I have windsurfed for over 30 years and have been windfoiling for the last 8. Over those 8 years I have gradually reduced my windsurfing sessions to perhaps 20% of all sessions with windfoiling slowly taking over. I have a range of windfoil kit from IQ race gear through to small freeride boards. I am comfortable in everything from 8 to 25 knots.

Over the last year the people who I have windfoiled with have gradually disappeared. Some gone back to windsurfing, some to winging and other given up altogether.

At my spot now 90% of sailors are winging. They all hounded me for a long time telling me how wonderful it was and that I should try it. So begrudgingly I went out and bought even more gear and set about the slow road of learning to wing. I now have 500km under my belt from over 40 sessions. Finally, I feel that I can actually do both.

So the question is will I do both, or will I gradually give up Windfoiling even though I enjoy it so much.
I would be interested in what other have done.

I just borrowed all the elements I liked about winging, like board shape, short fuselages,foils, no harness and minimal power needed(current sails 2.8 and 3.8 HSM microfreaks), and enjoying my thing. Avoiding things like paddling when the wind drops, etc. leashes,busted bladders.. but it's a personal thing

One of the reasons why I no longer use harness, small sails, efficient foils, not enough physical load for me if I use harness

If you hadn't mastered windfoiling I could see you dropping it altogether. Now you can do both, you can mix it up to keep things fresh.

And parawinging....

I started my foil journey via wind foiling and moved quickly to wing foiling. It’s fun and not much gear to carry but it’s not windsurfing. I’m now winging less and windsurfing more. But when the wind backs off I’m onto the Sup surf foil stuff.

tbwonder said..
I currently feel that I want to do both. Although on each day I do have to make the decision. I found that learning to windfoil significantly improved my windsurfing, especially gybes. Perhaps my new winging skills will improve my windfoiling.

I asked Chatgpt the same question. It gave an extremely long answer containing this piece of wisdom:
"You don't owe a sport loyalty simply because you've spent years mastering it. Equally, you don't have to abandon something you love just because its community has shrunk."

Chatgpt always sits the fence?