+1 on the jibe easiness and reliability.
I used to windsurf, could ride waveboards, jibe,duckjibe and chop hop.Average weekend warrior.
I do not think i ever pulled more than 2 windsurf jibes in a row without coming off the plane.
And when i watch windsurfers they mostly cannot pull a single one.It is hard to push through the chop and then flip the barn door.It gets better with 4.5m and smaller sails but how often do you get that wind speed?.
On the wingfoil i once counted +30 jibes on foil in a row, then stopped counting.And i am no ripper.
It is very nice to ride a toy that lets you do that,add the smoking upwind angles and you can really play around your patch of water.
That was the beauty of kitesurfing as well. I remembered going windsurfing in "easy wave spot" and most of my friend couldn't ride in those condition. After 6 month on a kite they were now with me on the "easy wave spot" and "not that easy wave spot"...what a relief and enjoyment for them.
Most important......
1. It's a "new" sport.
2. It's easier to learn than windsurfing.
3. It doesn't tax your body.
4. It all fits in a small car.
5. You think it sets up and breaks down quickly and easily
6. It allows much easier access upwind and downwind.
7. At the learning stage, it goes so slow you seldom get scared when you crash.
8. Did I mention? It's a new sport that people walking by ask you about
I am seeing more windsurfers and windfoils on the local lake than ever before. The foil addition has extended their range and enjoyment.
We now have heaps of wingfoilers, but a lot less kitesurfers (80% reduction).
Similar at our local, an explosion of wings, smaller increases in windfoil and kitefoil reducing. But, all the ex kitefoilers who jumped across to winging are now returning to kitefoil for the light stuff. And some murmurs from the winger only brigade thinking of trying kitefoil as they sit on the beach in the light stuff, eg sub 12 knots.
Everyone has to agree that winging is bat **** boring in light no wave conditions compared to kitefoil.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..
Similar at our local, an explosion of wings, smaller increases in windfoil and kitefoil reducing. But, all the ex kitefoilers who jumped across to winging are now returning to kitefoil for the light stuff. And some murmurs from the winger only brigade thinking of trying kitefoil as they sit on the beach in the light stuff, eg sub 12 knots.
Everyone has to agree that winging is bat **** boring in light no wave conditions compared to kitefoil.
It is a real effort versus reward equation in super light winds.
Not much effort required to kitefoil down to 7 knots. Lots effort to wingfoil from 12 knots and down.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..
Similar at our local, an explosion of wings, smaller increases in windfoil and kitefoil reducing. But, all the ex kitefoilers who jumped across to winging are now returning to kitefoil for the light stuff. And some murmurs from the winger only brigade thinking of trying kitefoil as they sit on the beach in the light stuff, eg sub 12 knots.
Everyone has to agree that winging is bat **** boring in light no wave conditions compared to kitefoil.
I have thought about this myself...learn a "simple as possible" form of foil kiting using my 85l wingfoil board&1210foil with an easy foil kite like the Flysurfer Peak 4.
With a floaty board you do not need to waterstart, just start sailing on knees,get to feet and then up on a big (by kite standards) foil.This would also allow a pretty small kite surface reducing risk.
But in the end i did not go for it, wing and surf foiling keep me plenty busy in my available time off the job.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..
Similar at our local, an explosion of wings, smaller increases in windfoil and kitefoil reducing. But, all the ex kitefoilers who jumped across to winging are now returning to kitefoil for the light stuff. And some murmurs from the winger only brigade thinking of trying kitefoil as they sit on the beach in the light stuff, eg sub 12 knots.
Everyone has to agree that winging is bat **** boring in light no wave conditions compared to kitefoil.
I agree. I'm only 15 or so sessions into my winging journey, but due to being an experienced kite foiler and ex windsurfer, I've progressed at a decent pace and am enjoying it a lot. However, I've decided that until it hits 15kts, I'm back on the kite foil. For me, 10-15kts is the sweet spot for kite foiling but on a wing (I only have a 5m wing ATM), it's a frustrating and exhausting wind range.
Select to expand quotemcrt said..airsail said..
Similar at our local, an explosion of wings, smaller increases in windfoil and kitefoil reducing. But, all the ex kitefoilers who jumped across to winging are now returning to kitefoil for the light stuff. And some murmurs from the winger only brigade thinking of trying kitefoil as they sit on the beach in the light stuff, eg sub 12 knots.
Everyone has to agree that winging is bat **** boring in light no wave conditions compared to kitefoil.
I have thought about this myself...learn a "simple as possible" form of foil kiting using my 85l wingfoil board&1210foil with an easy foil kite like the Flysurfer Peak 4.
With a floaty board you do not need to waterstart, just start sailing on knees,get to feet and then up on a big (by kite standards) foil.This would also allow a pretty small kite surface reducing risk.
But in the end i did not go for it, wing and surf foiling keep me plenty busy in my available time off the job.
Seriously painful getting up on such a floaty board and your hook will damage it.
I've had one experience windsurfing and I was just a lad, about 14, at a resort with my fam. I had a quick lesson on a giant board/sail in light winds. It was interesting and almost fun, but didn't light any kind of fire in me. I'm just guessing here, but if I went back in time and had an inflatable wing and big sup with a daggerboard, I would have had more fun and maybe got me more stoked on wind sports.
Here wind is super light. So a 7m -8m is the ticket to ride, i'm with the kitfoilers..when wind is constant.they have a slight edge to get up and go. When wind is gusty.they often need to swim back.while i sit and wait for. Gust. So i agree kite still got more grunt in the 5-8 knts range!
.
I think there's a bit of misconception about how easy wing foiling is to learn compared to windsurfing. We average 5-6 good sessions a week here in Melbourne over summer. Windsurfing 1-2. Over Autumn, winter and Spring it's 3-4 sessions a week while windsurfing drops to 1 if you're lucky.
It's quicker not easier mainly because of the back to back days/time on water you get compared to windsurfing I reckon.
Select to expand quoteRelapse said..
I think there's a bit of misconception about how easy wing foiling is to learn compared to windsurfing.
From what I see around me, choosing your conditions to learn is extremely important with winging. It can be insanely hard if you don't choose wisely. With windsurfing, any stretch of flat water with not too strong winds will be ok.
For instance, here in Hossegor, it is nearly impossible to learn on in the ocean with its beachbreaks and fickle winds. Most people go learn in the lakes to the north, where you have flat water and stronger winds.
Select to expand quotecolas said..Relapse said..
I think there's a bit of misconception about how easy wing foiling is to learn compared to windsurfing.
From what I see around me, choosing your conditions to learn is extremely important with winging. It can be insanely hard if you don't choose wisely. With windsurfing, any stretch of flat water with not too strong winds will be ok.
For instance, here in Hossegor, it is nearly impossible to learn on in the ocean with its beachbreaks and fickle winds. Most people go learn in the lakes to the north, where you have flat water and stronger winds.
Good point, a lot more locations to learn to wingfoil too. I had heaps of fun learning on a gusty small lake near me when we were limited to 5km during lockdown
Pain in the butt to attempt winging at our windiest beach.....6-17 knot breeze, straight onshore, 2-4' closeout breaking shorebreak, 3-4' non breaking swell coming in constantly, breaking shallow spots all around outside the break, mostly sand bottom but lots of fist sized rocks sprinkled everywhere, and tons of floating seaweed.
Easy windsurfing though, easy to walk straight out to just over knee deep water, hop on, ride along the shore until almost planing, and heel turn over anything smaller than waist high in steps to get outside.
Coming in....riding waist to shoulder high waves at full speed for hundreds of yards along the chest deep surf. Full speed in the straps backside off the lips.
