so if l want try this out, can l just use a wing and a board, or do l need to learn how to foil to get out on the water?

There was a guy at our local beach learning to wing on some kind of a SUP. He was learning stuff and having some fun. I've also seen people on longboards.

He seemed to get the best results doing a walking start in shallow water. The bottom was sandy and I assume he had fins he didn't mind dragging through the sand.

He made some distance out and he said he got planing a few times. He was certainly doing no worse than your average fully equipped beginner wing foiler.

sgo said..
...
The point of the question was is wing sailing just another foiling option or can it be just another board sport?

Possibly, but probably not. The reason wing foiling works is you need minimal power once you're on the foil. That makes it easy to hand hold a wing without a harness.

If you're on a planing board you could do it but you need more power. You either need to be strong or use a harness and go with everything that entails.

sgo said..
so if l want try this out, can l just use a wing and a board, or do l need to learn how to foil to get out on the water?dt

I am really surprised at the progress the talented guys here are making on skimboards.
initially there were walks of shame but...didnt take long, and they were already gybing
not long after that, were already jumping the reef break.
it's interesting to watch.
obviously, strong wind days are better, it's basically impossible to go upwind though

sgo said..

LeeD said..
Are you living in an oppressed country where the government tells you what you can and cannot do?
Otherwise, decide for yourself.
You still need a fin of some kind.

Yes. Australia.

The point of the question was is wing sailing just another foiling option or can it be just another board sport?

Yes SGO, I've used my wing a few times on my LT. Not quite as good as the class rig on that board but for me it was a good way to learn the wing before I tried foiling.

When considering wings as a non foiling option you should bare in mind hand held wings have been around for a fairly long time. I think the original wind weapon was early 90's !!!

Evidently they never provided enough advantages over windsurfing or kiting to ever really take off. It wasn't until we had the big, fast, fun, efficient surf foils that wingfoiling exploded into what it is now.

I have had a few goes winging on a normal sup. Its definitely do able and could be fun in the right circumstances but I struggle to see a situation where it would be better than my normal surf kiting.

sgo said..
so if l want try this out, can l just use a wing and a board, or do l need to learn how to foil to get out on the water?

Not sure why you got the snarky responses..
yeah it's doable, it's how I learnt. Just grab any old windsurfing board with around 140ltr volume (a good floater) and use the smaller fin like a 30cm. This allows you to play in the shallow, doing beach starts, getting the hang of the wing power.

but you almost immediately know from the feel,of the wing power, that you get speed and power only when keeping the wing heading into the wind, that is.... there's just no power in simply letting wing take you downwind. And so, you should try then to add a centre fin to your floater board (midway up the board)
.you can get plastic stick on ones from SUP shops. About 25cm to 30cm is ok

your arms are gunna be sore.
but it's surely fun, doable, until you bite the bullet on a foil.
you can learn pretty much all the wing ding control factors, slow gybing etc, with wing floating overhead, changing hands bla bla.

There is a difference between doable 10 times a year, and a viable sport in the long term.

I remember putting straps and a mastfoot on an old 7'0" prone surfboard. It was quite fun ... but only in steady 30knts+. 10 times/year max.
I learnt a lot with it, but it soon gathered dust.

I have a 5mtr Duotone wing and just starting out. I have put a 10" finbox in the bottom of an 11ft SUP. I will use one of my hatchet fins or a big 10" dolphin fin for upwind. Haven't tried it yet. Plan is sail upwind pushing on windward rail plus the fin for extra benefit. Stop at a beach take out the skeg/fin and then head back downwind. Then buy a foil etc. Looking at some of the above video might not have to buy a foil and just use my 8' surfboard.

sgo said..
Thanks for the feedback.
My thoughts were to play with a wing to get that part under control before perhaps transitioning to a shorter board and foil. I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a complete wing/foiling set up, have to master both simultaneously, just to crash and burn

See the last 2 comments in the thread.
the way to learn, for sure. Get the hang of wing first, in the water, beach starts with smallest fins, and after that try the art of knees to then getting to your feet while moving. Easier said than done though...

it's my guess you will end up buying an expensive board equivalent to your body weight in kilos (actually, iI added 15kg) and it's about right. Still floats me as I try to get off my wobbly knee position when re-starting in the deeper tides.

you could get away without a foil, for years probably (only a few goes a year)
but it's hard work on the arms, although eventually you do find a relaxing sweet spot and it's fun.

the foil takes time to learn.
Get the wing done first.

bigmc said..
I have a 5mtr Duotone wing and just starting out. I have put a 10" finbox in the bottom of an 11ft SUP. I will use one of my hatchet fins or a big 10" dolphin fin for upwind. Haven't tried it yet. Plan is sail upwind pushing on windward rail plus the fin for extra benefit. Stop at a beach take out the skeg/fin and then head back downwind. Then buy a foil etc. Looking at some of the above video might not have to buy a foil and just use my 8' surfboard.

Place the tip of the wing against the nose of the board and you will have no trouble pointing the board where you want to go,upwind downwind.

I have a ball paddling a 14' glide upwind and then using a wing to downwind.Absolutely no control, massive crashes.

No rule that says you can't use a 10' Sup, the whole idea is to enjoy yourself.

Foil when your ready and have the coin.

Youngbreezy said..
www.instagram.com/reel/CL8OEUYjE_b/?igshid=1wylm7ujjqts5

Theres Jeffrey Spencer getting some airtime without the foil.

These guys are beyond expert.
even Kai Lenny gives spencer high fives