Photo: Silvio Hesse
After deciding to take up wingfoiling and watching several videos on wingfoiling (technique, maneuvers, and rules) on the water, I couldn't wait to finally get started.
First exercises on land
Before hitting the water, I wanted to get acquainted with the wing on land. Surprisingly, it was quite easy to handle.
The most important learnings for wing control:
- With your front hand, you essentially hold the wing more, and with your back hand, you control more, e.g., speed.
- Your front hand should always be (height-wise) above your back hand to have full control of the wing and prevent it from being pushed down. Later, you'll probably also perform maneuvers where the back hand is above the front, but this principle helped me a lot at the beginning.
- The further your front hand is from the front tube, the greater the perceived pull in the wing from the wind. For better control, you can position your front hand a bit further forward.
- To accelerate, you pull with your back hand (downward and towards you a bit). The further the back hand is from the front tube, the more direct or stronger the pull.
- To depower the wing (i.e., to take the power out of the wing), you only need to release the pull from the back hand – so, raise your back hand (but not above the front one ;) or even let go. However, letting go carries the risk of losing control of the wing or having less control. So, I usually preferred just to reduce the pull.
- When changing grip (e.g., during maneuvers like jibing and tacking), you should always hold the wing with at least one hand at the front of the wing (handle or boom) for full control. So, first release the back hand and place it at the front of the boom or front handle, then release the other hand to place it elsewhere. There are also maneuvers – like the duck jibe – where this is different, but for a beginner, this principle helped me a lot.
Soon, I was standing on the longboard – for more stability – and later on the surfskate for that surf feeling.
Gliding across Tempelhofer Feld with the wing pulling me felt like a small taste of what was to come. Fun factor: immense.
In general, additional training on land helped me make faster progress – even if it still took some time.
Photo: Silvio Hesse
To the Water
Of course, I was eager to get on a foil board as quickly as possible. The plan: not to practice on a SUP for long, but to get started right away. So, I got a board that I would still enjoy after the first attempts and could eventually use for jumping.
Tip: If you want to practice on a SUP first, don't forget drift stoppers. Otherwise, you'll probably drift across the lake with the wind and have to paddle back.
My anticipation was huge – but the first sessions were quite sobering. I was too cocky. The board I had chosen was simply too small for me: too little volume, too little buoyancy for my weight and level. Especially in light winds on the lake, it made things unnecessarily difficult.
So, a new board: with more volume, more stability. And lo and behold: suddenly things were going better. First on my knees, then standing. When I could finally ride upwind confidently and returned to the shore where I had started, I knew: Now I'm on the right track.
The First Flights
And then it happened: the first time the foil lifted off. Only for a few seconds – but magical.
It became quieter, I got faster, felt light, almost weightless. That's exactly what I had started for. From then on, I only wanted more of that feeling.
With short flights, I gradually got used to the foil's behavior. And each time, the flights became a little longer.
Falling is also part of it, of course. You shouldn't be discouraged by it, but I always try to fall as far away from the board and foil as possible, without kicking the board away, so that it doesn't move uncontrollably or get catapulted back by the leash. To fall more safely, I also left off the foot straps at first.
Photo: Silvio Hesse
My Beginner Setup
So that you have an idea of what I started with:
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My weight (at the time): approx. 63 kg (without equipment)
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Wing: 5 m²
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Board: 105 l
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Mast: 75 cm, mounted as far forward on the board as possible for earlier lift-off
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Front wing: 1750 cm²
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Stabilizer: 300 cm²
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Fuselage: a bit longer for more tilt stability
Photo: Silvio Hesse
My Learnings on gear and setup for beginners:
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Board: Rather a bit larger than too small. More volume = more stability and buoyancy. Approx. 30 l more volume than my weight supported me greatly.
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Foil: A larger foil lifts you out of the water faster and is a bit more forgiving than small foils.
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Wing: The size of the wing depends mainly on your weight and wind strength. With an approximate body weight of 63 kg, a 5m² wing worked for me in mostly moderate winds (4 - 5 Bft), but often on light wind days, a 5.5m² or 6m² would have been even better.
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Fuselage: A longer fuselage can provide additional stability.
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Mast: For wave spots in the ocean, a longer mast is worthwhile (I later switched to 90 cm).
Safety Check
Don't forget: protective gear not only makes it safer but also builds confidence.
Helmet and impact vest: definitely recommended. I started without a helmet and rode that way until, after a fall, I wondered where my board was – it landed right next to me a second later.
Especially at the beginning, you spend a lot of time on your knees and often slide your feet across the board. Therefore:
- Shoes: even thin ones in summer – protect your feet from abrasions when sliding across the board
- Wetsuit: provides additional buoyancy in the water, keeps you warm, and prevents abrasions when riding on your knees and frequently climbing onto the board
And even with the best equipment: wingfoiling is generally relatively safe – the wing and board float, and with a leash, the risk of losing both is rather low. Nevertheless, something unexpected can always happen. Therefore, before each session, you should consider: What do I do – and how do I get back – if something doesn't go as planned?
This applies not only to staying on course but also to the event that something happens to your equipment (e.g., wing, board, or foil broken or lost) or you get injured. You should therefore not be further from shore than you can paddle, swim, or be pulled back by your wing in an emergency.
When I'm out on the ocean, I always take my phone with me now. There are also apps that can help locate and rescue you in an emergency.
It is also important to know the spot: Are there any obstacles in the water that you don't immediately see – flotsam, trees, structures, debris, or shallow sandbanks that you could collide with? Local surf centers and shops or other water sports enthusiasts on site can often give you valuable tips on this.
You should also know and observe the right-of-way rules. Among wingfoilers, for example:
- Left hand on the front of the wing = you must give way
- Right hand on the front of the wing = you must hold your course
In addition, there are other rules that would go beyond the scope of this discussion.
And last but not least: consideration and respect are, of course, very important. Don't stubbornly insist on your "right," but ride considerately and always factor in the mistakes of others.
Recommendation
I'm not a coach. I'm just sharing my experiences and learnings here – more like a chat among wingfoilers on the shore, only I'm currently having a monologue.
When I started wingfoiling, there were hardly any courses available. So, I tried it as a self-learner. If you just want to test wingfoiling, get tips from professionals, and save a lot of time and perhaps money on unnecessary beginner equipment, I definitely recommend taking a course. There are many of them now.
PS: You can also see my progress on Instagram: pasta.particles.
