Hi All,
I have a 4m Ozone Wasp and now need to purchase a board.
Background: I have been kite foiling for three years and prone surf foiling for over two years. i am 64kg and 179cm tall
My prone foil board is 30l 4'5" and is too small to learn to wing foil so i will need a board. As i don''t SUP foil i am looking for as small a volume board i can to learn that will still allow me to float and start on my knees with the wing. I have seen the below footage of billy and this makes me believe i can buy a 60l 5'0" wing board but would appreciate fellow wingers opinions on what is possible. It doesn't bother me if it takes quite a few sessions to learn to balance and start as long as it will be consistently easy with practice to start on this size board.

Thanks for your help.

bayareakitesurf.com/tested-f-one-rocket-wing-54-70l-by-billy-ackerman/

When first learning try to borrow a board that will be easy. 100l or so then buy a smaller board about 80l. When you progress the 60l will be fine judging by what the young guys are using around here. You have to step it out though as going to the 60l board too soon may hold you back. Getting back on the board in 20 plus knots is a challenge on a small board. It is a fast learning curve though so cheap second hand boards till you have the skills.

You'd be ok to start on the 70 liter. 60 liter will be harder.

I'm shaping and selling a lot of wing boards, so I have lots of experience seeing how people get on with them at different weights.

I'll second Hilly on this, and I will add that it seems to depend A LOT on the conditions.

Just like trying to learn SUPing on glassy flat water, or in the chop and wind are two totally different experiences, learning to wing with a steady, strong enough wind or with chop are day and night. You will not advise the same SUP for a beginner on glass or on chop.

So yes, if you have access to the perfect conditions, I guess 70l is OK. But I have seen too many people just quit winging when trying to learn in bad conditions: an onshore fickle wind creating chop and pushing you back on the beach.

Try to search out wind surf spots, they usually have great flat water, shallow areas. Great for learning.

Thanks everybody for their help.

I would expect for my weight a surface start would have a minimum volume like 50 l for example (maybe its 60 l who knows) and below that the board sinks to the point where you are now doing a sinker type start and much less volume would be easier for this type of start. Maybe 20 to 30 l.

DWF, I am very interested in what volume your customers are settling on for a surface start board as i am sure many are still tweaking to get as low as possible without going to far as once the board loses considerable contact with the surface your in no mans land.

Standing on a SUP in trying conditions is challenging when the volume of the board is your weight in Kg + 15 l but it becomes very easy when you retreat to your knees. I don't want to be winging with 80 or 70 l if it is only slightly harder to start on a board with 60 l. I just don't know if this tipping point for me is at 50 l, 60, or 70 l but i am guessing it is one of the three.

In my opinion and as a beginner, you need more than 4M wing like 5M or 6M and a bigger board that you can easily stand up on comfortably.

To all that replied thanks heaps for your feedback. To DWF, thanks for your encouragement and experience. I am now tossing up between the 60 and 70 but will most likely go with the 70 to be sure.