Wing Foiling
Wing foiling, wing ding, the wing thing – whatever you want to call it, it is the latest craze in the world of watersports. Basically it’s an inflatable wing/kite that you hold in your hands to catch the wind. There are no lines connecting you to the wing, so it’s a lot less complicated than kiting. It’s also a lot safer to learn on you own. In saying that, a couple of lessons will go a long way and make the learning process a lot more enjoyable and a lot faster.
Advantages and disadvantages compared to kiteboarding
The big advantage it has over kitesurfing is that you can flag or neutralise the wing and ride directly downwind. This is a massive advantage when riding waves as you don’t have to worry about keeping the kite in front of you to prevent it from falling out of the sky.
With a wing foil wing, you simply flag it out about your head and focus more on the actual wave its self. Gusty conditions are also a lot easier on a wing as you don’t have to worry about the wing falling on the water and not being able to relaunch it.
The great thing about kitesurfing is that you can do a range of different disciplines. You can foil, twintip, surfboard and much more. The kite also allows you to jump to incredible heights, which simply are not achievable on a wing. For me personally, I use the wing if I want to go for a foil and the kite if I want to have a freestyle session.
How do I get into wing foiling?
The best way to get into wing foiling is to contact your local school/ retailer. They will be able to give you all the advice you need when it comes to lessons and getting the right equipment for you. There are a lot of different shapes and sizes when it come to wings and foils, so it is worth getting some expert advice before purchasing your equipment. Feel free to contact us at Pacific Watersports and we will get you up and running.