I think that pretty any time on foil is valuable time on foil for progression purposes. It's hard to not get stuck in a rut doing the same thing every day and having multiple disciplines helps to fight this.
As a winger/parawinger living on a river I have 3 additional disciplines I could consider adding for 2026 and am wondering if anyone else is mulling over the same ideas and/or has feedback on if the time and financial investment is worth it:
DW SUP: I could do this again, have done it in the past, but think it's a major step backwards for me. I don't have any real interest in this.
Kite foil: I've never tried, but I am a solid strapless kiter and have everything I need but a board to give this a crack. Maybe worth considering for light days? Wondering how many people still kitefoil despite being competent at other disciplines and when/why you grab a kite these days.
Dockstarting: Lots of friends are frothing over the dockstart this winter which is surprising to me. Everyone is running out buying kits and pumping around on glassy days in the cold weather. I'd have to get a board and foil to do this and am just a bit perplexed as to wether or not this would actually be beneficial and fun? Or is this just foil froth/obsession in the winter?
Kitefoiling is a very cool discipline, but you would need to buy at least a new board and likely a kite and harness. You could technically use your parawing board if it is not too big. For context, I have 50L and 70L boards for Wing and Parawing and both work for kitefoiling, but they are quite bulky. They work for light wind cruising, but they are not ideal for tricks. You can jump with them, but it is nothing like the fun of a 10L 90cm pocket board. So, you will probably want a dedicated board to actually enjoy it.
I still keep my kitefoil gear, but I honestly only use it about 4 times a year. I might use it more for light wind in the future, but kitefoiling just does not deliver the same fun factor as parawinging on a wave.
Regarding Pumpfoiling, it is a great discipline for no-wind days and for parawingfoiling in that 5 to 12 knot range from the dock. In winter, pumpfoiling is actually quite good because you do not have to deal with the same windchill as wingfoiling or kitefoiling and so on. Since there is no wind, it feels much warmer.
However, pumping in the winter has its risks. I do not know your age, but even if you use thicker wetsuits, you will sweat while pumping and then cool down rapidly in the water or in the brakes. I have had many winter sessions where I never even fell in the water, but I got sweaty in my wetsuit and ended up chilled.
Over time, this led to back problems and sciatica. It is a nasty issue. A lot of guys who pump regularly struggle with back pain and it is a common topic on the forums. It is likely because we push too hard and do sessions that are way too long. A proper warm-up, stretching, and keeping the sessions short would definitely help.
In short, every discipline has its place, but winter sessions can be a double-edged sword for your health. For me, parawinging on a wave is still the king and is currently unbeatable.
Good luck!
Thanks czareka
I've got 6m and 10m kites on hand still, plus my kite harness so I think I'm good to go if I simply grabbed a board. That feels like the bare bones cheapest investment to try something new. I really think of it as kind of a light wind or short drive option for me. My favorite swell is 90 minutes each way, but I can kite or ride flatwater 37 minutes from home which is what makes kiting again intriguing. Plus, everyone who does it seems to say they love it.
I'm 41.
I appreciate the dockstart rundown. I'm not really a "moderation" kind of guy. I'll think on that a bit more and if I take the plunge I'll try to keep it short, sweet, warm, and loose.
Winter is also a great time to catch up on sup surfing and trail running so it's not like there's no other option.
