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9 Questions and Answers on Wingsurfing

To choose the right equipment and learn without stress

1) Better a wing foil with handles or bar?

This is one of the first questions that everyone asks me because most of the wing foil wings on the market are with handles, but there is one brand in particular that has instead chosen to produce its wings with a rigid boom and obviously a beginner yes asks what is the best choice.

In fact, in my opinion, they are both very good systems.

My personal preference, as a former windsurfer, goes to the handle with Boma, that of the Wingfoil Duotone to be clear. In the long run the hands do not get damaged and the grip is more comfortable if you spend hours in the water. In addition, since the boom is extendable, it allows to give more profile to the wing making it a little more pot-bellied and performing better in light wind.
On the other hand it must be said that the weight of the boom in the long run makes itself felt on the shoulders, and it is in any case more cumbersome to carry it around. 
The wingfoils with handle are easy to handle and have much less weight on the shoulders but having no rigid boom it is important to be careful to inflate the wing well otherwise they risk deforming under gusts, when the wind increases. 

2) What wing size should I use?

To start, the best thing is to take a central measurement, around 4 square meters . Much larger sizes are useful for going out with really extreme wind but at the beginning they are more difficult to handle because it is easier for a tip to touch the water, causing you to fall. Smaller sizes, on the other hand, are certainly easy to handle but require more wind. A size around 4 is also perfect for use with a skate.

3) What kind of board to use?

Any board is fine to try the first few times, the important thing is that it has enough volume to stand up without sinking. A Sup, even inflatable, will be fine for the first edges. You can even try it with a longboard, as long as it is big enough to keep you standing even when stationary. Clearly with a non-specific board it will be more difficult to go upwind, but it can help to give you an idea.

If you are thinking of trying your kitesurf board or surfboard, I tell you right away that they are not suitable. On these boards it is not possible to stand and float ... you need something much more voluminous!

Then to start having some serious fun you will need a specific board complete with foil.

4) How many liters should the table have?

The board must have many liters to allow you to climb on it and stay afloat until it glides. Especially for the first few times a board for a person weighing 70/75 kg should have at least 130 liters. Especially at the beginning this is the most important thing also because if you reduce the volume you will struggle too much to send it on plane and risk having to pump with your legs and burst after 20 minutes!

Subsequently, once you have the right confidence and also using an adequate foil, you can go down with the liters of the board, but without exaggerating! The limit under which not to go down is about 15 liters above your weight.

5) Can I use a Wing without the foil?

Well, it is possible to use the wing even without a foil. Many are afraid, especially at the beginning of the foil. The fact of getting up in the air, using a fin that can also be sharp ... there are many worries. 
In fact, it is possible to go around the sea, using the sail, even without a foil under the table, perhaps taking care to use slightly larger fins to be able to upwind.

But it must be said that the real fun begins when you use a foil board. Then the board rises and you find yourself flying over the water on this " flying carpet " with a small sail in your hands. A feeling of absolute peace and freedom.

6) What kind of foil can I use?

For wingsurfing it is necessary to use a specific foil or a sup foil. The key thing to keep in mind is that the front wing must be at least 1800. This of course for a 75kg rider, an even larger front wing will be needed for much heavier riders. With a smaller front wing it becomes very difficult to get up, especially at the beginning and once gliding you will have too little stability.

If by any chance you are wondering, a kitesurf foil is not good! Or better, you can maybe use the same foil you use for kitesurfing, but changing the frontwing with a much larger one. 

7) Is the Foil dangerous?

The dangers associated with using a foil with the wing are rather relative and in any case not comparable to those of using a foil with kitesurfing. The kiteboard is small and when it falls the foil tends to turn and come out of the water. Falling on it is very easy, but also getting hit on the head. With wing boards this does not happen. The board is heavy and it is really difficult to turn so the foil always remains under the water and it is really difficult to find yourself bumping into it with your head or body, at most it can happen to inadvertently hit us with your legs,  

8) If you fall, do you lose Ala and Tavola?

No absolutely not you have both leashes. 
It is possible not to use the board leash, if it bothers you, in conditions of not so strong wind and flat water. In this case, however, it may happen that you have to take a few swims to recover it in the event of a fall.

9) I don't know how to do SUP, Windsurf, Kitesurf ... can I still try wingfoil?

Sure! Anyone can try and have fun. Wingfoil is not particularly difficult nor dangerous and if it is true that those who come from windsurfing are certainly an advantage in handling the wing, while those who come from sup will better manage their balance on the board, it is also true that everyone can try and start have fun right away. The important thing is to choose an easy equipment to start like a board with a lot of volume, enough to stand up without sinking, and adequate wind and sea conditions so no waves at the beginning and not too strong wind. 

The use of the wing is quite simple so even a neophyte can use it safely and above all who is not a very good swimmer having the wing attached to the wrist can benefit from an excellent life preserver always at hand.

Furthermore, since it is not a particularly dangerous or traumatic sport, it is also suitable for children and people who are a little older or out of shape and in general for anyone who does not want to do too radical sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing or surfing.

 

 

Pubblicato il 24 giugno 2020 | Blog > Technique: WING

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