Wing Foiling | Top 10 Gear Innovations That Will Shape Your 2024 Season

Full Sinker Boards: A Niche Trend
Shift from Big to Small: Initially, riders gravitated towards larger boards for stability, gradually moving to smaller "sinker" boards as skills improved.
The Reality of Sinker Boards: Despite their appeal in strong winds, their practicality in varied conditions is limited. Most riders find a balance with slightly larger boards, around 85-90 liters, offering better control and ease in various wind conditions.
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Low Aspect or Thick Foils: Losing Ground
High Aspect, Thin Foils Gaining Popularity: The trend is shifting towards more efficient, high-aspect, thinner foils. These provide a broader range of use and faster equipment without sacrificing performance.
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Shorter Fuselages: A Balancing Act
From Ultra-Short to Standard Length: While extremely short fuselages offered maneuverability, advancements in front wings now allow longer fuselages to provide stability without compromising agility.
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The Diminishing Role of Huge Stabilizers
Thinner, Higher Aspect Stabilizers: As riders seek less drag and better glide, the trend is moving towards sleeker stabilizers, offering similar lift with reduced resistance.
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The One-Pump Inflation System: A Standard in Winging
Simplification and Safety: The industry is shifting towards individual inflation systems for wings, enhancing safety and ease of maintenance while reducing complexity and cost.
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Big Windows on Wings: Becoming Obsolete
Smaller, Better-Placed Windows: As riders adapt, the need for large windows on wings is diminishing. Emphasis is shifting towards smaller, strategically placed windows, if at all.
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Soft Handles vs. Hard Handles
Preference for Hard Handles: The winging community increasingly favors hard handles over soft ones. They offer better control and adaptability, particularly for beginners learning to harness the wing's power.
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Advances in Wing Construction
Moving Beyond Standard Dakron and Single Strand Rip-Stop
Innovative Materials and Designs: Modern wings employ higher quality Dakron, multiple layers, and alternative materials for enhanced durability and performance.
Radial vs. Rectangular Panel Layouts
Radial Layouts for Enhanced Performance: The focus is on radial panel layouts for wings, allowing for better load distribution and a longer lifespan.
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The Controversial Topic of Booms in Wing Foiling
Booms: A Niche Preference: While not universally popular, booms still have their advocates, especially among riders who value one-handed wing control and a surfing-like experience.
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Changes in Board Design
From Short and Chunky to Longer, Thinner Boards
Evolving Board Shapes: The trend is moving away from short, wide boards to longer, thinner designs. These offer better speed, control in waves, and an overall smoother ride, especially in challenging conditions.
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The Rise of Foil Drives and Downwind Struggles
Foil Drives Taking Over: Foil drives are revolutionizing the way riders engage with waves, making it easier to learn and enjoy the sport without the need for towing or struggling in downwind conditions.
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In conclusion, wing foiling in 2024 is seeing a blend of technological advancements and a return to some traditional elements, driven by a deeper understanding of what works best in various conditions. The focus remains on enhancing the rider experience, ensuring ease of use, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible on the water.
Video Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:47 Board Designs
4:02 Foil Shapes
6:02 Fuselage Lengths
8:19 Stabilizer Sizes
8:46 Wing Inflation Systems
10:42 Wing Windows
13:12 Wing Handle Styles
15:06 Canooy Materials
15:46 Wing Panel Layouts
16:48 Booms
21:28 Wing Flex
23:21 Foil Drive Solutions
25:46 Board Lengths
Thank you for sharing the kiteboarding and wing foiling stoke with us! 🤙🏽 Please join us in the comments section and get a conversation started. We’re always happy to help!
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[@michaelgalaxy]

I'm a beginner and the boom is SUPER important for me. When I switched to a boom-based wing, I got much better, instantly. It was highly intuitive. The reason why it helps, specifically, is when you need to DE-power the wing (lift it up) really really fast in highly gusty situations where the wind can knock you over. The boom allows you that split-second control during the learning experience to stay on foil without falling over. It helped tremendously.

[@WillemAsselbergs]

Very nice overview. Super helpful. Safe winging out there boys and girls (especially for the downwinders!) Thanks for sharing.

[@user-zy1ux8rn3r]

Love my Javelin boom!! The small padded bag with split boom makes it very easy to carry ...easier than handles as the wings can pack SUPER tight without handles. I can fit a 3, 4 and 5m2 + front foil in my suitcase with all my clothing and still comes under 50lbs; a single superlight tube boom will weight a lot less than 6 different handles for the travels! Everything else in the boardbag to keep it lighter, makes traveling easy. As for the boom, so very intuitive to use, made progression and learning tricks so much easier! Just reach out anytime, there is always something to grab on, no need to look. Also like to ride one-handed when switch, allows to turn the body into the wind and relax a lot more. Riding single hand can allow adjusting leashes, etc as well! Love it! The plastic end cups weight next to nothing and in addition you save two attachments in the middle, so I think it might actually be lighter than many double rigid handle wings! Thanks for your overall review of the evolutions. Very interesting!

[@boardmeetingusa9405]

This was awesome - Totally stoked that Kaohi Leash is part of the revolution - New for 2024 - Harness leashes, Bungees with carabiners on wrist cuffs, Waist belts, NEW Changing Buckets and NEW 7' Double Coils for wing and down wind. Get ready, 2024 will be an awesome wing and downwind year. Tucker and crew will set you up. Thank you both.

[@michaels7573]

Really nice job, thanks for putting this vid together.

[@joemiller8029]

Thanks for all the tips!

[@alagill]

So so helpful! Thanks so much!

[@AkSeapilot]

you guys are hitting it out of the park with your videos.. Thanks!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thanks!

[@kountchev1]

thanx very informative!

[@larsdegroot]

You guys are the best 🤙🤙 keep m coming

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for sharing the stoke, my friend. 🤙🏽 Good winds! -Aaron

[@BigDawgzWingFoilReviews]

Thanks Tucker, great feedback!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yew!

[@blooskyy7]

Super interesting! 'powered turns, drawing lines' awesome

[@MACkiteboarding]

That's what it's all about

[@Moosecoaster]

Love you guys

[@MACkiteboarding]

Love you too

[@jeremywootton8343]

Duotone Slick boom travel solution.... Golf club travel bag... my 125 cm Slick boom fits nicely inside a golf club travel bag and plenty of room to include wings, foils and loads of kit too!!!

[@ctduncan1]

yeah i travel all the time with mine and it just goes in the bag next to the board, not an issue at all. If you are traveling with a wing and no board then it definitely is an issue

[@bohdanafanasyev3642]

Same here boom in the board bad never been an issue 😌🤙

[@robtangent4664]

I made my own two piece Slick boom from two piece kayak paddles from Amazon.

[@Stanton_High]

Sounds like you were describing my new North Mode wing.

[@kitesailor1]

As a 65yr old rider I need one hand to help me to my feet so flying the wing one handed briefly is essential. The new wings with longer front handles could also be the answer. Seeing handles ripped from struts does not give me much confidence in handles

[@randomhuman8684]

good videos, I enjoy watching

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for sharing the stoke, my friend. 🤙🏽 Good winds! -Aaron

[@3421Greg]

Regarding separate inflation for strut and leading edge, on more than one occasion I have found my leading edge deflating. There's a couple of reasons for that. It was easy to unlock the strut clip and equalise the pressure between the strut and leading edge. That made the wing stiff enough to pump up on the foil and ride home. That is a huge safety and convenience feature for me. Any wing that did not have one pump and a clip on the hose would be marked down on my shopping list.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Good feedback Greg! That is a positive point for the one point inflation wings. Generally, I'd notice my wing getting soft before it's too late to get in but in some situations that may be more critical than others. In our conditions, it's more important to keep one bladder inflated for safety and recovering a punctured wing. - Tucker

[@mechols3]

A feature I like with several brands is that the handles bolt on. You can add shims and spacer to customize the handles. You may even see aftermarket handles or homebuilts out there. Best of all is you can replace the handle if it breaks or the grip tears

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yes, Cabrinha had the spacers on the 2023 models but not on 2024. It is nice to have the option to replace or adjust handle styles and many brands are going that route for 2024. -Tucker

[@mechols3]

@@MACkiteboarding Tucker, Are you saying Cabrinha no longer bolts on the handles or they just dont include the shims/soacers? I think the key is having the bolt hole to easily change broken handles or add custom accessories. Like a shim with a gopro/ram mount. You could then easily add a gps to the front handle. BTW, live on Maui and love your reviews.

[@MACkiteboarding]

@@mechols3 They still bolt on but they have moved to molded stanchions rather than using the spacers. It was a change they needed to make with the new strut shape but it's very nicely designed and I don't find any need to change it. I like your idea of the shim/gopro mount, although it may be a pretty close angle. GPS would be awesome. Let me know if you make a 3d print file. I like to mount my cam in the back of the strut using a wrist strap jammed into the back of the strut cavity. *always use a leash just in case ;) - Tucker

[@furrfurr]

Thanks guys. So which brands are making the longer yet more narrow boards?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Omen, Appletree, F-one, and a few others depending on the volume/shape you are looking for. Contact us at the shop for a personal recommendation.

[@franpinyol8500]

Wing stiffness, light handles, etc. improved a lot, but what are wing vendors doing to improve wing bagging and trailing edge deformation after 50 sessions ? What's the longest durable wing according to your experience ?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Frame stiffness, panel layout, canopy choices have been improving to reduce bagging and increase longevity. This is true for most brands and each has their own solutions. Wings are lasting twice as long as they were just a few years ago. I'd say that the North Pro series, OR AA glide, and Duotone wings are leading the charge with regard to longevity with their materials innovation. With respect to price/longevity the North Pro series is the hands down winner IMHO. -Tucker

[@IRWE905]

Good Overview. I also don't like Windows on Wings for Winter WingSkiing. They act differently to feezing temperatures then the rest of the material. If I have a choice when purchasing a Wing I always choose No Windows!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! 🤙🏽 Good winds to you, my friend. -Aaron

[@wylankaochari9768]

When is the slingwing v4 review

[@DaveSails7]

Interested that at 175 lbs (80 kg) your go to boards are 60-70 liters (10-20 liters less than body weight in kg). I've heard people say that 5-15 liters less than your weight in kg is a zone to avoid because it's between sinker and floater. Do you think that is a zone to avoid, or you find that range of boards to be OK?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Depends on the dims. I'd say 50-70L depending on the model. Anything around 80L will be corky if it's shorter than 5'.

[@garys2149]

Its funny you talk about the race to small. In Hawaii 3ft was all the rage, now longer boards even sup are on the rise. Down wind, surf even wing boards have gotten bigger and bigger. They still rip it up too.

[@SailingOutventure]

If you're talking about these new "short downwind" boards, what would be the volume to go. Say if you're an intermediate/advanced rider, very comfortable on a KT Wingdrifter 90l that's 5'4" (got it from you, btw ;) ), what would be an equivalent for a longer board? Don't want to go so much longer than 6' as I'm traveling a lot.

[@MACkiteboarding]

You could take a look at something like an Omen Flux 84L. I'd say that's one of the best lightwind boards around 90L and it's 5'11. The Cabrinha Swift could be an option for you as well once they are available. When we say downwind boards, we are typically talking about boards over 6'6 and narrower than 23". -Tucker

[@SailingOutventure]

yeah, i think there's no proper name for this category out there yet, but everyone starts making them now. Not sure if you saw the new GONG Cruzador. Like a 6'0" with about 100 liters. The diamond looks interesting. I think we'll all be winging on 5'10 to 6'3, let's call them "downwinging" boards soon ;) @@MACkiteboarding

[@MACkiteboarding]

I dig it@@SailingOutventure !

[@DanielBlomqvist]

What about twin skin wings?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Great question-thanks for asking! 🤙🏽 Got a moment for a web chat? Click the following link, and we’ll do our best to help: messenger.providesupport.com/messenger/mackite.html

[@robsinHL]

Ya, no. The boom on the SLS is amazing. When I go to hard handles I’m always trying to put a hand where there isnt a place for it. One handing it…. Love my quiver of them.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thanks for sharing your stoke about the SLS! It's awesome to hear the positive feedback. Good winds! -Aaron

[@jeromeserre]

Are inflatables still a recommandation for beginners?

[@MACkiteboarding]

If a hard board is possible, I suggest that. Inflatables have their advantages but learning on one can be a little more difficult, especially in lighter winds since they aren't as efficient. - Tucker

[@jeromeserre]

Thanks!

[@CodyMaverickSurfsUp]

My father walked me through the new trends, and his assessment is that it's a reverse windsurf trend from the 80s and 90s. The long, skinny boards were the rage in the 80s and 90s, and then came the short wide boards in 2000s. The same thing with sails, masts and booms. Don't sell your shortboard, it will come back.

[@MACkiteboarding]

It's all about what you want from your gear. Most people want to ride smaller, surfier, faster foils in a wider range of conditions so you need a board which can allow that. I will say that short, high volume boards are difficult to ride due to their corkiness. -Tucker

[@Finn-yg6zx]

Elbow tendinitis (lateral or medial epicondylitis) is an under reported and ignored problem with wingfoiling by the industry. Having soft handles greatly mitigates this problem. I would hate to see all wing companies following the trend of only producing hard handles and not providing good alternates.

[@JoshWiden]

Harness was a game changer for me

[@MikeRaper0505]

I have had tennis elbow and my ridged handles made it better for me due to the fact that I can relax my grip on a ridged handle and hold on with the tips of my fingers, instead of grabbing tight with my entire hand on a soft handle. Hence ridged handles reduces strain imho.

[@MikeRaper0505]

@@JoshWidensoo true

[@scottseale]

My tendonitis resolved after switching from soft handles to rigid.

[@jgblete403]

Tendinites is mainly due to the grip .if the handle is slipery you will have pblems because you need to contract much more your arm muscle.the same with gloves.

[@jensdijkhuis8724]

Where to put your boom? Just minutes before talking about not getting a board that is to smal? You are caring a board that is bigger then your boom! So put it in the bag where your board is in😅 For the rest nice content guys

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yes, of course but not everyone is traveling with a board or are using an inflatable. - Tucker