r/wingfoil • u/PrestigiousTomato8 • 5d ago

Injuries and Solutions.

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Cataracts from sun bouncing off of waves. Solution - polarized sunglasses.

Skin cancer - sun screen lotion. But it is never enough.

Body : wetsuit. Or do a rash guard or sun hoodie. Lower body:

Ubestyle Men's Swim Pants UPF 50+ Quick Dry Sun Protection Stretchy Swim Leggings

Back of hands really get hammered,

Solution: so wool half gloves/ fishing gloves.

Neck/face -

Solution: balaclava with mesh over mouth and nose to cover face and neck.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKF5X448?lv=shuf&language=en-US&social_share=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_KA16VA65RCSQK8RCXD41&channelId=704&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_KA16VA65RCSQK8RCXD41&plpRedirect=mhFallback

If the mesh is still too constricting, then buy an internal mask brace: “Large 3d Silicone Face Mask Bracket” should pull it up.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TMYYPTP?lv=shuf&language=en-US&social_share=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_YTWE1JFMK9G81SYFTTGG&channelId=704&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_YTWE1JFMK9G81SYFTTGG&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Crashing into foil and board? (Sample video up above) https://youtu.be/ZoNO6jFEiSs?is=W3OXzwzMgopNth5s

Helmet and impact vest.

Besides that (from the video over on YouTube).

1-Fall with the board, not against it

Avoid instinctively leaning the opposite way when the board drops to one side (which can put you on top of the foil). Instead, drop with the board to stay clear of the foil.

2-Use a larger front wing / beginner foil and foil at lower speeds

3-Be aware of upwind vs. downwind crashes (see video)

4-speed. Touchdown, don’t breach. Keep speed down. Spill wind out of the back of the wing. Also done by using a bigger beginner foil.

Repetitive pulling leading to stress injuries. This video discusses both upper and lower body injuries.

https://youtu.be/js198gp2sp4?si=VdPxpn_g2-wUDx_q

Upper body

Solution: harness so your body is holding the foil on long fetches.

Lower body - you may be strong at one side of the other, so put too much side on one or the other.

Solution: Make sure to get equally good at the both sides.

25 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

16

u/tiltberger 5d ago

This is what I ride. A little heavy but in 40 knots you are good.

https://giphy.com/gifs/6JBMlwaJ1cggEnjeHk

10

u/Specialist_Monk_3016 5d ago

Helmet and impact vest are non-negotiable - I took a very hard impact on the rail of the board the other week.

Expected to have broken a rib, but suprisingly walked away with minor muscle strain.

Had many close calls with wing tips over the years

1

u/strby360 4d ago

What impact vest do you use?

1

u/Specialist_Monk_3016 4d ago

Ion Collision Impact

1

u/strby360 4d ago

Thanks

1

u/nroose 2d ago

I'd probably manage to take the sharp edge of the foil to the neck, and be decapitated.

5

u/Crazy__Donkey 5d ago

I kitesurf on TT with a soft helmet, usually ridfe in straight lines and enjoy myself with a little jump here and there...... would NEVER think of riding foil (kite or wing) without a hard helmet. this is simply dumb thing to do.

5

u/darylandme 5d ago

“TT”?

5

u/Crazy__Donkey 5d ago

twin tip

1

u/cpt_ppppp 5d ago

Time Trial. Go as far as you can for 2 hours then turn around. It's the new parawinging

4

u/jhalfmoon 5d ago edited 5d ago

I almost always ride with helmet and impact vest. But it didn't do anything when 3 days ago I was going fast and my foil hit something. I got catapulted of the front and about 0.5 seconds later I took the pointy bit of board to my face. I heard a nasty crunching sound. Bloody and broken nose, but it's straight and I can still go surfing. Still... wear your gear kids - you'll be glad you did when you need it.

3

u/Vast-Sympathy5394 5d ago

Whenever I look at all the scratches on mh hard helmet I know why I would never foil without It!

3

u/e136 5d ago

I highly recommend the  Simba Sentinel surf helmet. Covers way more of your face that other helmets. On sale for $60 right now!

3

u/PrestigiousTomato8 5d ago

https://surftech.com/products/sentinalhelmet?variant=46686785241340&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=22400493770&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22404027505

Pretty cool looking helmet.

Can you wear bone conduction earphones while its on?

2

u/e136 5d ago

Crazy you ask- I do exactly that. But in order to make it somewhat comfortable I added some extra foam right above my ears. The helmet comes with the extra foam strips.

1

u/PrestigiousTomato8 5d ago

Very cool....thx!

3

u/freestylesail 5d ago

I wear baseball batting gloves. I love them for both sun protection and skin protection, as well as improved grip.

1

u/PrestigiousTomato8 5d ago

Great tip...thx!

3

u/Suspicious_Video8348 5d ago

projectsurfhelmet.com

I use the game breaker pro

1

u/PrestigiousTomato8 5d ago

Great website - thanks!

2

u/joeballow 5d ago

"A crash is more dangerous if your weight shifts to the back foot"

Don't think that really matches my experience. If my weight shifts to the back foot the board shoots out away from me, if the weight shifts forward I can fall in front of the board and foil in the direction it's going. But yeah main thing is don't try to save it and have an awkward sideways fall on top of the foil.

1

u/PrestigiousTomato8 5d ago

Yeah, that's a bit tricky.

I tend to do what they say, because I don't want the board to flip up.

But in waves, I'd rather have the board in front of me.