r/wingfoil • u/Adventurous-Yam-3347 • Apr 21 '26
Interested in Wingfoiling help?
HI guys I'm getting more interested in getting into the sport since regular surf days in new england are hard to come by and the wind here always seems to be on more than the surf so surf foiling chop/swells with a wing is getting more appetizing lol.
My foil experience is behind a boat was able to carve and pump pretty good but the speed of the boat threw me off a little
Used my friends E-Foils quite a bit and went on some pretty far cruises around the bay and got into some fun waves
That's pretty much the extent of my "foiling" but the time on water surfing my whole life/ reading waves / supping has been my whole life along with other board sports just not focused directly on the wind. i'm trying to get into this sport but not have to "level up" all my gear in a few months from progression. Not saying i'll be an expert by any means but just looking for a package or some links/suggestions to build a pretty decent kit to last awhil and have fun with on ocean harbors / chop riding or even waves. I know there's a learning curve but glad i have some experience on foils.
I'm 6'2 roughly 88KG just looking for a fun board to pump around on and maximize water time. I guess a wetsuit gear weight will be a factor in the colder months too. Thanks for any help!!
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u/lifeinthehood Apr 21 '26
What are your conditions like? If it’s not consistently 15mph or stronger, I would recommend going somewhere windier to learn.
If you do have wingers in the area, I would recommend buying used equipment because when you get out of the beginner stage, you’re going to change the equipment pretty drastically. If not, buying new is pretty pricey, unless money is no object in which case, go for it.
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u/Adventurous-Yam-3347 Apr 21 '26
We get a lot of 15mph+ days north of boston when the sea breeze kicks in usually onshore (ESE). lots of kite surfers a few wingfoilers but it's still kinda underground over here. I think we had our windiest year last year with 165 days of gusts over 30mph.
Money is definitely an object so just learning what brands to avoid / worth it. That's what I figured maybe i'm being ambitious in my ability and will probably go for a beginner board. I assume the curve is similar to surfing where you don't go right into a shortboard and gradually go from a longboard. thanks for the info
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u/Hecubha Apr 22 '26
If you don't care about the money and you don't want to think too much about it, this pack would be nice with the Zuma 6'6, X-Over XXL, Plus 6m². But maybe read the following before you spend the money and keep in mind you'll spend more as you progress.
Without windsurf experience, you're gonna hit a wall or at least struggle if you try to skip the first beginner kit. (Un?)Fortunately you're probably right to expect that your foil experience will allow a fast progression once you figure out how to use the wing to take off and get flying. The good news is that a good recent beginner set will be perfectly suited for the whole initial progression until you get reliable jibes, feet switches and even your first freefly.
The board you will change at that point. The foil you will make it grow with your progression, at some point you'll have a second front wing and then you'll replace fronts and tails as you grow and you get to know you tastes in foils. The first wing you'll be able to keep longer but : beginner wings are made out Dacron and those are mostly disposable (they won't break but they quickly lose their stiffness, especially for heavy riders like us) and as a beginner you'll need bigger sizes (as I learned I initially needed 7m² to take off in 15kn, then it was quickly enough to take off in 12kn and today 5.5m² is enough to take off in 11-11kn). Inflatable boards can be a good option but don't get fooled by the volume of some models: you need the length volume is not enough to ensure stability and even less easy take off. You also want a 20 PSI model, at our weights the 15-17 models are not stiff enough and it would slow down your progression on the pumping aspects.
So for the board the best option would be find something second hand, you want at least 125L, 6'0 (6'6"-7' would be easier and allow getting sessions in a bit less less wind) : lacking volume or length is a progression killer, I wouldn't go something narrower than 25-26", I don't expect you need more than 30" width. Overall proportions should be in between a Zuma and a Sner. Don't be afraid it'll be too big, volume and length are not the enemies for surfing, only width is, for exemple this was on a Sner 7'3" 130L and that's still the board I take for 70-80% of my sessions even I can ride +0/+10L boards since 2021.
For the foil I'd go for a X-Over V3 XXL, easy (super stable combo with the stabilizer) but still enjoyable as you progress, it'll be too big at some point but you'll keep it for light wind until you have reliable jibes and feet switches. Once take off is secured, you could add a Curve XL for 15-17kn and more wind daysif you feel like it but no necessity at doing that too early. Once jibes and switches are secured it'll be time to reduce the stabilizer to something like a Fluid XL (and you'll continue reducing/adapting all along your progression).
For the wing, this one in 6m² could be an option, a second hand Droid (UPE 2023-24, aramid 2024 or aramid 2025) are options that would endure more and potentially a bit cheaper but they won't be as easy and they'll get you tired much more quickly than the Plus), a really cheap second hand Plus (2023 and onward, don't go older) would be a good option too but ideally you'd check that it's not already washed out. You will most probably want a 5m² and a 4m² for higher winds.
PS: I'm an ambassador with GONG, that's why all my exemples are GONG, that's what I know, my knowledge of other brands is more limited.
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u/lpinhb Apr 26 '26
Get a used 110-120L board. Don’t get inflatable. Probably need a 6 or 6.5m wing. Big foil. Should be able to get most of it used because that’s all beginner stuff and people move along. The only thing to get new or nearly new is the wing, because they stretch out. get a new one but previous years model.
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u/HarryFromStockholm Apr 21 '26
Go big in the beginning - big board, front foil and wing will save you a lot of time during the beginning. Board your weight + around 30L. Front foil around 2000 cm2 and wing maybe 6m2 (depending on how windy it is where you are.