WingFoiling is here and it’s terrific fun. It’s light, portable, can be launched and landed in small areas and is hyper maneuverable. You can carve up the wind swell while still easily making ground up-wind.
Its not as fast as Windsurf or Kitesurf Foiling but it is a super fun, responsive and free feeling. Personally I love it and am always watching the trees to see if there is enough wind to play again.
We have Starboard WingBoards, Airush FreeWings and Starboard Foils in our club, for teaching and rental, so that new riders can learn before having to decide which is the best size Wing, Foil and Board to buy. Or they can simply continue to rent the best gear and only pay while enjoying it.
What is Wing Foiling?
Wing Foiling or Wing Boarding uses an Inflatable Leading edge and centre strut with a light skin over it, to form a Wing that looks similar to a Kite, except that it has control handles that you hold with your hands instead of lines/strings.
Anything can be used as a board, from an SUP to a windsurfer, surfboard or kite-board for the very advanced in stronger wind. While it is a great idea to start on a long windsurfing board with a centerboard, ideally Wing-foiling is done on a specific board made for Wing Boarding, with a foil fitted.
The Wing can be pulled towards the rider in a small circular motion and the board can also be rocked to generate extra speed, this is called pumping. Once a certain speed is reached there is enough water flowing over the hydrofoil that is on the bottom of the board to create lift. When the board lifts and breaks free from the water, drag is greatly reduced and less wind power is required to keep moving. This is called “on the foil” or “foiling”, it is a really amazing feeling as it is nearly silent and now you can go faster as well as sailing high into the wind.
Is Wing Foiling hard on the arms and shoulders?
Yes it is a good workout, but you do not have to hold the wing up. You quickly learn to present the wing to the wind in such a way that it creates lift. Then you hang onto the wing, Your front arm is generally straight and above your head, while you “sheet” in and out with the back hand. The back arm will get tired for sure, but when you change direction, you change arms. It is a great core workout also, as you will move your hips to change the position of the wing and to steer the board.
Which is the best equipment to learn Wing-foiling?
We supply the Airush Go FreeWing with a windsurfing board for the first 1 or 2 hours then we supply the Starboard 2023 STARBOARD 6’4″ x 31″ TAKE OFF and 7’1” x 32” TAKE OFF in LITE TECH with a Starboard Carbon Mast Foil that has a Carbon 2400 Front Wing, possibly smaller if the wind is very strong.
This is great for getting those first experiences of coming up onto the foil and controlling it. We use light weight, large volume boards with Foils are large enough to easily support them and create lift, so you do not have to learn to pump, while everything is still new. We also have smaller Carbon Boards with smaller foils for rent as you quickly progress onto more responsive and less forgiving wing foiling equipment.
How much does it cost to learn Wing-foiling?
Wing with non- foil board, (we use a long windsurfing board with a center fin to teach the first 1-2 hours, how to stand, balance and go upwind. – 600THB/hour
Wing with Foil board, we use Starboard QL2 full Carbon foils with 2400 front wings to provide maximum lift for students. For more advanced riders we have carbon boards and smaller foils, also full carbon – 900THB/hour
Wing Foiling Instructor, one on one (not including equipment) – 500THB/hour
WingFoil Course – 5 hours of equipment hire, beginning with non-foil longboard and progressing to full Foil Board including 3 hours instruction – 4,200THB
Our Wing Foiling Instructor is KYO, (Glee-oh) a friendly, competitive Wing Foil racer.
