Wing foiling is an exhilarating sport that gives you the unique sensation of flying over water. But taking off is one of the biggest challenges for beginners. How do you get from glide to flight? What’s the technique for successfully raising the foil and keeping your balance?
In this article, we’ll look at all the steps involved in launching a wing foil, from the essential prerequisites to advanced techniques.
1 Why is take-off a key stage in wing foiling?
The wing foil take-off is the moment when you leave the surface of the water to fly above it thanks to the foil. This crucial moment depends on several factors:
- Sufficient speed to generate lift.
- Good weight management to avoid unbalancing the foil.
- Effective pumping technique to create acceleration.
A successful launch gives you greater fluidity and control, whereas a poor start often leads to repeated crashes or a foil that never rises.
2. Preparing for take-off: the essentials
Before trying to take off, it is crucial to prepare your equipment and your position.
Choosing the right equipment for easier take-off
- Large board (110-140 L) → More buoyancy for a stable start.
- Foil with a wide front wing (> 1800 cm²) → Generates more lift for easier take-off.
- Wing adapted to the wind → Not too big, not too small: 5m² is often a good compromise.
💡 Tip:
A 75-85 cm mast is ideal for first sessions. Shorter masts are less forgiving of mistakes, while longer masts make it harder to get the hang of.
Finding the right position before attempting take-off
- Start on your knees on the board, with the wing facing into the wind.
- Graduallymove into the standing position, keeping your weight centred.
- Position your feet correctly: back foot on the pad, front foot in line.
💡 F requent error:
Leaning too much on the tail from the start → This causes the board to pitch up instead of generating speed.
3. Take-off technique: how do you get up on the foil?
Generate enough speed before you want to take off
The foil works thanks to speed, which creates lift. Before trying to go up, you first have to glide well over the water.
- Tilt the wing slightly to catch the wind.
- Gradually press down on the front leg to stabilise the board.
- Maintain a compact position for better balance.
💡 Council:
Trying too hard to take off immediately is a mistake. First the speed, then the flight.
The key role of pumping in helping lift-off
Pumping is the art of synchronising the movements of the wing and foil to accelerate and lift the board:
- Pumping with the wing → Pulls in gusts of wind to generate power.
- Pumping with the legs → Perform flexions/extensions to activate the foil.
💡 Useful exercise:
Practice pumping without a wing, just with the foil, to better understand the movement.
4. Keeping your balance in the air
Finding your position in flight
Once the foil rises, you need to stabilise the board so that it doesn’t fall back immediately.
- Look far ahead, not at your feet.
- Distribute your weight slightly forward to avoid stalling.
- Play with the inclination of the wing to adjust the height.
💡 F requent error:
Tense up and freeze your position → On the contrary, you need to remain relaxed to adjust your balance.
Managing the height of the foil to avoid falls
- If the board rises too quickly → Readjust the pressure on the front leg.
- If the board does not take off → Accelerate or pump more.
💡 Tip:
A good wing foiler must learn to play with the height of the foil and the pressure of the feet to avoid sudden rises and falls.
5. Progress and control your take-off in all conditions (H2)
Adapt your take-off to the strength of the wind
| Wind | Wing size | Foil recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 10-12 knots | 6m² to 7m² | Large foil |
| 12-18 knots | 4m² to 5m² | Intermediate foil |
| 18-25 knots | 3m² to 4m² | Small foil |
💡 Current error:
Trying to use too small a foil in light winds → It makes take-off much more difficult.
Exercises to improve take-off
- Work on pumping on a Stand Up Paddle foil to understand the movement.
- Take off without a wing to get a better feel for the foil’s lift.
- Practise in a steady wind to avoid gusts that make it harder to get the hang of.
6. Conclusion: Taking off in a wing foil is a question of technique and patience!
To take off successfully in wing foil requires :
- A good choice of equipment (wing, foil, adapted board).
- A gradual build-up of speed before the flight.
- Good balance and fine control of foil height.
🔥 Tip:
You think our monitors are just there to look pretty? 😏 Nope! Come and test with Akila, our pros are here to guide you and get you off the ground faster than you can imagine! 🚀
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