This thread is dedicated to raising winging speeds from 20 knots to 30 knots, and maybe even beyond.

The concepts should be brand agnostic, since most of the performance will be achievable on most brands, as long as you use the right style of equipment, to some extent.

I did something similar a few years ago with the WindFoiling speed thread that became one of the longest on Seabreeze!

F4Foils Tuning Tips - Towards 30 knots! | Windsurfing Forums, page 1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Foiling/F4Foils-Tuning-Tips-Towards-30-knots-

Join me on the journey from slow to fast!

I’ll try to fix this!

I'll be following this with interest. I'm an intermediate winger. I'm 181 cm, 80kg, riding a 78L Omen Emissary, Armstrong HA2 780 front wing, Cedrus 90 cm wing mast, and F-one Strike wings of various vintages. Setup not optimized for speed but my max velo with a wing tops out about at a measly 16 kts (and that feels dicey).

Began experimenting with parawings this summer and quickly learned that foiling 17-18 kts under PW power (with an HA2 980 front wing) was far easier than with traditional handwings.

Anyhow, I don't see myself going 30 kts ever - but managing 20-23 kts? Perhaps?

dieseagull said..

Stumbleweed said..
... my max velo with a wing tops out about at a measly 16 kts (and that feels dicey).

Began experimenting with parawings this summer and quickly learned that foiling 17-18 kts under PW power (with an HA2 980 front wing) was far easier than with traditional handwings.

I'm curious, what makes your setup so (relatively) slow? I've done 17 knots on a 1650cm2 front wing.

I'm also curious about why you think parawings are easier to go fast? I haven't tried a parawing yet, but one day...

I dunno the answer to either Q 🤔

My story
I have been windfoiling for years, but started wingfoiling slowly mid-2024. Since the last season ended, I have entirely switched to WingFoiling and pushing from mild cruiser to wanna-be racer for the 2026/27 season.

So far I have learned that you need the right equipment to PROGRESS as a rider rather than focus just on progress in one aspect like top speed, and turn a setup that feels “pretty quick” at 20 knots into something that can comfortably push toward 30 knots and beyond?

Like with the windfoiling thread and journey, speed isn’t about one magic part. It’s about the whole system working together: board, foil, wing, body position, water state, and how you use it all. But what I need to understand from the comunity (and share what I find) is how to unlock those little interlinked parts to get there, fast! Race season is already underway!


A few areas really matter:



😃 Board choice: A board that is too big or too wide creates drag. But a board that is too small can be harder to get on foil and less forgiving. For speed, I like something efficient and the right size. I'm 90kg and ride a 90L board. But, should I could be on 100L!? especially in lighter winds?

🤩 Foil type: The foil is where a lot of the speed gains happen. Smaller, more efficient foils can be much faster, but they demand more control. Bigger foils feel easier and more stable, but they can feel slower and draggy. I like to use the larger foils to get up easier and practice progressing first before I move to smaller speedy foils since the ToW is so much more effective if your actually foiling.

🧠 Foil tuning: This matters more than most people realise. A tiny change in trim, mast position, or rear wing setup can make a big difference. Speed is often about being clean and balanced, not forcing the foil. I was way over foiled on Sunday's race!

🪽 Wing choice: Big Wing, Small Foil is my mantra (from Windfoiling too!). Too much power can feel overwhelming at first but become your friend when pushing smaller foils.

💨 Wind and water: Clean wind and smooth water are huge speed multipliers. Chop and turbulence destroy your confidence, fast. Surprisingly on wingfoils, the swells help get small foils up even more than on windfoils...

🩴 Straps and stance: I could NOT get comfortable swithc stance until I added staps. They also help pump, and saving yourself in odd positions. Make sure your feet slide out easily though!

🦵 Legs and pumping: I’ve found speed comes from staying relaxed and smooth, not muscling the setup. A little pump at the right time can help build and hold speed, but it’s about timing and efficiency, not force. Except when...

🤬 Getting up on small foils: Getting on the foil early and smoothly matters. If you’re dragging, you’re wasting energy before the system even starts working properly. Whole chapters can be written about the art of flying early on any foil!


During the weekends races I was maxing out at 20kts on big foils because I thought the wind was lighter than it actually was. I rigged an 800 Orca (1m wide) for lift with 137 surf tail (easy pumping), and I didn't give myself time to change down a foil size or swap the tail to 170 speed model.


After the races I stayed around a few days and tried different setup's. My speed jumped to 22kts with the smaller Orca 685 and 150M tail, and yesterday to 25kts with the race dedicated Wahoo 540 TE foil - but it was harder to pump until I adjusted my technique.


FYI the race season thread is here:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/New-South-Wales/NSW-Slalom-Series-2026-271?


Interested to hear what you find works on your gear!

Stumbleweed said..

WindMode said..

Stumbleweed said..

dieseagull said..

Stumbleweed said..
... my max velo with a wing tops out about at a measly 16 kts (and that feels dicey).

Began experimenting with parawings this summer and quickly learned that foiling 17-18 kts under PW power (with an HA2 980 front wing) was far easier than with traditional handwings.

I'm curious, what makes your setup so (relatively) slow? I've done 17 knots on a 1650cm2 front wing.

I'm also curious about why you think parawings are easier to go fast? I haven't tried a parawing yet, but one day...

I dunno the answer to either Q 🤔

Maybe your wings are bagged out? I did 50 kph (27 knots) the other day with a V6 Strike QuadX and 750 Sk8 (8AR). I think your setup should be able to do the same.

Anyhow, like all things speed its about power transfer in the end. Most wingers / kiters / windsurfers let themseles get pulled forward by the power passively. The stiffer your body the more power you transfer into the board & the faster you go. Actively transferring the power into the board pushing it forward through the front foot is where its at. It will also allow you to hold down more power because its used effectively instead of just being countered by body weight.

That also means a front foot balanced setup is pretty much required. If your weight is over the back foot (or even what people call "balanced"), no way you're effectively going to push the board forward, how could you with such a body position? The backfoot doesnt really allow pushing forward, and any additional force put into the front foot will cause the nose to dip.

Since I’m not using straps, effectively a more front foot heavy setup could be achieved just by moving my stance backwards on the board?

Yes, probably ;). It also depends a little on board trim, a slightly more nose up board is easier to push, thats why for example gong puts built in rake into the race masts and advises to use their 3 deg shim when racing. If moving backwards doesnt really help, slightly raising the nose of the board might.