Foils are true miracles of efficiency; they tap enough energy from even small swells to fly along them weightlessly and with a neutral wing position. For this reason, more and more wingsurfers want to take the plunge into the wave. But what do you need to bear in mind when launching and landing? What is the best way to cross waves without the foil crashing? And how do you get the wing into a neutral position to surf waves properly?
In this basic guide, we'll show you the basics of wingsurfing in the waves!
Wingsurfing in the wave - requirements and spot selection
To get started in the wave, you should be reasonably confident with starting and jibing. If you are still struggling to fly jibes and tacks, continue practising on flat water until you feel confident. Choosing a suitable spot is at least as important when starting out: Places where the waves break gently and in sufficiently deep water are ideal. Avoid spots with shallow sandbanks to start wingsurfing in the waves, as the waves here are often very steep and break powerfully. There is always a risk of injuring yourself or damaging your equipment. Long swells are also ideal for practising, as they occur on many open bodies of water when the wind is strong enough. Here you can try out gliding on the back of the wave without any danger.
If you want to hit the surf, choose your spot so that the wind is blowing from the side ("sideshore") or slightly onshore ("side-onshore"). You should avoid completely onshore or offshore winds at the beginning.
What material for getting into the wave?
One of the most common mistakes is to use equipment that is too small for wingsurfing in waves, because getting up, starting and jibing is naturally much more difficult in waves than on flat water. So use the board and foil that you feel comfortable with and on which you can easily take off in flat water conditions. Only those who regularly go into the surf can gradually optimise their foil setup for certain wave conditions.
Foils for the wave - the basics:
- Foils with a large wingspan and slender wings ("high-aspect foils") have a betterGlideThis means that they continue to fly very long and efficiently on unpressurised swells. They are therefore the first choice for spots with round or small swell or surf waves and for downwinders. However, the radii are limited due to the large wingspan.
- Foils with a small span in relation to the surface area ("low-aspect foils") tend to be more manoeuvrable and allow tighter turns when riding waves. However, they utilise the energy of unpressurised waves less efficiently.
- Short fuselages increase the manoeuvrability of any foil. However, the foil is also more difficult to control with a short fuse.
- The smaller the front wing, the higher the speed of a foil. The bigger and more powerful the waves, the smaller the front wing needs to be in order to be able to surf in a controlled manner. The problem: if the front wing is too small, it quickly becomes difficult to take off.
The mast of your foil should be at least 75 centimetres long for waving in the wave; 80 to 90 centimetres is even better. The longer the mast, the more ground clearance you have, which prevents waves from immediately hitting the board or the foil coming free too quickly in the trough of the wave.
Safety in the wave
Safety is also particularly important when wingsurfing in the waves. A helmet is part of the basic equipment for most wingsurfers anyway. This should be especially true in the waves ( HERE there's a test of numerous helmet models). Anyone riding a wave for the first time is often surprised by the energy and speed that the foil generates from the wave. As a result, many a ride ends up more uncontrolled than previously planned. For this reason, always keep a safe distance from other water sports enthusiasts and remember that you approach almost silently on the foil and are therefore often only noticed late.
Wingsurfing in the wave - riding technique tips for beginners
In the following four articles on riding technique, you'll find all the tips you need for launching and landing, crossing waves and pumping and "flagging" the wing.
Have fun swinging in the wave!
