Wing foil or kitesurf?
13 June 2023
Tristan
#WINGFOIL
For some years now, wing foiling has been a runaway success. We’re even seeing more wing than windsurf or kitefoil on our spots.
For those just starting out or taking lessons, it’s easy to wonder (and rightly so) what to choose between this new discipline, a hybrid of several water sports including surfing, and kitesurfing.
To help you decide between the two, we’ve put together this guide, which takes into account all the aspects you need to know to make the right choice!
If you’ve already been windsurfing (or stand-up paddling), you’ll probably find it easier to get into wingfoil than kitesurfing. Indeed, for balance, as you need to be able to stand up on a board from the outset.Handling the wing is also more natural for windsurfers. They can control and position the wing in the same way as their sail, to generate power or go upwind.
This is a considerable advantage when you look at the first sessions of newcomers, who spend more time walking on the beach to get upwind than actually sailing. When flying, windsurfing experience also makes it easier for riders to familiarize themselves with the board: hold it flat with the front leg for a smooth take-off and fly without dropping or stalling the foil, or tilt it to make turns.
For complete beginners with no previous experience, it’s probably fair to say that kitesurfing offers a slightly easier progression. Wingfoil can be more frustrating.
There’s a vertical dimension linked to the foil that you have to manage, often even learning to be towed before switching to the wing (which doesn’t generate the same traction as the boat).
You also have to manage several successive accelerations: stand up on the board, let the floor go faster and faster to generate lift, tuck in the wing, the foil takes off and then it’s off at full speed, and you can get scared as the height quickly becomes impressive!
For complete beginners with no previous experience, it’s probably fair to say that kitesurfing offers a slightly easier progression. Wingfoil can be more frustrating.
There’s a vertical dimension linked to the foil that you have to manage, often even learning to be towed before switching to the wing (which doesn’t generate the same traction as the boat).
You also have to manage several successive accelerations: stand up on the board, let the floor go faster and faster to generate lift, tuck in the wing, the foil takes off and then it’s off at full speed, and you can get scared as the height quickly becomes impressive!
En conclusion, le kitesurfing is a little easier. Learning wingfoil requires slightly more finesse and effort than kitesurfing if you’re in the discovery phase, although you’ll be able to tack after a few sessions.
On the other hand, the difference fades if you already have a good technique in another board sport, such as windfoil or windsurfing: stability will come more naturally to you than in kiting.
kitesurf 01+1 / wing 00
There’s also the question of which sport is more violent, or whether wingfoil is more or less impressive than kitesurfing.
Wingfoil isn’t as gentle as a game of cards either, but the falls are less violent and the sport doesn’t require the same level of physical fitness: it’s less of a pull on the arms than other wind sports.
There’s no risk of flying off, because a wing is much less powerful than a kite, there are no lines, and it’s only attached to the body by the wrist.
The main danger lies in falling onto the foil, but one of the main lessons you’ll learn as you launch is to fall away from the foil.
It is advisable to take at least a few lessons just for safety’s sake for both disciplines.
kitesurf 01 / wing 01 +1
The difference lies in the boards, as the wings are inflatable, making them very easy to transport, carry and store.
For a beginner rider, a wingfoil board will be bulkier than a kitesurf board, and you’ll have a hard time fitting it into a small car. Transporting it to the water will also be more of a pain, as it’s bound to be a bulkier and therefore heavier board.
However, a wingfoiler can opt for an inflatable board that’s easy to store and transport, even if these boards perform less well when sailing.
On the beach, the kitesurfer must set up his kite with the lines without making a mistake between starboard and aft lines, while finding the necessary space. To practice kitesurfing, you also need to equip yourself with a harness.
The wingfoiler, on the other hand, must assemble his foil without dropping the greasy screws into the sand before setting off. But in the end, what makes the wing foil the winner is that you can start from anywhere. Whatever the wind direction, configuration or time of day, it’s possible to initiate a session.
kitesurf 01 / wing 02 +1
On the one hand, you need a wing, a bar and a board, not forgetting accessories such as a harness. On the other, you’ll need a wing, foil and board.
The starting budget is pretty much the same, even if kitesurf boards are cheaper than wing boards, wing kites are much cheaper than kite sails and you’re often going to have to widen your quiver past a certain technical stage – unless you want to focus on specific conditions.
So wingfoil is cheaper: it takes the lead.
kitesurf 01 / wing 03 +1
In the early days of wingfoil, we used to say that it was the ideal sport for having fun in light winds… and that’s more than ever the case. Taking off below 10 knots is largely doable with the right gear, for example a large foil suitable for light. This gear can often be used in other disciplines, like our Blackbird, which also works in SUP foil.
However, with technological advances in boards, foils and wings, and their reduction in surface area/volume, wingfoil can also perform in (very) strong winds, as evidenced by the speeds reached by our riders in over 40 knots at Gruissan; over 30 kts average on some tacks!
Kite surfing is also very versatile. On the other hand, you’re going to need to kitefoil with very specific equipment to compete and beat the wing on the light wind terrain, often with kites that are quite different (boxed) from those usually found on the market. Without that, impossible for the kite to start in the light.
It’s also a different level of technical difficulty, and the equipment needs to be renewed and maintained much more frequently. This discipline is more exclusive than the wing, which is given a wide berth.
kitesurf 01 / wing 04 +1
It’s a question of taste and color, and we’re not all likely to agree! Whether you’re into wingfoil or kitesurfing, you can move into freestyle, wave, downwind or even big air, and experience incredible sensations.
Cependant, le foil a quelque chose de magique. And when you forget about the wing as you ride the swell, it’s the most ecstatic of sensations. Even for beginners, including those trying it out for the first time, just taking off with the foil is a fabulous experience, hard to describe.
Of course, it’s possible to discover this in a kitefoil, but again it’s more exclusive, you have to acquire expensive equipment that’s hard to find second-hand, especially for the wings.
As far as jumps and freestyle are concerned, some wingfoil champions are starting to make ever higher and more impressive jumps, but it’s still kitesurfing that scores the highest. The jumps are more accessible, offering a longer suspension time with less speed… and at heights that make you dream!
On the other hand, wingfoil allows you to multiply your practice: there’s no need to master waterstarts or to put on straps according to your mood of the day. The freedom of movement is such that varying the position on the board becomes a real pleasure, and you’ll find yourself trying to sail seated or free-floating when you thought you hated getting out of your harness!
kitesurf 02 +1 / wing 05 +1
With the evolution of foils, this distinction is beginning to blur, especially in strong winds for larger sailors who have the weight to support large sails with small foils.
On the other hand, in (very) light winds, kitefoils remain faster, with front wings that sometimes have a surface area barely larger than wing stabilizers! But kitesurfing isn’t really made for these conditions…
However, generally speaking, for beginner or average riders who are not champions, kitesurfing will tend to provide a faster feeling of speed.
kitesurf 03 +1 / wing 05
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