Wing Foiling Over 50- Two Year Progress From Obese Beginner to AK Team Rider in Two Years

Two years ago I started winging, 50 lbs over weight, with no real watersports background. I immediately became obsessed with that magic carpet ride. At 48, my health took a turn for the better. I lost 50 lbs within the 1st 6 months and began building athletic endurance and wing foiling skills.
A little over a year into the sport and I shifted my riding from the flats to the surf. Enough of you watched my edits to grab the attention of Cabrinha. I partnered with Cabrinha for about a year and really enjoyed my time working with them.
Three months ago I was approached by AK Durable Supply Co to ride for the US Team. After seeing the quality and performance of their gear, I made the jump. I feel lucky to have the support of such a great company with my talent/skill level and at 50. So where do I go from here? It does not matter as long as I can enjoy the ride.
"So here I am
Growing older all the time
Looking older all the time
Feeling younger in my mind
So here I am
Doing everything I can
Holding on to what I am
Pretending I'm a superman"
wingfoilen
@AKDurableSupplyCo @FreewingWorld
Is wing foiling harder than kitesurfing? In my opinion, access is easier. There are no intimidating lines. If things go wrong, it is easier to bail out. Learning to get on foil takes longer than the first few basic rides on a kiteboard.
Is Wing Foiling harder than windsurfing? I assume it is, but I do not have 1st hand knowledge. Windsurfers transitioning to wing foiling sometimes find it to be a difficult adjustment. Windoilers and kite foilers seem to have an easier go. I think the difficult part is learning to foil.
This is wing foiling in Florida. Follow the channel for wing foiling review, wing foiling tricks, and how to wing foil for beginners.

[@ThomasBoyce-li6jk]

That is awesome Wing Kook! I am 53 and a longtime highwind windsurfer. Last year, I dedicated my season to Wingfoiling Only. I saved windsurfing for my 10 Day July Trip to The Gorge. I probably only got in about 30 sessions (our wind frequency is BAD in Ottawa, Ontario) all of last season in Canada and 10 sessions in Jamaica on Holiday. So in 40 sessions, I had basic riding in all wind strengths nailed and had started getting my gybes. This 2nd season's goals are to be 95% on all my gybes on both sides, get my foot switches down and make some tacks. It is difficult to compare how many years people have been winging. I will likely only get about 40 sessions on the water in a year because of winter in Canada and living in a poor wind location. Lots of people can stuff 3 of my seasons (120 sessions) into a single season. You take what you can get!

[@grenadalime]

This is inspiring. I’m a 52 year old kiteboarder looking to start foiling with a wing.

[@foilfanatic]

Thanks! Several of my friends crossed over. Great to know both sports, but don't be surprised if this sport really hooks you.

[@edwaingortin]

Just discovered your channel -- so good! It's funny -- I'm 54, and I've lost 20 lbs of proverbial "dad bod" blubber -- not so much from foiling itself, but because of wanting to IMPROVE my foiling which led me to ease off the sweets and beer a bit and hit the weights and Peloton a bit more. Good stuff, William!

[@foilfanatic]

Speaking of weight, I have been doing a ton of pump foiling thanks to the Foil Drive. Anything that works the legs like that is going to add on muscle weight quick. Went up 8lbs from that recently. Not good for making foiling easier! 🤙

[@JeffreyJDavis]

congrats bruh, inspiration for this 60 year old beginner winger

[@foilfanatic]

I am the young one in the group of Sebastian Inlet/Vero Beach riders. Congrats on finding the sport! It is rewarding and humbling all at the same time. Life changing for me. 🤙

[@JeffreyJDavis]

@@foilfanatic i went to Florida Tech in Smelbourne and used to surf monster hole and wabasso when it was super sketch to paddle out there from the beach. i can imagine a wing opening up those outside peaks in a totally new way. keep chargin bro

[@foilfanatic]

@@JeffreyJDavis Most these shots are near Monster Hole. I ride Monster Hole on North days that the shore pound is too much at my local spot. You are right about winging there, it is one giant skatepark. You get these crazy bowl formations in the channel that are about head high waves formed by the clashing of water. Then there is a wave machine on the outside you are talking about. On the bigger days, it is a challenge to get out there. It can get steep on a foil. There are days when you can launch from one 5 foot wave over the back and land on the face behind it. They stack tight and deep.

[@jeromesurffoil7033]

Awesome job, William!!! Your hard work has paid off nicely! It's great to see your progression and health benefits and congrats on the AK sponsorship!

[@foilfanatic]

Thanks! Never would have pulled off the sponsorship without long time viewers like yourself! Thank you! 🤙

[@wynnebuilding]

Looking good

[@AKDurableSupplyCo]

Well done, William! Looking good out there.

[@foilfanatic]

[@petten2023]

I am 70 just starting Las weekend just uploaded a clip on you tube nothing to extreme haha just starting

[@MrDuncanBooth]

Great stuff!!

[@robtangent4664]

Nowhere near where you're at. But at 71, I'm just happy with mowing lawn on flat water and riding small wind swell.

[@foilfanatic]

🤠🤙71! Nice! I mow the lawn more in 90 percent of the footage I film. Fun stuff, but hard to keep viewers attention with it. The small days with just enough push to keep me going are some of my favorite days.

[@ruudlenaerts]

wow nice riding! Just had my first lesson and loved it. Ik hope to make fast progression and have some fun on the water.

[@foilfanatic]

Thanks! My biggest leaps in progression happened early on. That first year, I learned something nearly every time I went out. Progression no longer feels as obvious to me, but it is still happening. Now things are just starting to flow rather than having to think about the mechanics of it all. The sport continues to pay me back for every minute I spend on the water. Hope you find the same satisfaction in it!🤙

[@jasprice]

Nice work! Beginning my foil adventure in a couple of weeks with an eFoil but want to progress to wing foiling as well (former windsurfer). 52 yo myself so you provide me some inspiration😀

[@foilfanatic]

So many of my friends have crossed over from windsurfing. Rarely do I see them out with windsurf gear any longer. There are a few holdouts, but most windsurfers really love the sport. It is very humbling to this very day. So worth it!

[@jasprice]

@@foilfanatic what type of helmet do you recommend?

[@jamesstewart5371]

AT 62 Wing foiling is not easy but is mentally challenging My new name for it is WING falling

[@foilfanatic]

😆🤙it isn't easy at any age. I still get humbled often. If you ain't fallin you aren't trying!

[@floridafoilers]

Proving that age is just a number, inspiration for us “mature” adults 🙌🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@foilfanatic]

You know me....mature is really not a good description.

[@floridafoilers]

@@foilfanatic 🤣

[@speedquestwindsurfing]

Really good.

[@foilfanatic]

Thanks!🤙

[@scottseale]

Nice! During the heelside tack close to the start of your video, shows how you change to the new lead hand really early in the transition and drive it through instead of waiting to switch hands after getting through the eye of wind. Will have to try your method as currently struggling with these tacks mainly as a result of scrambling to switch hands late, and then coming off foil. Looks like you keep the new lead hand pretty close to your head during the move and not really cross to the other side.

[@foilfanatic]

Though I have been doing heelside tacks for over a year, I stopped doing them altogether when summer hit last year. It has only been recently that I picked them back up. I am still working out the kinks.I think more of my focused technique is just maintaining a smooth level turn throughout with the board/foil. I am still figuring out what to do with the wing. To me, that part is secondary. I learned quickly that if I go for the full two handed grab too early, I will blow the tack. I have to be patient and wait an extra second for the board to come fully around. So trying to grab the wing with the 2nd hand too early caused me more fails than anything else.

[@scottseale]

100% on waiting for the board to come through fully. Lots going on with these tacks. Thanks again.

[@DavidBlodgett]

Amazing! hope Im like you when im 50

[@foilfanatic]

I would have been stoked to have a boarding sponsorship 25 years ago. This is just ridiculous. I have a buddy that rips on foil at 71. He is what I hope to be like in 20 years.

[@gektron]

Hi William. A great story and video. Can I ask what length mast you are using in the video?

[@foilfanatic]

Thanks! I use the Ak Plasma 80cm mast, but the real magic happens at the foil. That 1000 loves to ride right at the surface. It handles breaching exceptionally well. I would be just as comfortable riding in large waves with the 70cm with this foil. Thanks for watching!

[@jbcaptain11]

Have you tried a board riding maui setup yet? It will help your freestyle!

[@foilfanatic]

unfamiliar, what is that?

[@embededfabrication4482]

I'm 57 and got all the gear, just have to get over fear of the men in grey suits, they're pretty hungry in florida

[@foilfanatic]

For me, that fear never really went away. There are times of the year where I see larger sharks about once per session on the Space Coast. I have had encounters on the River, but many, many more on the Atlantic. I have a few videos of hitting large sharks and going flying. I also have a short of a spinner jumping right behind me. I try to mentally make peace with everything before I put a toe in the water each time. I have been feet from a 12 foot hammerhead. I once saw something out there that looked like a massive bull or white shark. It had scars that looked like it had went through the apocalypse. It had a back as wide as an ox. I have also seen something massive that looked like it could have been a whale. Half way intrigued and half scared witless.

[@embededfabrication4482]

@@foilfanatic are there any wing instruction/lessons down there, I know the guys in cocoa do it but it's a long way from daytona. I ride an electric unicycle so I could probably get onto it by myself, my board is SUP and we can stand up on it and paddle in the river with it so far.

[@foilfanatic]

@@embededfabrication4482 My advice is to get up early, drive down to Good Breeze in Cocoa Beach and grab a one hour lesson behind the jetski. Once you have the feel for being on foil, go home and start learning how to just fly the wing and ride the board for a day or two. When you feel confident standing up and riding flat on the water while not getting blown too far downwind, then starting trying to get on foil in about 18mph winds with at least a 6M wing.

[@embededfabrication4482]

@@foilfanatic we never get 18mph winds. I have a 5M wing. I looks like people are foiling in lighter winds no?

[@foilfanatic]

@@embededfabrication4482 You can, but in the beginning, it helps to have adequate power to get on foil quickly. For my size, 85kg, a 6M wing and about 18 mph winds is when I do not need to pump the wing as efficiently to get on foil. If you weigh less or are working with higher winds, then a smaller wing will do the trick.