You should already be able to move safely on flat water so that you can go wave-walking. Starting technology You need to have good control of your wingsurfing technique, because a quick start makes learning to wingsurf in the wave much easier. Logically, the quicker you stand up on the board and hold the wing in your hand, the better you will be able to keep your balance. But let's start from the beginning and see which conditions at the spot promise the best learning success.
Learning to wingsurf in the wave - the right spot
To get started, you should choose a spot that preferably doesn't have a strong shorebreak and where the waves break on an offshore sandbank. The only requirement is that the sandbank must be deeper than the length of your foil mast! Because foils use the wave energy so efficiently, the waves don't have to be steep and don't even necessarily have to break; a small swell of 0.5 to 1.5 metres is enough. The wind should preferably be blowing sideways to the coast ("sideshore"), which makes it easier to ride out against the waves and get started. It is also advisable to make sure that the ground is sandy if possible and that there are no obstacles under water or other dangers (e.g. wooden groynes, stone piers, etc.) at the spot. Once you have found the right spot, it's all about getting through the waves unscathed.
Undamaged through the surf zone
Attach your board leash to your leg and carries the material into the water as usual. Hold your wing to leeward and make sure that you keep the wing at about head height. This will prevent unintentional contact between the wing and foil if the upturned board is lifted by a wave. Grab the fuselage of your foil with your other hand and push the board in front of you with the bow. Continue into deeper water and only then turn the board round so that the foil is now under water.Our tip: It's better to go out a few steps further than in shallow water so that you have a small buffer in case the waves push you back and you don't immediately hit the bottom with your wing.
As already mentioned, wind from the side ("sideshore") is much more suitable than wind from the onshore. This means that your bow always points directly towards the waves during the start phase, allowing the waves to pass under the board from front to back. Experience has shown that this movement is much easier to compensate for than if the board were at right angles to the waves - as would automatically be the case with onshore winds. You can cover the first few metres on your knees until you are sure that no waves will break in front of you in the near future. The take-off phase should now be carried out quickly so as not to become a pawn in the waves. Watch the surface of the water in front of you as you start and take off and trust that your body will automatically compensate for the wave movements. If you look at your feet, you are making life unnecessarily difficult for yourself!
Landing - back on the beach
When landing, you should head as far towards the shore as the water depth allows. The further you get towards the beach, the better. Look for a spot where there are no waves breaking or where the waves have already broken. This will prevent the waves from breaking on your equipment as soon as you get out and you will be washed through uncontrollably (risk of injury!). On the Baltic Sea in particular, it is important that you get off your equipment due to the short wave period, but that you can hold on to it immediately afterwards: To do this, let your foil sink slowly by taking the pressure off the wing and make a bold jump to windward - away from the board - when you touch down. Hold your wing over your head and do a kind of "belly flop" or "back flop" so you don't hurt your feet if the surface is uneven or rocky. You should continue to hold the wing above you on your outstretched arm and quickly grab the board with your free hand.
Now you can push the board further towards land, taking the wing on the leeward side as usual. When the waves become smaller and less powerful, you can turn the board round so that the foil is pointing upwards again. This way, the material can be pushed safely towards the beach. However, always keep an eye on the waves behind you so that you are not surprised by a small white water roller and always keep the wing above your head!
If you are surprised by a wave during take-off or landing, the first thing to do is to keep calm. Always hold the wing above your head and try to lift it over the wave so that it doesn't get washed through uncontrollably. With your other hand, hold the board by the straps or the handle and try to pull it over the wave. If the wave is too powerful for you to hold on to the board, the maxim is to cross the wave with the wing in front of the board. In this case, let go of the board so that it is pulled along by the wave. This will put the necessary distance between you and the sharp foil!
In the next part of the series "Learn to wingsurf in the wave" we show you how to cross rolling waves without the foil losing contact with the water and being thrown off. Click here again and have fun practising!
