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Wingfoil Beginner Gear Guide — By Hadou

Context

• Video aims to answer common beginner questions: "I want to learn wingfoil, what gear should I buy?"
• Many newcomers come from other sports like windsurfing or kitesurfing and feel lost with the wide range of gear available (wings, boards, foils).

Key Decision Factors

When choosing your gear, consider:

1. Your weight

2. Your level & history with board/foil sports

3. Where you ride

   • Flat water vs sea
   • Steady vs gusty winds
   • Waves vs flat riding

4. Your goals

   • Surfing
   • Freeride/cruising
   • All-year vs seasonal use

Wings (Hand-held sails)

General size guide by weight

Rider Weight	Recommended First Wing Size
50–70 kg	4.0 m²
66–85 kg	5.0 m²
>85 kg	6.0 m²

• Most popular size overall: 5.0 m²
• Smaller wings = more maneuverable, better for waves/surfing.
• Larger wings = easier start, better for flat cruising in light wind.

Progression note

• Beginners need larger surface area to take off easily.
• As you progress, technique compensates, and you can downsize.

Foils (Underwater wings)

Front wing surface area

Rider Type / Goal	Recommended Surface
Beginners	1500 – 2000 cm²
Advanced & lighter riders	~1500 cm²
Heavy riders or very light wind	~2000 cm²

• Avoid oversized foils (>2500 cm²):

  • Too heavy, sluggish, less scalable for progression.

• Profile shape matters more than surface area:

  • Thicker profiles → Easier lift at low speed, more stable.
  • Thin/slender profiles → Faster, more technical, better for advanced riders.

Brand examples:

• Fanatic: good starting wings around 2000 cm²
• Neil Pryde: Medium or Wide range for most riders
• Gong: wide range, choose mid-thickness wings for beginners

Mast height

Mast Height	Use Case
65–70 cm	Surfing only — too short for wingfoil
75 cm	Good starting point, easier in shallow water or sandbanks
85–90 cm	Standard for most riders, balance between control & margin
100 cm	Advanced riders, racing, deep water only

Recommendation:

• Start with 75 cm if you ride mixed conditions or shallow spots.
• Progress toward 90 cm as you gain stability and control.

Fuselage length

Fuselage Length	Behavior
Long	More stable, easier learning, less maneuverable
Short	More agile, better turning, but twitchy for beginners

• Beginners → choose medium/long fuselages for stability.
• Some brands have fixed fuselage lengths (e.g., Gong carbon monoblock).

Boards

Volume guide

Rider Type	Recommended Volume
Lightweight, very experienced	~90 L
Average beginner (66–85 kg)	100 – 110 L
Heavy beginner (>85 kg)	Up to 120 L

• Avoid oversized boards (>140 L): too heavy, poor long-term value.
• Smaller boards (<80 L) only for advanced riders or experienced foilers.

Rule of thumb:

• Volume should roughly match your body weight + 30–40 L for beginners.

Shape considerations

• Longer, narrower boards → glide better, take off earlier.
• Short/compact boards → playful but harder to start with, push water, harder for beginners.
• Beginners should avoid ultra-compact designs.

Examples:

• Gong Lemon Flint or F-One Rocket Wing ~100 L are good starter boards.

SUP as a first board?

• OK for initial handling practice with the wing only.

• Very limited for:

  • Early take-off
  • Going upwind
  • Learning to foil properly

• Quickly upgrade to a dedicated wingfoil board with a foil.

Common Mistakes

1. Buying too big of a foil (>2500 cm²)
2. Starting with a mast that’s too short (<75 cm)
3. Getting a super small board too early
4. Over-investing in a first board — you will likely upgrade as you progress
5. Ignoring conditions — gear for waves ≠ gear for flat water

Progression Path

1. Start safe and stable:

   • 75 cm mast
   • 1500–2000 cm² front wing
   • 100–110 L board
   • 4–5 m² wing

2. As skills improve:

   • Downsize front wing for speed and agility
   • Move to 85–90 cm mast
   • Progress to smaller boards (~70–80 L)

Quick Reference Table

Component	Beginner Setup	Intermediate Setup
Wing	4–6 m² (depends on weight)	Multiple wings for conditions
Front Foil	1500–2000 cm²	1200–1600 cm²
Mast Height	75 cm	85–90 cm
Board Volume	100–120 L	70–90 L
Fuselage	Medium/long	Short

Conclusion

• Start with balanced, stable gear, not extremes.
• Choose based on your weight, spot conditions, and experience.
• Expect to change boards as you progress — focus first on wings and foil, which last longer.
• Avoid being influenced by flashy pro setups — go for gear that makes learning fun and forgiving.

"The gear is expensive, so buy smart. Progress gradually and don’t rush into advanced gear until your skills match." – Hadou