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Wing Surf getting started

10 wing surfing questions and answers

Would you like to try wing surfing but don't know where to start? Here are the 10 basic things to know if you want to get closer to wingsurfing.

1 - CAN WINGSURF PRACTICE ANYONE?

Yes, absolutely.
Wingsurfing is not particularly difficult or particularly tiring. It is not a sport that requires a lot of physical strength, nor do you have to be in perfect shape to practice it. This is why wing surfing is truly a sport for everyone and is practicable at any age, or almost. Well obviously it's not good for a 5 year old, but for slightly older children it is already feasible, and the same thing goes for those who are no longer a boy, of course with the due caution due to the fact that it is still a sport and moreover it is practiced in water and in close contact with the forces of nature. 
In this regard, I would say that an important requirement is to have good water skills, and with this I do not intend to do swimming competitions, but at least to be calm in the water (above and below). 

2 - IS WINGSURF A DANGEROUS SPORT?

Generally NO.
Wingsurfing is a fairly safe sport, as long as you practice it in safe weather conditions. it is clear that entering the sea during a storm is inherently dangerous, with or without wingsurfing. But if we leave the extreme conditions to professionals, wingsurfing practiced in light winds and in calm waters is a really safe sport.
The possible danger of wingsurfing is linked more than anything to the conditions in which it is practiced, or to the desire to push it towards spectacularity with stunts etc. Very strong wind and stormy sea can easily make wingsurfing a dangerous and extreme sport.
As in many other sports, the worst accidents often involve experienced riders looking for new challenges, rather than beginners.

3 - CAN WINGSURFING BE LEARNED BY YOURSELF?

Yes, it is possible.
Being a fairly safe sport it is possible to go into the water and start trying on your own. This is probably the recommended solution for the more enterprising or those coming from windsurfing, for example.
If you are patient, constant and motivated enough, learning alone can be fun and taste like a conquest, without hiding too many pitfalls.
If, however, you are impatient types, who want to get to the fun part immediately by cutting the hours of practice, then a good course is undoubtedly the best solution for you because an instructor is able to give you the straight ones to stand on the foil in less than don't tell yourself.    

4 - SHOULD YOU DO A WINGSURFING COURSE?

As we said, there are no particular contraindications to try wing surfing on your own. This is why many wonder if it is worthwhile or not to take a course. The answer is very subjective, but I want to list what I think are the main reasons for the course
The number one reason is of course to learn faster and get to the "fun part" first, but that's not all. During the course they will teach you the basics to maneuver the sail in complete safety, turn it and start it again from the water with the right technique, up to the position to hold upwind edges.
A second aspect to consider is the purely economic one. Buying all the equipment is an investment of no small importance. Taking a course, even for a few hours, will allow you to try wingsurfing and evaluate if this sport is right for you before buying everything you need.
The third point concerns the choice of equipment . A short course will enable you to choose your new equipment with greater knowledge of the cause, avoiding gross errors but always lurking when you buy something you know little or nothing about. 
Finally there is a final aspect concerning the safety of the equipment. Yes, you got it right, about the equipment. The wingsurfing sail if not handled correctly can be damaged and tear, and the same is true for the board and the foil. A few hours of class can help you take better care of everything.
(for example, the photos of this post were taken during our wingsurfing course in Lanzarote , by our friend Alessandro from Lanzarotekite)

5 - DOES WINGSURFING LOOK LIKE KITESURFING OR WINDSURFING?

Since the first videos appeared on youtube of this new sport, the debate has opened. Is wingsurfing more like kitesurfing or like windsurfing? And is it easier or more difficult? More dangerous or more fun. The wing is undoubtedly based on the technology of a kitesurf sail. On the other hand, the way the wing is handled is closer to driving a windsurf sail. The board then resembles a stand up paddle, indeed at the beginning you can safely have fun with a sup board, while further on you will see that the advantages of a specific board are many. 
The truth is that Wing is now a different sport that undoubtedly has points of contact with both kitesurfing and windsurfing but also many differences, such as to make it something new, in our opinion certainly to try. Then it's up to you to decide whether or not it will win you over. As far as we are concerned, it is a new way to play with the wind and one more way to stay in the water.

6 - HOW MUCH WIND IS NEEDED FOR WINGSURFING?

It depends. Wingsurfing can also be practiced in very light winds, but you need a little skill and an adequate foil fin. When the first few times you will use it with a sup board, perhaps without a foil, it is easier if there are about 15 knots , say between 14 and 18/20 knots of wind. Later, when you manage to manage the lifting and floating in the air on your foilboard, you can also take advantage of very, VERY, lighter winds, even under 10 knots . But the difference at this point is the front wing of your foil and your ability to take advantage of the slightest breeze, rather than the size of your wing.

7 - HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN WINGSURFING?

As I said at the beginning, wingsurfing is a sport that can be learned fairly quickly and that in a short time allows you to get a lot of fun. But what does little time mean? It depends.
In wingsurfing, as in everything, everyone has his own time. In principle I can tell you that already after a couple of hours most people are able to come and go, albeit with some uncertainty, using a normal sup board with a lot of volume. 
A few more hours of practice and in general you are able to return to the starting point and go up the wind. From this moment on, the real fun begins: the management of gliding and lifting with the foil. After that, the limits of wingsurfing are still to be explored ... 

8 - WINGSURF EQUIPMENT: WHAT TO BUY TO START?

If you decide to attend a wingsurf course, as we suggested, you won't have to buy anything at the beginning. The wingsurf school will put at your disposal all the necessary equipment to start. This will allow you to approach the practice of this sport with a minimum investment, compared to the cost of a complete equipment. At the end of the course, if you are passionate about wingsurfing you will have the skills to choose the most suitable equipment for you.If you have decided to try your hand here, here are some tips on the choice of wingsurfing equipment - wingsurf

SAIL:the WING. Unlike sports such as kitesurfing or windsurfing, one sail is sufficient for the majority of windsurfers, indeed most brands produce one size or a few more. To get started I recommend you choose an intermediate size WING around 4sqm. Clearly there are differences between one brand and another, but today the clearest distinction is between the Duotone wings that have a rigid boom and all the others that have an integrated inflatable boom. To learn more about the pros and cons of this choice, we will write a special post.
- Wingsurf table.Your first board could also be an old sup or an old windsurf board. The important thing is that it has enough volume to support you. In addition, short and wide boards are helpful. At the beginning you can also use the board without foil. Eventually use a nice fin to be able to boil. When you later use the foil you will have to choose a specific board (foilboard), or at least one that has the attachment for the foil.
- Wingsurf FOIL. The foil is a fundamental element because without getting up from the water you miss most of the fun !.
Choosing the right foil isn't easy at all. As a first foil, to save something, you can choose one in aluminum instead of carbon. The important thing is that the front wing is from at least 1800 - 2000 (1800 if you are light, 2000 if you are heavier) because with smaller wings too much wind is needed.

9 - WHERE TO DO WING SURFING?

Anywhere ... or almost! 
In principle, any body of water with about fifteen knots of wind is suitable. Lakes, sea, lagoons. Theoretically, any kitesurf or windsurf spot is suitable and the beauty is that it doesn't necessarily need as much space as for kitesurfing, so many lakes are also excellent candidates, as well as many other spots to be discovered.
Initially the absence of waves is certainly a plus. Low or high water? In reality this is of little importance. Many beginners feel more comfortable learning in shallow water ... the important thing in these cases is to make sure there are no curls or rocks! Strong wind or light wind? Both extremes are difficult to manage. If the wind is too weak it is more difficult and tiring to hold the sail up, while if it is too strong you risk being dragged away. 
So choose to start a beach with flat water or a lake and constant wind around 15 knots. Then if you want you can experience more demanding conditions. 

10 - IS WINGSURFING FUN?

Many kiters, windsurfers and surfers look to wingsurfing with a mixture of skepticism and sufficiency. Okay, maybe it won't be as adrenaline-fueled as these sports, but it's definitely fun, and we'll tell you after trying it. If you don't come from any of these sports or if you have abandoned them for years because they are too demanding, then you must definitely give the wing an opportunity because you may finally have found a way to stay in the water while having fun, without too much stress.

Pubblicato il 27 gennaio 2020 | Blog > Technique: WING

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