HISTORY OF WING FOINLING
Wingfoiling—now that’s something really special, my friend! Imagine this: you’re standing on a board, kind of like a stand-up paddleboard, but with a foil under it that makes you glide above the water in any wind conditions even starting at 7 knots, almost like you’re flying. And in your hands, you’re holding this inflatable wing. It’s super light, easy to control, and it catches the wind just right to pull you, make you accelerate and being able to engage the foil and fly above the water. It’s like nothing else, really!
Back in the 80s, they tried something similar, but, to be honest, it wasn’t as good. The wings were big, heavy, very bulky and not so fun to use. And the boards, oh man, they created a lot of drag, so it wasn’t smooth at all and made no sense to use it instead of windsurfing. But now, thanks to new tech from kitesurfing, these wings for wing foiling are much better—lighter, easier, and just more fun. When you grab one of these wings now, it’s a lot of fun and just an incredible full body workout that you can’t imagine the fun while working out.
But here’s the thing—wingfoiling isn’t exactly windsurfing, or kitesurfing, or surfing. It’s like, it’s got a bit of all of them, but it’s its own thing. You don’t need big waves, or crazy wind, or anything extreme. Nope, wingfoiling is all about just having a good time on the water. You get to move around freely, even if the wind is just a gentle breeze. It’s not about showing off or doing wild tricks—though you can if you want—but more about enjoying the feeling of flying above the water.
History of Wing Foiling: From a Confusing Start to a Big Boom
So, let’s rewind to the 1980s. There was this guy, Tom Magruder, who got this wild idea from watching seagulls. He created the Wind Weapon, which was like a stiff sail you could spin around on a windsurf board. Tom was super into hang gliding and windsurfing, and he thought this pivoting wing would be the next big thing. But, guess what? Riders back then didn’t really go for it.
1982
Now, around the same time, in 1982, a Frenchman named Roland Le Bail was having his own “eureka!” moment. Roland, a computer guy from Carnac in Brittany, saw how seagulls handled windy days and thought, “Why not make a sail like that?” That’s how the “Bird Sail” or “Aile d’Oiseau” was born. It caught some attention, but windsurfing was the big deal back then, so the Bird Sail didn’t really take off.
Fast forward almost 40 years, and what do you know? The Bird Sail idea gets a makeover and becomes the wingfoil, thanks to the foil technology coming into play.
2011
Jumping to 2011, we meet Tony Logosz. He came up with something called the “Slingwing,” an inflatable wing. Tony was inspired by Magruder’s old ideas and another contraption with a rigid frame called the “Kitewing,” which also had hang glider vibes. Tony paired this wing with a paddle and a stand-up paddleboard, so now you could ride the wind on the water. Some brands started playing around with inflatable wing sails back then, which looked a lot like the ones we use today. But, eh, the market wasn’t ready for it, so the idea kinda fizzled out.
2019
Then, in 2019, boom! The brand Cabrinha released the first real WingFoil sail for the masses, complete with a Handles and an inflatable leading edge and strut to help you steer the wing. Other big brands also jumped in, releasing their own models. At first, people laughed at this new sport. But now? It’s super popular, and a lot of riders are hooked, doing only that!
Wingfoiling has turned into its own thing, with more and more people catching on. The gear is easy to carry, and learning it isn’t too hard, making WingFoiling the sport everyone’s talking about.
So, if you’re looking for something new, something fresh that’s easy to pick up, a full body workout and just pure fun, wingfoiling in Dubai might be your new favorite thing. You don’t have to be a pro or anything, just have a few wing foil lessons in Dubai, then grab a wing, hop on a board, and let the wind take you wherever it wants. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be hooked!
If you’re curious to dive deeper into the world of wing foiling or need help picking out the right gear, we’ve got you covered. Head over to our website at Kite N’ Surf Dubai, where you’ll find all the information you need on the latest wing foil equipment and more. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade, we’ve got something for everyone!
