Continue reading for wing foiling click the button below for the kite surfing FAQ

Is Wing foiling difficult to learn?

The level of difficulty is like the first attempts at any new sport/activity there is a learning curve and the more effort you put into it the greater reward you receive.

• Once you are up and riding it is a very intuitive sport where you have to trust yourself and your balance!

• In the beginning it is made easier as you start on the beach mastering wing handling before heading out and balancing on the board. You will quickly learn how to combine things properly so that you can go upwind and get back to where you first started safely before getting onto the foil.

• From here you will learn to pump the wing to build up speed and get up on the foil! Briefly up, then down again. In this way you gradually learn how to deal with the new sensation of flying above the water! Feeling the energy of every wave directly through the board in the ocean beneath you to your soul!

• Once on foil everything becomes very quiet and light, you float in the air and your foil is just below the surface of the water gliding through in absolute silence. The sensation can only be described as Incredible

Is wing foiling dangerous?

Wing foiling is not dangerous as we teach you about:

• Handling your wing and board

• How to rescue yourself in the case of an emergency

• How to paddle and work your way into the wind

• What conditions are unsafe

• How to stay safe in and around the ocean and what are the right conditions to go Winging in

How Long does it take to learn?

That depends entirely on the individual. There are many factors that will dictate your learning curve ranging from skill, motor skills and previous experiences.

• Generally it will take about 6 hours of coaching to teach you all the skills, confidence, knowledge and techniques embedded. After that it is just time on the water.

• Wingfoiling is very safe right from the beginning, because you can let go of the wing, just lay in it floating around and enjoying being out on the water if you are tired/frustrated!

With Wing foiling it really starts from the first lesson. You are shown about the controls right away and how to effectively use them!

Do you have to be strong?

You don’t need to be super-fit to Wing foil, however, you should be comfortable swimming in open water, for safety reasons.

• A Wing foiling board can be bulky and awkward once the foil is attached. This awkwardness ends once you are in the water and can float the board and push it via the mast/fuselage until you get deep enough to flip it over. Usually about 1/2 a metre depending on mast length. Like anything in life the fitter you are will help you progress faster by giving you more stamina on the water. But is not necessary. As your fitness and cardio will come the more you foil.

• You need little to no strength at all. The power of the wing actually sits above or in front of you in your finger tips and pulls you along effectively holding you up on top of the water.

• The most difficult part is pumping while balancing to get up on the foil and break the surface tension of the water. It is an amazing cardio workout. Once you’re up though just sit back relax and enjoy the ride.

• As stated there is very little input on the wing at all after you are on the foil just a slight pressure on your back hand to keep power. The more you relax into it and focus on the direction you want to go the easier it is to balance and fly across the water.

What is a safe place to learn?

• Any deep and smooth body of water with a sandy bottom is the best location to learn. Once you have getting onto the foil mastered there are no conditions that are unsuitable based on your judgment of course (please check locally about any dangerous animals that may be present in that area first)!

• The most important element for wing foiling is wind. It doesn’t matter if it is gusty although smoother winds are preferable but not necessary when learning. Offshore conditions once you can go upwind are safe as long as you know you can paddle back to shore.

• Avoid hazards (rocks, people etc.). The foil can be dangerous as it does have sharp edges so foiling away from other people, rocks and debris is going to make your gear last longer.

• All of our lessons take place in the ocean in above waist deep waters for your own and the gears safety! We also incorporate 2 way radios so we may communicate freely.

Do I need previous Knowledge?

No.

• Previous experience with the ocean and balancing sports will help you make some progress but is not necessary.

• Windsurfing, sailing, skateboarding, wakeboarding, snowboarding all these sports can help you get on the water faster each bringing their own strengths and weaknesses.

• With that said if you have no experience in any of these sports the instructor won’t have to break any bad habits!

What do I do in strong winds?

• If you are overpowered, you will notice this immediately and can simply let go or sheet the wing away from you. The wing will then float and lose a large amount of its power and lie gently on the water or hover just above it.

• You can then paddle back to safety or do a downwind body drag

What if there is not the right amount of wind?

• Smile Kitesurf will always try to find the best possible conditions for your course so that you can learn optimally.

• Wing foiling is also renown as a very light wind sport. With people wing foiling from 8 knots.

• If the weather lets us down we will just reschedule for another day.

Awesome, that’s great! What about crocodiles, sharks and stingers?

• Crocodiles are very similar to sharks in the sense that we are visitors to their environment. If there is a crocodile sighted in the area we DO NOT carry out any lessons for a few days after the sighting/confirmation that the crocodile has been relocated. Usually they are just cruising by during the summer months when they are more active but they can be anywhere at any time.

• Local kiters to Bowen and people of the community that we have spoken to, have not had any issues with salt water Estuarine crocodiles frequenting the kitesurfing lessons/locations. Check out Be Crocwise to educate yourself a bit more and the “QWildlife” app for all recently reported sightings.

• Stingers are generally blown in to shore after a few days of strong consistent Northerly winds. They prefer calm waters though so will tend to be around mangroves or small bays where there is not much water movement. You will be given the option of wearing a stinger suit every lesson. The instructor will check the beach/water before every lesson and deem if it is safe to go out.

  Smile Kitesurf will take all common precautions to minimize and eliminate the risk of being stung by jellyfish. If you would like to educate yourself more about the marine stingers and what to do please see the surf life saving website.

What do I need for the course?

Just bring yourself, a water bottle, sunscreen, hat, a wetsuit if you feel the cold, a smile and a positive attitude!

• We will supply all wing foiling and safety equipment unless otherwise advised.

If your question isn’t answered, please get in contact with us smile@smilekitesurf.com