It looks like magic: the board lifts out of the water, and the rider glides silently above it, as if flying. Foiling is perhaps the most fascinating form of watersports, and with a little patience it is quite learnable. We explain what is behind it and how best to get started.
What makes foiling so special
The secret sits beneath the board: a wing on a mast, the foil. As soon as you have enough speed, this wing creates lift and raises the board out of the water. The resistance disappears almost completely, and you glide along quietly and smoothly, even in light wind. That is exactly what makes the appeal: foiling already works when others are standing on the beach, and it feels like nothing else.
How getting started works
You learn to foil best step by step and not by force. First you ride completely normally, without the foil lifting off, and get used to the gear. Then come the first short moments of flight, the so-called touch-and-go, where the board rises briefly and sets down again. Over time these phases get longer, until you fly stably. What matters is feel rather than force; the foil punishes hectic movements at once.
The right gear and safety
For learning, you take a large, forgiving foil with plenty of lift; it flies early and is more forgiving. Just as important is safety: the wing and the mast have sharp edges, so a helmet and an impact vest are an absolute must. Keep your distance from others, because a foil under water cannot be seen. And at the start, practise where it is shallow and empty. A briefing at the school saves you many bruises.
Foiling needs a little more patience than the normal start, but rewards you with a unique feeling and sessions even on light-wind days. Take it easy, protect yourself well, and look forward to the moment you take off for the first time. You will not forget it. We are happy to accompany your first attempts at flight.
Curious about the trends? Read about pump foiling and the parawing.