Have you ever dreamt about gliding effortlessly across the water, feeling the spray tickle your toes and the wind whip through your hair? Wing foiling is one of the fastest growing sports to help you achieve this dream, however, its difficulty level may turn you off. Before going on and buying all the equipment you want to know if wing foiling is hard.
Wing foiling’s difficulty level entirely depends on you. There is a learning curve, but with the right approach, dedication, and perseverance, you can be wing foiling with ease.
Through reading this guide and knowing the proper steps to take to learn how to wing foil, you’ll be able to wing foil like a pro in no time.
The Basic Wing Foiling Skills Needed to Get Started
Wing foiling is a water sport that is growing in popularity around the world. Depending on where you’re from, you may also hear it referred to as “winging”. It’s a combination of kitesurfing, wind surfing, and surfing that started back in the 1980s.
Since wing foiling is a combination of several water sports, there are a few skills you’ll be working on to be able to go winging safely and having a great time.
- Balance and board control, which cover your stance, balance, and stance padding techniques
- Wing control and manipulation, which are inflation, hand positioning, and steering with the pull of the wind
- Understanding foil mechanics, such as understanding lift, components, proper stance for take-off and while winging
Now that you know the basic skills you will be working on while learning how to wing foil, let’s go into how to start practicing.
Can you Teach Yourself How to Wing Foil?
Before diving into learning how to wing foil, some people might wonder if they can teach themselves how to wing foil.
It is possible to teach yourself how to wing foil. Some people take naturally to most sports they do and if they’ve had previous experience with other water sports such as surfing or hydro foiling, they will have an easier time learning how to wing foil.
However, if you have no prior experience or are concerned about your stance or other safety issues, you should look into getting a wing foiling instructor.
Keep in mind that it’s also recommended to go wing foiling in groups for the most safe and fun experience.
Learning Progression of Wing Foiling
Just as with any sport or skill, you can’t just dive right in and know exactly what you’re doing. Wing foiling is challenging to start, but starting slow will help you build a strong foundation towards your wing foiling skills.
Learning how to wing foil will happen in five stages, starting on land and ending in the water (well, on the water).
Stage 1: Land Training
Ever notice how before any surfing lesson, you’ll see people on the sand with their boards learning the basics? Wing foiling is no different. Land training is essential for safety and the following:
- Getting familiar with the equipment: the board, the wing, and the foil. Along with the smaller parts such as:
- Body positioning and balance drills on the board: including drills with lunges, squats, and one-legged balance poses
- Wing handling practice: safe inflation and control techniques so you can get a feel for its responsiveness. You will also practice proper hand positioning techniques for steering and controlling the wing’s power.
Stage 2: Shallow Water Practice and Exploration
After you’re done learning the basics on land, you’ll get your feet wet (hopefully up to your hips too). Once you’re done with land training, you should feel confident enough for shallow water practice. This includes:
- Bodyboarding with the foil attached so you can get the feel of the board and being in and out of water. This will help you experience the drag and resistance of the foil while moving through the water.
- Kneeling on the board with the wing and wind control so you can learn a bit about wind power while still being in shallow water. You’ll practice paddling and maneuvering the board while the wind is controlling the wing.
Ideally, you’d be practicing in shallow water on days where there aren’t a lot of waves and isn’t a lot of wind. A secluded bay or lagoon is the perfect place to start with a light breeze. This provides a safe and controlled environment for learning on the water.
Stage 3: Standing on the Board in Shallow Water
Once you’re comfortable with bodyboarding with the foil attached and kneeling on the board in shallow water, the next step is to start standing on the board while still in shallow water. This stage includes:
- Standing on the board with wing control while still in shallow water
- Progressing to controlled gliding on the foil along with controlled take offs
- Practicing falling and getting back up safely. You’re going to fall, a lot. Make sure you know how to move your body and the equipment if you’re going to fall.
This is really where you’ll start to feel the magic of wing foiling.
Stage 4: Get Out There!
You’ve made it. You’ve gone from practicing on dry land to finally getting out into deeper water to work on your wing foiling. Here, you’ll be working on:
- Getting comfortable using the wing foil in deeper waters
- Learning how to maneuver in different wind speeds
- Starting to get the feel for tricks
Stage 5: Advanced Techniques
After spending some time in deeper waters wing foiling, the last step is to work on some advanced techniques to help you start wing foiling like a pro. This last step can probably take the longest compared to others because it’s just correct repetition. Here you’ll be practicing:
- Upwind riding and tacking to go against the wind
- Downwind riding and jibing to allow the wind to push you at fast speeds
- Caving turns and controlling speed to start wing foiling like a pro with tricks
- Pumping techniques to help with quicker takeoffs and gaining lift
Things to Know Before You Start Wing Foiling
Before you go ahead and start wing foiling, there are some things to know and have. You will need:
- Proper instruction
- Correct safety gear
- Knowing how to swim
- Choosing the right equipment for your level
- Finding ideal learning conditions (flat water, light wind)
- Building fitness and core strength for better control
- Patience, practice, and overcoming falls
Proper Instruction for Wing Foiling
Finding an instructor to supervise your training in wing foiling in your area may or may not be so difficult. It entirely depends on how popular the sport is in your area. The best way to find wing foiling instructors in your area is to go down to the water and see if there is anyone to teach you. You can also find instructors through your local wing foiling or surf shop.
You should try to find a certified wing foiling instructor, whether it’s through the International Wing Foil Organization or the Academy of Surfing. This ensures the person that is teaching you knows how to teach wing foiling and is an expert.
If there are no wing foiling instructors in your area, you may have some luck finding someone around you that does. If you have a resort near you, you can also see what they have to offer to teach you how to wing foil.
Correct Safety Gear for Wing Foiling
Aside from all of the gear you need for wing foiling, you might be wondering if you need any additional gear for your safety, especially when you’re starting out. Some common extra pieces of gear people use while wing foiling are:
- Floatation and impact vest: to help you if you fall off the board
- Wrist and leg leashes: to keep your gear connected to you after a crash or if you fall off
- Helmet: while your risk level of hitting your head in the water is low, you might whack your head on the board while falling
- Wetsuit: in case you’re going out while the water is cold, this will keep your body warm and your muscles flexible
Knowing How to Swim
While this may seem like a no-brainer, knowing how to swim before even thinking about going wing foiling is necessary. You’ll be falling in the water… a lot. Knowing how to get yourself back to your board safely is the most important thing to know when wing foiling.
If you have no swimming skills at all, consider finding a swim instructor at a local gym, high school, public pool, or privately.
After you have the basics, you need to learn how to swim in water outside of the pool. It’s very different for multiple reasons including water density, the waves and tides, as well as deadly rip currents. You should know how to spot rip currents before going out wing foiling.
An added thing you should know with swimming with your wing foil is how to swim and bring your equipment to shore. This may be perfect in calm waters, but if the water is a bit choppy, it’s going to be harder.
The Right Equipment for Your Wing Foiling Level
As you learn to wing foil, the equipment you have will evolve with your skill level.
Beginner wing foilers shouldn’t invest too much into their gear since they’re still testing out the waters. They should buy a wide board, mast, large front foil, a large tail foil, a pump for the wing, and a 5m wing.
When you’re buying your first board, note the measurements. You should take your weight in kilograms and add 20-40 to get the correct size for your board. For example, if you weigh 72kg, you should look for a board that’s 92-112L.
From here, as you’re more confident in your skills, you can purchase upgrades such as:
- A smaller board
- A smaller foil for the front and tail
If you’re ever unsure, don’t buy your products online without consulting an expert first. You can always talk to other experienced wing foilers or a professional at your local wing foiling shop. There are also wing foiling kits available for beginners online.
Finding and Waiting for Ideal Learning Conditions
Once you’re ready to start learning in shallow water, you need to start analyzing the weather patterns at the beach you plan on wing foiling at.
Ideal wing foiling conditions are with a light to moderate breeze between 10 to 20 knots. You should avoid wing foiling when it is very windy (over 40 knots), the waves are over 5 feet, or there is a storm coming. You should also avoid wing foiling if there isn’t enough wind.
Some other conditions to consider when you’re going to learn how to wing foil are:
- Wind direction, especially if you’re wing foiling in the ocean
- Incoming storms, which will affect the strength of the wind and waves
Ways to know the different conditions at the beach are watching the local weather report and talking to lifeguards on duty about the conditions. You can also look at the flags that are placed on the beach to see the wind strength and if there are any warnings.
Here is a table to show you the meaning of the different flags placed on the beach in the United States:
| Flag Color | Meaning | Should You Wing Foil? |
| Yellow | Medium hazard: there are some bigger waves and currents | Beginners, no. Advanced, yes. |
| Red | High hazard: there are strong waves and currents | No |
| Double red | Water is closed for the public | No |
| Purple | Marine life: some animals may be present that can injure you, doesn’t include sharks | You can with consideration |
| Red and yellow | There are lifeguards present | Yes |
| Black and white | Designated area for non-powered watersports | Yes |
| Yellow with a black ball | Non-powered watersports are prohibited | No |
| Red and white | Emergency evacuation | No- you must get out of the water |
If you see an orange sock, that will help you see the wind strength and direction.
Keep in mind that these colors may vary by country, so check with the local lifeguards to understand what the flags mean.
Getting Fit and Building Core Strength
With wind foiling, you’ll need to be fit throughout your body, especially in the core and lower body. Some exercises you can do to build your strength to practice wing foiling are:
- Lunges
- Squats
- Single-leg balance poses
- Yoga, especially back, groin, and hamstring stretches
- Box jumps
- Jumping rope and other cardio training
You can do these supplement your learning experience, especially if it’s on a day that you shouldn’t go out due to weather conditions or if it’s too cold outside.
Patience, Practice, and Overcoming Falls
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you most likely won’t be the best wing foiler within a few practice sessions. One important thing to keep in mind that learning how to wing foil takes patience, practice, and being okay with falling down, a lot.
As soon as you lose patience, take a break for a bit. You don’t want to get burnt out after making many mistakes. If you get burnt out, you’ll fall behind in your practice or maybe even want to give up wing foiling. That would be a waste in all the money, time, and energy you’ve spent.
Even though wing foiling is easy to get the hang of, it’s a matter of what you want to do with wing foiling.
Do you want to zip around the water and enjoy the rush of the wind pushing you around? Do you want to start doing some pretty cool tricks to show off like jibes and flips? Or do you want to start looking for wing foiling races and competitions locally or around the world? The sky is the limit with what you can do with wing foiling.
How Long Does It Take to Learn How to Wing Foil?
Now that you know what it takes to start learning how to wing foil, you probably want to know how long it takes to learn how to wing foil. How long will you be in each stage?
If you already have experience with water sports such as wind surfing, surfing, and kite boarding, you won’t have to dedicate as much time to learning since you already have most of the mechanics and balance skills. It should take about 5 to 10 hours of practice.
However, if you’re a complete beginner and this is your first time doing any water sport, expect to take a good 10 to 30 hours to learn how to wing foil. Some people will take about 3 to 5 days to learn the sport.
This entirely depends on the learning conditions, your dedication, and your instructor.
Best Places to Learn to Wing Foil
Learning how to wing foil and going out on your own are different things. When you’re learning how to wing foil you want to be in a place with not many other people to prevent injuring yourself or someone else. Some places to learn to wing foiling are:
- Lakes
- Oceans
- Bays
- Lagoons
- Rivers
As long as the water is flat and there is a breeze, you have a perfect place to learn how to wing foil. Whether you’re learning how to wing foil in the United States or around the world, there are plenty of places you can go.
Safety Considerations for Wing Foiling: Is It Safe?
Since wing foiling has been growing in popularity for over 40 years, it’s pretty safe to say that it is safe, however this depends on many different factors. Some things to consider for wing foiling safety are:
- The weather outside
- The strength of the wind
- Your swimming skills
- How well you are at falling
- Your emergency response in case the wind picks up, there’s a shark close to shore, or you get taken too far out
- The environment around you. Make sure there are no rocks, cliffs, or piers around you. This also applies to rocks underneath you.
- The group you’re wing foiling with. It’s recommended to never go out alone.
You should also be comfortable with moving at higher speeds on the water without a lot of protection. With the right amount of wind, you can be wing foiling at up to 35 mph.
Fun Tricks While Wing Foiling
Once you’ve become advanced, sometimes the thrill of being taken away by the wind while on a board might fizzle out a bit. Don’t worry though. There are some fun tricks you can do and learn to master to revive your fire when wing foiling.
- Around the world: doing a full 360° and working with upwind and downwind
- Cowboy jibe: carving into a jibe while passing your wing behind, around, and above you
- Jump tricks including back flips, body spins, and a straight air melon grab
- Tacks
- Gybes
- Waterstars
Is Wing Foiling the Easiest Water Sport?
Now you know there are a lot of similarities between training for wing foiling and other water sports, you might be wondering which water sport is the easiest?
Most of this entirely depends on the person, however in comparison to other similar sports, specifically the ones that wing foiling comes from, wing foiling tends to be easier and more beginner friendly than hydro foiling.
In regard to kite surfing, wing foiling is considered significantly easier since the wings are easier to control than kites.
Wind surfing is also more difficult than wing foiling. Windsurfing does require more experience and more equipment as well.
It is safe to say that if you’re just starting out with any water sport, wing foiling is definitely one of the easier ones to begin with and you can expand with other sports.
Conclusion
Wing foiling is an achievable sport and hobby with dedication and practice. Along with the dedication and practice comes a rewarding feeling of mastering this exciting sport.
Now that you know what to expect when you’re learning how to wing foil, take the plunge and go learn!
