are quick release systems available but generally you don’t want to release the wing and even with a quick release, I doubt he would have had the chance to use it. Here is a video showing the Ozone quick release:

[@blueplanetsurf]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/onrInKiYmcSDe8k

[@radridellc4749]

@@blueplanetsurf Good info, thx. I hear ocean rodeo has a quick release leash coming soon as well. I’ve been using your reel leash for years now for both winging and efoiling waves unpowered, love rhe new bungee! Cheers!

[@ryanlinderman1700]

Any tips on what to do with your board/foil as you get tumbled? I assume you try to point board into whitewater?

[@blueplanetsurf]

I just focus on the wing and try to keep the board/ foil away from me 🤙🏼

[@kennethirving]

Not sure how or if this could work, but maybe a small drogue or sea anchor could be released if the wing leash becomes detached. Still working on the details...

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, I think that is worth exploring. You would not want it to deploy accidentally. It would have to be designed to release only when the leash comes off the wing.

[@robertzeeland]

Hi Kenneth.have you seen how Alan Cadiz is using some sort'a parachute stuffed in a pouch, as a board leash? Good luck with developing something neat. Best Rob

[@cullenrobbins5405]

Do u have a recommendations for wing foiling setup to get? I grew up surfing and use to overhead-double overhead. Would like to get one that can be used at in that type of surf. Also would like one that’s possible to get air on.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Just call our shop or come in person if possible 808 5967755 and we can help you choose the best setup

[@Bloomio95]

i´d like to know the advantages and disadvantages of wingfoiling and wingsurfing withough the foil. I can imagine that you don´t really need a foil if you have a wing. You might be able to traverse white water more easily without a foil

[@blueplanetsurf]

Riding a wave without a foil is very different and easier in many ways. Foils don’t do well in whitewater or on very steep sections of the wave, so it’s much harder to hit the breaking lip or to stay in the critical section of a bigger wave. That said, the speed and efficiency of a foil allow you to ride unbroken waves from much further outside, get much longer rides, do long carving turns at high speeds, and fly in less wind, so foils do have many advantages as well.

[@paulh.327]

Wtf how friend "prone foil" and pump like mad to catch back his wing... Did his wing leash snaped or he released him self his wing leash for safety reason, while getting hit by the wave ?

[@blueplanetsurf]

I'm pretty sure it snapped, there is no time to "release" the wing while wiping out.

[@a.g.4-1-7-1]

@@blueplanetsurf a quick release leash might be the answer for that!

[@MegaScissorhand]

Where is the place?

[@blueplanetsurf]

South shore of Oahu

[@dylan_the_wizard]

What are your thoughts on safety gear in these conditions, would an impact/floatation vest help in case your board leash breaks and you have to swim in, or do you need to be able to duck under the whitewater? I've always been a fan of not using anything while kitesurfing, but there you have a kite up high in the sky to help drag you around.

[@blueplanetsurf]

It’s nice to have an impact vest in bigger waves, and helmet. You can’t duck as deep but it gets you to the surface more quickly. Not as good to bodysurf to your board though. Hi

[@willhurd8283]

I have found it’s much more dangerous using waist leash in big surf. Better to use ankle and wrist leash. Just don’t want anything wrapping your body or neck while getting pounded.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Wrist leashes can be dangerous for arm joints in big surf, I prefer the waist leash. Yes, you definitely don’t want leashes wrapping around neck or any other body parts.

[@steevpeyroux7001]

Waist leash is essential if you need to quickly paddle out of the impact zone, towing your wing

[@aquaman1]

Anyone using quick releases on the board or wing? I tried my kitesurf release but it accidentally released a few times so I gave up on it.

[@blueplanetsurf]

I don’t use quick release and I’m not sure if Derek would have had time to release it anyway. Definitely don’t want the wing leash to release by accident 🤙🏼

[@a.g.4-1-7-1]

Wing yes

[@robadair]

Armstrong’s waist leash comes with a quick release. The first time it released by accident I took it off.

[@a.g.4-1-7-1]

@@robadair I use the kite surfing type quick release with kind of a whose around a plastic cylinder that holds a metal pivot , I put more tape around the cylinder to make it harder to open

[@josephwill5944]

@@a.g.4-1-7-1 I do the same.. Reel leash connected to a short padded kite leash with the pull pin release.. But ONLY for the board leash.. Not wing

[@scp8412]

So baddas pumping / catching his wing.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Agreed! 🤙🏼

[@jww3jww3]

Awesome video. Thanks! What is this spot / launch called?

[@danieleruberti7935]

Sono sempre stato convinto che questo variante tra windsurf/Kite molti amici lo hanno provato e abbandonato subito ! è solo una questione di soldi 💴 e non ha niente a che fare con il vero surf o windsurf 🤙🏽

[@fungalspore]

OMG.....the adventures of the slogging wingdingers.....just put some strings on the wing and power through.....and put a race foil on the bottom....oh I forgot then you cant slog around on huge wings......

[@blueplanetsurf]

Sounds like you’ve never tried it 🤙🏼

[@andysampson7486]

u can WhatsApp

[@blueplanetsurf]

yes you can!