THAT'S WHY WE LOVE THE WING

Wing surfing is nothing new. Already since the 80's it has been tinkered, optimized, and created the basis for our new water sport. At the beginning aluminum constructions were used in connection with old windsurfing sails. However, this did not lead to a breakthrough, because the functionality and performance were not given.

It was the introduction of kite surfing that created the basis for wingsurfing

The prototypes of the wing were made of rigid frames, as no suitable materials and technologies were found. As a result, they had a high weight and were very unwieldy. The establishment of kite surfing brought about inflatable struts and a very light fabric, which revolutionized wing surfing. This made wings lighter, more flexible and more robust, making them easy to transport and set up.

When was the current concept of the wing invented?

In 2011, the first prototypes appeared, which are close to today's Wing and served as the basis for development. At that time, however, the wings were still used with very large SUP boards or windsurf boards, whereby the handling has suffered significantly. Through the development of the Hydrofoil, the water resistance could be reduced and enormous buoyancy, as well as speed could be achieved. Wingfoiling was born and a new, extremely fun water sport was created, which turned out to be more than just a short-lived hype.

No previous experience required

In order to practice wingsurfing, you don't need to be able to windsurf, kitesurf, stand up paddle or even surf. Exactly that is the major focus of this new sport, connecting all of these elements. Due to the easy handling, dry practice with the Wing is no problem and you can train and practice without risk.

The Wing requires little space

In addition, the wing saves a lot of space and is very easy to assemble. It will fit in a compact bag, can be inflated in about 3 minutes using a pump, and requires no other equipment. Extremely lightweight, it is easy to handle. We also offer our Inflatable Wing Boards from Gunsails, which can also be stowed and transported in a very space-saving way.

Safety

When wingfoiling, all you have is a board and a wing (sail) to hold on to. Therefore, you can throw away your board and release the wing whenever needed. The wing can't drag you and you don't have any lines wrapped around the wing, so it's safer.

The Feeling

Feeling like you're floating over the water powered by the wind is as amazing as it is highly addictive. To hold an inflatable wing in your hand and catch the wind breeze as you stand on a board with only a hydrofoil in the water.

This is what distinguishes winging or wingfoiling and makes it so wonderful.

 An additional benefit of wingfoiling is that the wing allows you to get control of the wind quite easily and the handling is very direct. Whereas in kiting with the 24m long lines and the bar you don't have a very direct contact with the kite, the wing is directly in your hands, so it is easy to be controlled.

How do I set up my wing?

Kitesurfers will have few problems here, as the construction of the wing is almost identical. Those beautifully shaped inflatable structures are more sensitive than you think. Try to avoid scratching or abrading them on sharp and spiky objects (such as hydrofoils). Inside the front tube is a thin inner bladder that is relatively easy to punch a hole in. Inflate them anywhere that is soft - grass or sand makes a good surface. 

Our pumps are supplied with a line and a small hook (to prevent the wing from flying off), So attach that first as well as the pressure gauge. Various wings have different inflation requirements, and this typically is located somewhere near the inflation valve.

For slightly heavier people, it is recommended to put a little more pressure in the Wing to make sure it is stiff to pump against, especially in light winds. Nothing is more disappointing than an under-inflated wing because it is shaky and not efficient.

During inflation, the hydrofoil should always be out of reach, as damage to the wing happens faster than you think. The sharp edges of the foil cause holes or tears in the wing. The most common way to destroy the wing is in gusty conditions on the beach.

How to handle the wing?

For those new to windsports, try the wing in light winds on land and learn how it creates power. The inflation of the wing will vary from model to model, but locate the inflation valve, close the deflation valves, and inflate the wing to the manufacturer's recommended pressure, which, as previously mentioned, is indicated near the inflation valve. Be sure to attach your pump line to the indicated position; the wing will begin to flutter as soon as it takes its shape. This will immediately give you an idea of the wind direction. Now attach the line (typically to your dominant wrist) and safely play on land. 

All our wings have a handle on the nose. That is the default safety position because when the wing is held by the nose handle, it flies naturally and hangs into the wind, creating no force. Picture it like the "neutral" position of your car transmission. As you feel yourself losing control, let go of your back hand, and simply hold the nose handle, and the drive will stop instantly. 

To power up the wing, place the front handle over your head and grab one of the rear handles at a convenient width of your shoulders and gently pull it close to you. Doing so will create a small impulse of force that will lift your body up and forward. Keep in mind that you need to create lift as well as forward motion to move up the board and possibly the hydrofoil.

Repeat this in the opposite direction, switching hands, holding the nose handle, and moving the wing back and forth. Move around, upwind, downwind to the left and right, and get comfortable with moving the wing while looking where you're going. 

The farther back you hold onto the strut, the more leverage you'll get with your back arm, making it easier to generate more power. When your wing has cross struts, make sure to play with them as they will give you extra room to maneuver on the water and provide a stable grip. One other thing you should try practicing in the dry is letting go of the wing entirely and releasing it on the line, then pulling it back in. 

To turn the wing in the correct direction, make sure you work your way to the tip of the wing and turn it lengthwise, and then quickly grab the nose grip to bring it under control again. A natural reaction is to try to turn it from the center, but this is tricky with larger wings because of their wingspan. Learning this technique in a kneeling position is important, as you will be doing it in the water with equal space on the board. 

Try to experiment and push and pull with both arms to force the wing into position. Keep in mind that you can depower the wing by bending the front arm into the wind and sheeting out with the back arm to distribute the power. Using this technique provides you with a greater angle to the wind and consequently more power dump.

How do I find the right wing?

Similar to the sail in windsurfing or the kite in kitesurfing, the wing is driven by the wind - the engine of the hydrofoil. So it's a pretty important component if you want to make progress.  

This leads us to the question: how to choose the optimal wing size? Wings are usually measured in m2 (the surface area of the wing) and nowadays a spectrum is offered from small (e.g., 2.8m2) to large (6.4m2). Crucial for the selection of the wing size are the wind strength, the own body weight, and the available skills. 

First attempts should be made in light winds in any case, in order to practice the maneuvers more effectively and at your own pace.

When looking for your perfect Wing, two types of handles will catch your eye. Here there are two different mechanisms: Either with a boom, or with handles along the inflatable center tube. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but essentially it's personal preference which decides. If you intend to travel a lot with your equipment, a wing with soft handles is a good choice, because the boom does not allow you to fold it up so small.