Hi everyone
im long term kiter living on Gold Coast (although I haven't kited in about 2 years)
I've been thinking about getting into wing foiling (help get fit annd get out there) and wanted to know a good area on the Gold Coast to learn and then progress? Where do most people do it? Do you get to wing every weekend?
im also hoping for some advice on gear
im 120kg, 178cm
im looking at 6 - 6.5 m duotone unit
6.3 fanatic sky wing board
need help on the wing? Any affordable options as I'm already I've $3,500 with the board and sail
and finally I've read lots of things saying this sport is incredibly hard to learn..
is it worth it?
I was also just thinking of trying a kiting foil instead? But saw bad things about death loops and foils getting caught in lines..
would love your help ????
I have a Naish 2450 wing for sale on Seabreeze for $400.
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Foiling-Foil-Wings-Masts-etc/~kn6iw/2021-Naish-S26-2450-Jet-Wing-2450-cm.aspx?_page=21&search=axpRpjR611TxSYEw5VphFaqREH1epLlP
This would be good for a bigger person.
I was 107kg when I first got it but I've lost a fair bit of weight now so it is for sale at a very good price.
I could also hook you up with a mast, fuselage and stabilizer to go with it.
To get started learning, you'll have an easier time in flatwater than in the ocean.
The Broadwater has the most options on the Goldy for flatwater in various wind directions.
The train (boat ramp at Broadwater parklands) works well in a south-southeasterly. There's less tidal influence there than many other spots so works on any tide but better on incoming tide (for south wind). Probably works in northerly wind too (but I don't drive that far when there's northerly options closer to home).
Jennifer Avenue at Runaway Bay also works in south-southeasterly and sometimes picks up more wind than the train - especially if the angle is straight south. A bit more tide affected than the Train - and works best on an outgoing tide in south winds. Big incoming tides move pretty fast in the same direction as south wind so can take the guts out of the wind and make things harder - so you can end up getting carried north and doing the walk of shame back up the beach. It's a while since I've been up there but it's fairly shallow a long way out on low tide - which is no fun if you're scraping the sand bank while trying to get on foil - so I'd avoid there on very low tides. I think it also works in northeasterly but you'll want tide against the wind - so incoming tide for a north wind.
Inside the spit can be ok in south-southwesterly - but it's a boating channel that can get very busy so I wouldn't recommend going there until you're up and riding consistently and confident you can stay out of the way of the boats.
Down the southern end of the coast, ding beach on Currumbin Creek is great for learning in north-easterly wind. It's best on outgoing tide. Incoming tide will take 3-5knots off the apparent wind speed and make it a lot harder (and you could end up paddling/swimming/walking back upwind a lot). If the wind is good, it can get really busy, so if you see a lot of wings out, it's probably a good day to get out there.
Not many learning options down the south end of the coast in southerly wind. Alley is fun for a wave - but probably easier to get the basics of learning done in flatwater first. There's a couple of spots in Tweed River - but highly influenced by tide and can be fickle so not the best spot to start out.
As for whether it's worth the effort to learn - I found it easier to learn than kiting - so if you kite already, you shouldn't find it too hard to learn.
Make sure you get yourself a decent size foil to start on - it will make things easier. It's hard to recommend a general foil size as many of the newer designs give a lot more lift from smaller foils - but for your weight, I'd be looking at some of the biggest foils from whatever brand you choose. They will be slower but will get you riding sooner. Also - when using a big foil you want to make sure you get a stiff mast! (e.g. if you were to start on Axis gear you would want a high Modulus carbon mast or 19mm aluminium mast, but avoid the 16mm alu or standard or older carbon masts with big front wings).
Select to expand quotegerritse12 said..
wanted to know a good area on the Gold Coast to learn and then progress? Where do most people do it? Do you get to wing every weekend?
im also hoping for some advice on gear
Shearwater Esplanade is excellent for learning when you have wind against tide, if you are near there. Anglers Esplanade can be great too, with less boat traffic, but some large sand bars at low tide.
For the board, look into a Casey-Sunova downwind board for winging. Or something with the same design traits - narrower, longish and thick. Learner or not, they have a very smooth progressive speed change (no planing "hump" to get over), which makes foil lift off much easier. Go 20+ litres vol on your weight. At the size you will need, it will not be too narrow for learning, and with a learner foil, you gain heaps of roll stability from the big foil. As a bonus, if you cannot get on foil, the high in-water board speed will get you back to base 2+ times faster than a wide stubby board. Plus the narrower boards get blown around much less by the wind, and people often struggle with this more than controlling the foil alone.
For your foils, you have to go big for your weight and skills, but beware of going too thick. Since the thick foils might come up easy, but all they want to do is stop, so you will get way more tired. Glide is good. But wide span is not, so that's the catch. With a super wide foil, they are roll stiff, which makes it harder to keep the foil under your body mass, which means more crashes for a beginner.
You need surplus sail power for learning. Since learning to pump is a distraction while learning to foil. Sail power needed depends on your target lower wind speed. Also sail power depends greatly on the depth of the sail cut and not simply area. If you want a big sail, then the F-One "CWC" and Duotone equiv with the outer struts are the way to go for sure. Beware the 6 and 7m CWC sails in their ver3, are a flat shape.
Lastly, big guys often struggle to find a foil-mast that is stiff enough for their loads. So consider this carefully. Ask people, and quick flex test by feel on land, setup on a board, if you get the chance. Some alum masts are pretty stiff, and stiffness in carbon will usually cost big $, unless you get a used one. Most wingers learn faster on a short 75cm mast, and most end up on around 95cm for ease of use in waves and at high lean angles.
Here is some info on where to wing foil on the goldy I wrote up a while ago. www.oneoceansportsaustralia.com/blog/2021/3/31/places-to-wind-wing-foil-on-the-gold-coast
Gear wise as most have said go big for the first set up, maybe look for used board and foil to help save some $$$
I have something in the ONE HQ in Currumbin that would nearly be perfect for a board and foil which would get you into it for maybe $1000. Just have to check if it's sold or not. Its perfect for someone your size to learn on and then once you have the hang of it it's cheap enough that you can more than likely sell it for what you paid for it and get exactly what you need for the 2nd part of your wing foiling apprenticeship 
If this sounds about right just shoot me a message or come in and see us at the ONE HQ and I can show you what I am talking about.
