If you look at the surf industry's websites or across social media, you might get the impression that wingfoiling is an extreme sport. Huge waves are surfed everywhere, metre-high back flips are celebrated or tiny foils are raced against each other. The windsurfing boom in the 80s and 90s showed what increasing "radicalisation" can do to a young sport. In the days of stand-up sailing, the curve went steeply upwards, with one in three households in Europe allegedly owning a windsurfing board by the end of the 1980s. Then the shortboard wave swept over from Hawaii - in retrospect, this development was not only good for the sport.
Something similar is happening in wingsurfing: at the beginning, people with an affinity for water sports in particular rushed into the new trend and, supported by the corona booster, triggered a real hype. The industry developed some very specialised products in record time, with the result that newcomers to wingsurfing are now barely able to navigate the maze of boards, foils and wings. In addition, the impression is given that it's all about foiling. Wingsurfing without foils hardly ever takes place.
The dream of flying
There's no doubt about it, flying over the water without a sound and weight is absolutely fascinating and many people who start wingsurfing dream of it. If you have some previous experience from other water sports, you can learn to wingfoil in a wing school in just under a week. But one problem remains: even with the best light wind equipment, you need ten to twelve knots of wind to be able to take off. And that's pretty rare inland, especially in summer. For this reason, we want to show you below which boards you can have fun on in light winds even without a foil and which models work equally well on the water and in the air.
SUPs are ideal boards for learning
Boards for stand-up paddling (SUP) are an ideal platform for having fun with the wing at typical light wind spots. In principle, any SUP with a length of between eight and twelve feet is suitable for winging. However, for this to work, it is essential to use a centre fin to prevent lateral drift. Designated wind SUPs for paddling and windsurfing have the option of fitting a centre fin. This not only contributes to tipping stability, but also prevents you from drifting sideways when wingsurfing. Normal SUPs do not offer a centre fin option as standard, but can be upgraded with appropriate systems. Several systems have proven themselves for this, some of which we have already been able to test.
Add on Drift Stopper
Duotone, Fanatic and Arrows offer a clever system for 119 euros that allows SUPs to be upgraded for use with the wing. Two fins are lashed to the board with a strap - and our test has shown that it works. The rail under the board is adjustable in length, we pulled the webbing really tight and threaded it through the carrying handle on the top. On balance, the centre fins do not prevent lateral drift as effectively as a long daggerboard or a long centre fin. Nevertheless, they offer enough surface area to keep the board cleanly on course and at least significantly minimise lateral drift. Even tacking is possible with them, which is much more difficult without the centre fin(s). The set works well between five and 15 knots of wind. In stronger winds, the fins slow you down noticeably - however, most inflatable SUPs have long since reached their natural speed limit.
Ezywing Fin Kit
The Ezywing Fin Kit works in a similar way to the Add on Drift Stopper. It costs 129 euros and consists of an aluminium rail onto which two large plastic fins are attached. Installation is simple and takes around two minutes; a simple tensioning strap system fixes the construction under the board. Due to the width of the aluminium rail, the system can only be mounted on boards with a minimum width of just under 29 inches (approx. 74 centimetres) - which, however, applies to most SUP boards on the market. However, the system does have one small weakness: the small metal pins that fix the tensioning straps to the fins can quickly fall out when the board is relaxed.
Tensioning is as simple as possible using a long Velcro strip on the deck. This has the advantage that no hard parts interfere with the deck and pose no risk of injury. Due to our limited test period, we were unable to judge whether the Velcro is made to last. However, the straps can be reordered individually in an emergency. The Ezywing Fin Kit worked excellently on the water, the two side fins offer a lot of surface area and thus prevent lateral drift very effectively. Even in light winds, the height can be maintained well, regardless of whether you motorise your board with a wing or windsurf sail. Because the fins offer a lot of surface area with a shallow draft, the system can also be used on very shallow spots without any problems.
Slingshot SUP Winder
Manufacturer Slingshot offers the SUP Winder (119 euros), a box for sticking on, in which a centre fin can then be mounted. Originally, the system was only developed for hardboards, but Slingshot now also recommends the product for sticking onto inflatable SUPs. Ideally, the fin box should be glued on the centre line (mark beforehand!) about halfway between the bow and stern.
The fin has an immense surface area, almost like a real centreboard - ideal for wings or windsurfing in light winds. The fin itself is removable, the box remains firmly glued to the board. Tip: When rolling up the board, do not fold it directly on the box!
FitOcean Wing-Fin
Another good tip is the Wing-Fin system from the manufacturer FitOcean. Here too, a centre fin is tensioned under the board using two simple tensioning straps. The position can therefore be freely selected. Due to their generous length, the wing fins offer good protection against lateral drift. Another positive aspect: with a price of just 59 euros, the FitOcean system is comparatively inexpensive.
The following video contains lots of useful tips about wingsurfing on the SUP. Take a look and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Ready for take-off - with these boards
If you equip your SUP with a centre fin as described, you can cruise in a relaxed manner in winds of five to 15 knots. However, the dream of flying remains a dream, as such boards do not offer the option of mounting a foil. They would also be far too long for foiling.
Conversely, most wingboards are designed exclusively for foiling, as they are very short. For bobbing in light winds, they lack length and, above all, a drift inhibitor. For this reason, some brands have developed models that can do both - cruising in light winds without a foil, but also relaxed flights with a foil. Such concepts are quite long from a foil point of view and quite short from a SUP point of view. They also offer the option of mounting both the foil and additional fins to limit lateral drift.
In the following, we will show you which boards are available on the market:
Fanatic Sky Air 6'10
The Sky Air model from Fanatic is actually a pure inflatable wingfoil board. However, the manufacturer has specially adapted the 6'10 size (208 centimetres, 200 litre volume) so that it can also be used without a foil. The board not only has a double rail for mounting the foil, but also additional fins at the tail and in the centre of the board, which effectively reduce lateral drift.
A glued-on rubber edge at the tail also ensures a clean water release so that the board does not get stuck during the planing phase. The model also offers the option of attaching footstraps, while two carrying handles guarantee easy handling on land. The Fanatic Sky Air is available as a set with bag, pump and straps for 999 euros.
STX iConvertible Board 7'8
The inflatable STX iConvertible Board 7'8 (234 centimetres, 170 litres) offers several possible areas of application. This model also comes with a double rail for foil mounting. The scope of delivery also includes five plug-in fins, which can be used to convert the board for use as a SUP, windsurfing or wingsurfing board without a foil.
Although - as our test has shown - the small fins do not prevent lateral drift quite as efficiently, the board still works perfectly in light winds. In foil use, however, you can only surf with it without straps. The wide range of uses as a SUP, foil board or as a windsurfing board for children (the deck has a thread for the mast base!) make the board concept particularly interesting. The STX iConvertible 7'8 also comes in a set with pump, fins and bag and costs just 829 euros. Note: Until 2022, the same model was sold under the name STX iFoil Crossover 7'8!
Ensis Twist
The Twist model from Swiss manufacturer Ensis is sold in three sizes (95/125/145 litres). The basic idea is to offer a board for a wide range of water sports. The fixed board has a double rail for mounting a foil. Loops can be fitted, but on the Twist 125 we tested, these were more suitable for windsurfing foiling. They are simply too far back and on the outside for wingsurfing - so it's best to wingsurf strapless (without straps).
In return, the board reaches take-off speed very early. In light wind conditions, two small side fins can be mounted in the centre area. These reduce drift, but are not as effective as the larger centre fins on other models. Nevertheless, the Twist has a wide range of uses - from wingsurfing in light winds to foiling and SUPing in the waves. Thanks to a built-in mast track, youngsters can also use the Ensis Twist 129 or 145 for windsurfing. However, with a price tag of 2148 euros, the board is no bargain either.
Indiana All in One
The Swiss manufacturer Indiana offers the fixed All in One model in two sizes - with 135 and 166 litre volumes. In addition to a double rail for foil mounting, both versions are equipped with additional fin boxes. Thanks to the large centre fin supplied, lateral drift is effectively reduced, making the model ideal for wingsurfing without a foil.
It can also be used as a SUP in small waves and as a windsurfing board for children and teenagers. The Indiana All in One costs 1839 euros and comes with fins and a matching board bag.
