Wing Foiling Tips and Tricks
So, you’re diving into the world of wing foiling in Dubai? Great choice! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your wing foiling techniques, here’s a practical guide to get you up and running.
Wing Foiling in Dubai what you need to know
Adjusting Your Foil Position On The Double Rail
Alright, here’s the deal: the position of your foil on the rail can make a big difference. If you move the mount forward, you get early planning at low speed. This is handy in low winds or when you need a bit more lift on soft waves at the cost of compromising on the stability at low speed. But if you find yourself getting ejected or having to press hard on your front leg, slide the foil back. It’s all about finding that sweet spot and in the biggening stage make sure to keep in the center and slowly slowly as you improve over time you can move it forward to ride in lighter wind conditions. During your wing foil lessons in Dubai the instructors will be providing you with plenty of info on how to set up your foil.
Wing setup: Unrolling, Securing, and Inflating
- Get the Wing Out: Take the wing out of the bag carefully. Don’t pull too hard to avoid catching it in the zipper.
- Unroll It: Lay the wing flat on the ground, unrolling the central bladder first, then each tip. Make sure everything is nice and flat. And the wing is pointing down wind of you with your back to the wind.
- Secure the Wing: Before inflating, secure the wing’s leash under the pump. This prevents it from flying away if the wind picks up. All brands have created an anchor point to attach the wing to the pump.
- Pump It Up: Attach the pump nozzle to the valve on the leading edge bladder. Start with a few pumps to shape the wing, then fully inflate it to 6-7 PSI or to the recommended pressure by your wing brand, in our Wing Surf school in Dubai we do use Cabrinha wings. Usually the bigger the wing the less pressure you can pump and that’s the reason some brand they separate the leading edge pump from the strut in order to achieve higher pressure in the strut and make it more stiff. Don’t forget to disconnect the pump and close the valve when you’re done.
Best Weather Conditions for Wing Foiling
For beginners, both sea winds and lake winds are ideal. If you’re in a protected bay, even better as flat water makes the learning process 10 times easier and it can make the difference between learning fast and giving up! Start with short rides to get a feel for your gear and the wind. Look for whitecaps—when you see them, you’ve got about 10 knots of wind of wind speed. Starting with 12-14 knots is perfect for balancing and learning for complete beginners.
Where to wing surf in Dubai
In Dubai you can wing foil pretty everywhere as there are no limitations on where to go winging as long as you stay away from the swimming zones. The wing foiling beaches in Dubai are usually the ones where surfing in Dubai is allowed. Here after a few details about the beaches thatw e would recommend to check:
- -Nassnass beach this is where most of the kite surfing lessons in Dubai and wing foiling community goes to as it has a bay with flat water in the first part making things easier to start.
- –Kite Beach with some waves if the wind blowing from West/NorthWest making the place very hard for beginners to get on the board but for more advanced riders it can be a lot of fun to play on the waves
- –Sunset Beach or the surfers beach in Dubai, this spot is for advanced riders as the waves can get really big and the conditions can be very messy.
- –Jebel Ali kite beach, the place is completely protected and the water is almost completely flat no matter what the wind conditions.
Starting To Wing Foiling And First Tacks In Wing Foiling
Moving Away from Shore
Attach your wing foil board and wing foil leashes before you set off. Flip the board over so the foil is facing up so it doesn’t hit the bottom and get scratched. Paddle away from the shore, keeping the wing clear of the foil to avoid tangling and always hold the board upwind in case you are walking upwind or downwind. Once the water is up to your waist, flip the board and get on it. If you’re on a board larger than 100 Liters, you can usually stand up right away.
When standing, keep your front hand higher than your rear hand to keep the wing elevated. If you’re speeding up and losing balance, release the rear hand while keeping the front hand high.
Wing Surfing Without a Foil
You can practice wing surfing without a foil by using a windsurfing board or a stand-up paddleboard. These options are more forgiving and let you focus on handling the wing. If you’re into skiing or snowboarding, you can even take your sail on the snow to get those sensations. Practicing the wing control on the beach can help improving wing handling a lot before getting on the water.
Finding the Right Position on Your Wing Foil Board
To take off, foot placement is crucial. Positioning your feet too far forward can prevent you from gliding properly as the nose will dive under the water. Move your back foot back to find that arching sensation. Shift your weight forward to keep the board horizontal. Practice with “touch and goes” to get a feel for flight.
More weight on the back might cause the board to start to plan at low speed so be careful about how much you move backward on your wing foil board.
Advanced Wing Foil Maneuvers
Switching Your Feet
You can switch feet either before or after your maneuver—whatever feels more natural to you. Lift the wing to check your surroundings and make sure it’s clear. When switching feet, pump the board a little to keep it high on the water and keep the wing above your head as this helps giving you an extra support so you are not depending completely on your balance. The back foot will replace the front foot, and you may need to relaunch the board to stabilize your flight. Focus on something in the distance to maintain your position.
Pumping In Wing Foil
Pumping technique varies with your gear. With a large foil and long fuselage, focus on rhythm and inertia. For smaller wings and shorter fuselages, you’ll need a more consistent rhythm. Practice to perfect your pumping technique and remember pumping in wing foiling is not pulling and releasing but it’s some kind of scooping with the backhand. Be light on your feet, let the foil rise, and give a gentle impulse with your back leg to take off or stay in flight.
Performing A Jibe In Wing Foil
To jibe, lift your wing and check for space. Reduce speed to avoid rushing the maneuver. Turn inward with the wing high, release it when heading downwind, and grab it from the other side as you come into the wind. Keep leaning into your turn to maintain edge control. Jibing is always easier on one side based if you are Goofy or a Regular and it can be done from heel to tow and from tow to heel side.
Performing A Tack In Wing Surfing
For a tack, aim to keep your foil lifted by heading upwind. Position your wing high and start the turn with your back to the wind. Add a bit of pumping by pressing on the back foot as you initiate the tack. Move the wing completely over your head and keep your curve as you turn. Stay focused on your stance to finish the turn and retrieve the wing from the other side. Usually having more speed makes things easier and having a longer mast helps a lot too in case of any mistakes with the height. As in the jibe even the tack is easier if you go from tow side to heel side.
Maintenance And Care For Your Equipment
At Kite N surf Dubai, we use both Aluminum and full carbon wing foil mast, here’s always need for rinsing and using Tef-Gel at least once a month. If you’re using your gear frequently, check the screw tightness after a few hours of use, as parts may adjust over time.
In case you would like to know more about our wing foil lessons in Dubai or you are looking to buy wing foil gear we’ve got you covered you visit our shop located on Nassnass Kite Beach and our team will be more than happy to provide you with all type of details related to all type of wing foil boards, foils and wings.
