Wingfoiling courses by level

These days it is easy to find a watersports center that offers wingfoiling courses for beginners and for more advanced levels. These centers are often already kitesurfing and/or windsurfing schools.

To make the fastest progress, a wingfoiling course should be broken down into several sessions of 2 or even 3 hours, sometimes more, depending on how well you adapt to the equipment, the weather conditions and your physical condition, as well as your background as a kitesurfer and/or windsurfer, or even as a foiler in others disciplines. For those new to sailing and to board sports, some schools will teach you the initial stages of wingfoiling on a stand-up paddle board or a large windsurfing board, so that you fully understand the wind and how it propels you forwards (and upwards). Other schools will start your learning process by towing you along on their motorboat, so that you get to know the foil first, before you start flying the wing. There is no right or wrong way to learn, the main thing being to achieve the same result, i.e. to fly with peace of mind and a smile on your face.

Progress in wingfoiling is fairly rapid if the weather conditions are good when you are learning the initial steps. An ideal wind is steady and blowing at around 15-20 knots, which will make it easier for the rider to take off without getting too tired too quickly. It is rare to fly in the first few sessions, but once you understand how to maneuver the wing and to find the right position to control the board, you will be won over by this new discipline. When you first start out the board lifts up out of the water and then sometimes falls back just as quickly. Then you fly for 20 meters, then 200 meters, and finally move onto longer rides as soon as you understand how to stabilize the board, and therefore the foil. Then the next step is to learn how to turn, or rather jibe, the method which is most often used to change direction.

How to choose your wingfoiling school?

Choosing a wingfoiling school is not always easy. The price is not the same everywhere, and the teaching is not always identical from one center to another. Some instructors use their motorboat to teach you how to wakeboard before learning how to use the wing, while others will start by teaching you how to use the wing on a windsurf board – without the sail, of course – or on a stand-up paddle board. For those who swear by a particular brand which they are already familiar with, the brand can also have an influence.

Most wingfoiling schools in France are located by the sea, with more choice on the shores of the Mediterranean, for example near Hyères in the Var, in the Bouches du Rhône around Marseille, and in Languedoc Roussillon between Montpellier and Leucate. Rest assured, wingfoil centers can also be found all along the Atlantic coast, in Brittany in particular, or in northern France and near inland lakes. 

The ION CLUB centers, located in some of the world’s most famous spots, are similarly priced and equipped with Duotone and Fanatic wingfoiling collections.

The evolution of wingfoiling equipment is quite impressive, and today it is suitable for all sizes, men and women alike. In short, it is a sport for everyone, and doable almost anywhere as long as there is sufficient water depth and a little wind. In short, wingfoiling is magic!