Standup Zone Forum
The Foil Zone => Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP => Topic started by: Quickbeam on March 17, 2020, 08:52:15 PM
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Hi Guys,
I’m wondering what type of risks are involved in learning Wing Foiling? This may sound like a silly question, but I am brand new to the sport and have just recently got all my gear. And I’m also asking for a very specific reason.
I only thought of this when I saw supnorte’s post in the “Virus” thread in the “Random” category. He said in Portugal that surfing, SUP and all nautical activities are forbidden because of the Covid 19 breakout. At first this didn’t make sense, but later in his post he explained these measures have been put in place to minimize the need for non Covid 19 patients to take up hospital beds. This makes a lot of sense to me.
So while I just recently got all my gear, and haven’t yet had the opportunity to get it out on the water, I really don’t want to do anything to put myself at risk and potentially take up a bed that might be needed. I know we can’t live in a bubble, but I also think during this time we need to think of those that will be in need.
So back to the original question, I’m wondering what type of risk is involved, especially while learning? I’m thinking I’m fairly safe if I just wanted to take the Wing out on a regular (inflatable) paddle board and get a feel for the Wing on the water?
I’m also guessing the only real danger is posed by the foil? So if this is the case I could just put off for a while taking my foil board and foil out.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Wear a helmet and impact vest and you should be ok. If you have bad knees then a knee brace also, you'll be kicking out at times and can hyper extend your knee.
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Your biggest danger is driving to the beach.
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Wear a helmet and impact vest and you should be ok. If you have bad knees then a knee brace also, you'll be kicking out at times and can hyper extend your knee.
Thanks Nick. Much appreciated.
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I’ll say that I can’t speak with total authority but if someone had been hospitalized by a foil this crew would have talked about it.
Also, if you start now we’re still on the way up. You might be out of that bed before it’s needed for a patient.
In a final word of encouragement, I’m going to say that we’re go8ng to flatten the curve. Here’s to positive vibes and social distancing on a surf board.
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I think the dangers are:
- to get hit by the foil (so wear the helmet and the impact vest and in general a wetsuit because some foil can cut like a knife so better not to expose directly the skin)
- to injured your ankle if you use straps (in this case just be careful of the reef or shallow waters and in general while you surf waves)
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I think if you wear a helmet, the risks of injury requiring hospitalization are very low. Much lower than kiting for example.
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There are a few foil brands where the tips and tails are sharp. Kicking those, giving yourself minor leg cuts is common. Wetsuits solve that.
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yes i use Moses and i had to unsharp the tips with sand paper because i cut 2 times the canopy of my wing foil!
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I will add to watch your fingers on the wing leash. If you are out in some howling winds, make sure you pay attention to how you handle your leash.
I generally get situated on my board first and let my wing just flutter. Then I pull my wing to me to get ready to fly. When I pull my wing to me, I try to do it with large, quick pulls to get to a handle as quick as I can. When I first started, I was just ho-hum pulling the wing by the leash to me and a gust hit and pulled it out of my hand. Luckily my leash was not wrapped in any way around my fingers. But I did see the potential.
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I forgot, booties help also. Kicking the foil, jumping off the board onto random objects in the water, walking around in the water. I've cut myself a bunch on foils. So now even if I like the performance of a foil, if it's sharp or pointed on the tips and really sharp on the rear of the wings, then it's not for me.
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QB, Everybody went to Stage 2, 3, to howling winds... " I’m thinking I’m fairly safe if I just wanted to take the Wing out on a regular (inflatable) paddle board and get a feel for the Wing on the water?"
For sure - you are safe. Hilly nailed it.
I think you will find it less frustrating to 'get the feel' initially running around on the beach like a crazy person 'netting butterflies'. When you get ready to try your inflatable - find a very shallow spot where you can walk waaaay out and then jump on. Unless you picked the wrong wind direction - you can expect to be back about where you started right quick.
Still, it will give you a 'feel'.* Simply following Nick's remarkably clear instructions on mounting the board will have you miles ahead when it comes to attaching the machete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIspFfN3vfs&feature=emb_logo
Jim
*I have not mounted a foil myself, but tried a variety of SUPs and a directional kiteboard (big fail). I can crawl upwind about as fast as I can walk in waist-deep water on my 12-6 x 29 SUP better than a shorter/wider SUP.
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My 5 mill booties definitely kept the top of my foot laceration free after I kicked the back of my tail wing like an idiot bailing over the weekend. It hurt to walk for an evening, now I'm fine. This was surfing, not winging however.
Being aware of where the foil is when not on-top of the board is very important. You will find yourself bumping it at first, and this stage is where neoprene will be your friend. Keep a hand on the board at all times when it is between you and any wave action!
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For me the risk is all about what type of foil you use.
The faster you go, the more likely you are to hurt yourself when you fall, and the sharper the foil is the more likely you are to get cut when you hit it by mistake.
I use the Slingshot Infinity 84 foil. This is a downwind foil and is large. Top speed is 20 mph, but it is very comfortable going a lot slower than that.
I have been using this foil for years, both for wind foiling, and now wing foiling. I have taken falls where I have hit the foil and never once got cut because it is not sharp. I did not even have any bruises.
Recently, I finally got my first scrape when I got knocked over in shore break when carrying my equipment. If you have shore break that is actually the most difficult part, much more so than foiling.
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Thanks everyone. Much appreciated.
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The one that worries me is breaking a board leash. A foil board pointing downwind takes off at a great rate of knots.
Has anyone done a long swim in with a wing? Does it hinder or help?
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Hey Simon that has worried me as well, especially when I am wing foiling far out at sea like I do. Thankfully, I have learned pretty quickly and keeping crashes to a minimum. Still i am afraid the foil might cut the leash and zoom, the foil board takes off. I have worked out in my mind how I would get in if I could not catch up with the board and it's not a pretty picture, but imagine I could make it shore laying on the wing breast stroking.
I also worry about the wing leash snapping, but at least you could paddle in on the board.
When I was learning to foil behind the jet ski, there was no leash and I remember after crashing the driver having to speed up and coral the foil board using the tow rope.
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I have indeed, lost my board. My leash didn't break--I forgot to attach it. Early days learning to get up and try to fly in the park just east of The Dalles. I sprinted for it, but it got away and it was clear I wasn't going to catch it. So I struck out for shore thinking I could run along the shore faster than I could swim with an impact vest on. After a few minutes of slow chugging, I decided to try a self-rescue with the wing. I got it flying over my head and then slid my lower hand down the boom. In short order, I was moving fast enough to leave a wake and i could steer easily by angling the wing. I briefly considered chasing the board down with my powered-up speed, but it was too far away to be sure of an effective chase. I ran down the bank, caught the board about half a mile away, and had the great pleasure of a long walk of shame.
I've also lost my wing. I know, right? What a moron! On the plus side, I haven't lost my boardshorts yet, though I have had them yanked off. One more good reason to wear a leash.
In all cases, I've found the impact vest and it's enhanced float to be extremely valuable. I doubt I could have flown the wing over my head as easily without added buoyancy. So of course I've recently taken to not wearing it. Good thing I wrote this, earth to Bill, wear your fucking vest.
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The one that worries me is breaking a board leash. A foil board pointing downwind takes off at a great rate of knots.
Has anyone done a long swim in with a wing? Does it hinder or help?
I broke a leash and lost my board last year in the Gorge. The wing helped a lot. It is easy to fly it partially from the water and sail/kick back to shore. We always get some variety of side shore wind, though. Offshore (or no wind) would be a swim.
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Getting in and out can be the most challenging part of winging, trying to hold a wing in one hand and a foil board in the other while navigating shore pound. Maybe the bottom handle solves this?
Injuries I know of are falling and getting hit in the back or side of the head with the main wing requiring stitches, full helmet protects from this.
The other injury is roll falling from full height and landing on the rail of board, broken ribs, broken leg. I had 2 deep leg bruises and bruised ribs. Impact vest saved my ribs. Leg padding might need a custom solution, maybe adding more pads to the Patagonia impact suit, or stuffing pads into a wetsuit? There are kids float vests that have thick removable foam, might be good source to hack an impact suit together...
Smooth protected waters makes everything easier and safer.
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I bought one of the Patagonia impact suits. You crawl in from the neck. Talk about a suit that demands a zipper. I got it on after a long and ridiculous struggle but there was simply no way I could get it off without a knife--which is what I did.
For the most part, an impact vest that doesn't impede you but that protects stomach and ribs, as well as chest, will help with 90 percent of the fuckups. Getting in and out of the water with shorebreak requires technique, confidence, and speed. I think I'm pretty good at it now, but I got rolled up the beach by a wave recently. A bottom handle would definitely help, I don't have one but I might change that soon. Using a deck handle generally implies having the board on one side of you and the foil on the other with the mast either in front of or behind your legs. I generally go for in front with the board facing backward, knowing I can time the shorebreak and lift the board and foil over the whitewater coming in, and time and scramble coming out. With the mast in front, you're generally in good shape coming out of the water, though if you get caught by a wave the board can pivot in front of you and trip you while it scoops you up with the foil. At the same time, the wing gets caught in the whitewater and tried to pull you back out. Never a pretty sight. A determined rush up the beach is the best defense. I generally hold the front wing handle in the same had that's in the deck handle. When everything goes to shit I let go of the wing and let it fend for itself at the end of the leash. As long as your beach doesn't have pointy things and you keep the foil away from it the wing will be OK.
Helmets are up to you. I generally don't use them but I think it's a good idea. Yeah, that sounds as stupid as it is.