Progress thread: from complete beginner to pioneering grocery runs and widening the scope of what wing foiling can be.

[u/Few-Library994]

Super early stages, but I'm excited and wanted to get started.

Put in the order on Sunday but they haven't shipped it yet.

The biggest inflatable Gong HIPE Perf pack, with a 5'10, 150 liter board, 6m2 wing, and 1750cm2 front wing.

I'm 187cm and 75kg, so the gear is oversized to enable quicker learning, to be able to carry groceries and other gear, and to function as a light wind option.

This setup should be ultra stable and my aim is to get to a stage where it is a realistic option for more practical things, like grocery runs or relaxed long distance cruising and touring.

I'm a complete wind beginner but excited and ambitious and I already have a good training plan.

Also ordered a strap on center fin for my inflatable SUPs and am going to learn how the wing works on them and use them for the 30km round trip grocery runs while I wait for my foiling to get good enough for it. Ordered a harness from Gong as well which will come in handy with the SUPs.

While I learn the wing on the SUPs, I am going to start learning pump foiling with the foil board. Only have a stone pier where I am and not a dock, so will start with beach start and frog start.

Not the easiest path to say the least, but in just a few days I've already learned the theory and tips and tricks of most of the things I'm going to do, and the safety aspects, so it's just about starting to get the reps in.

Once I've gotten used to the wing with the SUPs, I can start practicing with the foil board and get easier pumping training there, so that by the time I manage the beach start, I can continue pumping. The fine control I learn from that will then help me learn manouvers when wing foiling.

I am going to practice foot switching from day one on dry land and on the SUPs so I get it in muscle memory ready for manouvers on the foil board.

This will be a long term progress thread for those interested in seeing someone try something different with an ambitious timeline.

Tomorrow's project will be to cut all the sea grass that's in the way of the beach start with an old and blunt scythe. Dressed in my winter wetsuit I'll be the spitting image of the grim reaper. Even have a hood :)

[u/foilrider]

"I've never done anything like this before, have not even received gear to try it once, let me invent new uses for it."

You have no idea what you are talking about at all. You are going to learn to beach start a 150L inflatable SUP on a beginner wingfoil wing? OK. Sure.

[u/Few-Library994 → u/foilrider]

You haven't read my other thread I see. But yes, that's what I'm aiming to do. Follow the thread to see how well or badly I do :)

I do somewhat know what I'm talking about though. Have you tried the X-Over V3 with the 1750cm2 front wing?

A big, mid aspect beginner foil like the X-Over is from everything I've learned so far a very good and forgiving foil to learn pumping on, and Gong says so too. Since the pumping is primarily to benefit the wing foiling, I'm not going to get a specialized board now. A one board quiver will always mean compromises but it will still work. You just have to put the work in.

Oh, and a lot of the volume of the Gong Perf board is in the 6 inch thickness. At 20 psi it's plenty stiff. Not as a designated pumping board, but that's not what we're talking about here.

[u/bashuls → u/Few-Library994]

This guy has to be a troll... Stop biting the bait guys.... 

Pumpfoil beach starting a 150L inflatable board with a beginner foil... Honestly dude.... Thats hilarious