As windsurfers we are never the first choice to new ones, like other board disciplines. First was kite, now wing.
I'm not worried at all for that, but I do wonder how many around here practice both, windfoil and wingfoil.

For sure where I sail it's growing, maybe 30% of windfoilers are learning or already can wing decently.

I'm a newbie winger, but since I also ride waves, when it's 20+ knots and with waves, I'd go for the windsurf wave board.

And between 8 and 20, 90% of the time Windfoil (Patrik 9.0 and 8.0 HA and Aeon foil with 100cm Starboard race board)

How is your % or windfoil vs wing?
How many sold windfoil and stick with wing?

This is a windfoiling forum so you're going to attract a few wing haters. It'd be interesting to ask the same question in the wingfoiling forum, I expect you'll get a very different response. I dumped windfoiling for winging with zero regrets personally, but full respect to windfoiling, it's also awesome!

I still have my freeride windfoiling gear, do maybe 1 session on it per year, and another session of regular windsurfing. Sold all my racing gear. Winging maybe 40% of my sessions and kitefoiling 30%, kitesurfing 30%. That is mostly due to conditions, either waves way too big to get out through the shorebreak to somwehere deep enough to get on my board in less than 45 minutes with the wing, or too little wind for my 5m wing and 100kgs (less than 15-16 knots). Kitefoiling has the adventage in those conditions for me because i get more power in light winds without having to haul around a huge wing or sail, and in big waves I van bodydrag out to where its deep enough easily. If I could choose I'd be 65% on the wing and 35% kite/kitefoil.

Honestly, windsurffoiling is so restrictive compared to winging. There are litterally no downsides to winging over windfoiling except maybe that the average freeride windfoiling gear is a little faster than winging gear, but that could also be because the mastfoot allows more easy power delivery. Speeds on racing gear is pretty much identical.

On the pros for winging we have the non-watertime things like packability and the bigger windrange (less sails needed), and ofcourse the on the water pros like way more manouvrable, lighter in the hands, higher jumps, faster progression.

I have windsurfed for 35 years, freeride wind-foiled for 4-5 years and started winging about 1.5 years ago. Over that time I have done roughly 30% Wing, 30% Windsurf (wave/freewave board) and 40%Windfoil.

For me the main benefit of winging is that you can flag out the wing and then focus on riding waves. The downside is that it does take time to learn, wings are like paper (they will rip if they touch your foil, and bladders can get punctures) and using board/wing leashes are a total pain.

For windfoiling, I ride a 105 lt Foilstyle board using my standard wave sails (sizes 3.7 m to 5m) and fast free ride foil (850cm^2). For me as an experienced windsurfer/windfoiler, I can turn tighter and drive the sail harder than I can on a wing. Windfoiling does take more commitment because can't flag out as easy and you need to keep even mast-foot pressure from the sail.....but that's also fun too. Windfoiling is also good in really gusty conditions as you can also uphaul and plod in, and windsurfing wave sails are bomb proof compared to wings.

At the moment, I definitely enjoy mixing it up and winging has given something new to learn (which is frustrating but also rewarding).

No conversion to wingfoiling for me at the moment!
Since I managed to stay dry and jibe on my windfoiling kite, I've been using it almost exclusively in light wind and below 15-17kn with dedicated 7.0, 6.0 and 5.0 sails. Above that, I'll be fin windsurfing on freerace gear to the point I now rarely use my 8.2 cam sail!

Windfoiling has allowed me to double time on the water during the summer months and that's nice! Most of my beach buddies at my home spot are kite and/or ex-kiters wingfoilers (yep, I'm the last windsurfer left at my spot!). Talking to my buddies, what attracts them to wingfoiling is mostly swell and waves ridding. Otherwise on flat water, they'll switch to kitefoiling or kiteboarding with large kites!

I tried wingfoiling a few times and have no desire to switch from windfoiling for now. And yes, wingfoiling kit is more convenient to transport, carry, etc., but I'm still ok to put up with the bulk of my windfoiling kit since I value the fun is on the water more than the slight inconvenience during transport! And as far as setup, I am as fast on the water putting together my windfoiling kit than any of the wingfoilers I know!

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Stretchy said..
This is a windfoiling forum so you're going to attract a few wing haters. It'd be interesting to ask the same question in the wingfoiling forum, I expect you'll get a very different response. I dumped windfoiling for winging with zero regrets personally, but full respect to windfoiling, it's also awesome!

Yeah I know! I'm not trying to compare it. Everyone has a different reality, place to sail, wind, etc. so the main thing is being in the water as much as possible (or as my wife kind of supports)

No reason to hate any sport. Maybe curling, I don't know, never played

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Roy said..
I have windsurfed for 35 years, freeride wind-foiled for 4-5 years and started winging about 1.5 years ago. Over that time I have done roughly 30% Wing, 30% Windsurf (wave/freewave board) and 40%Windfoil.

For me the main benefit of winging is that you can flag out the wing and then focus on riding waves. The downside is that it does take time to learn, wings are like paper (they will rip if they touch your foil, and bladders can get punctures) and using board/wing leashes are a total pain.

For windfoiling, I ride a 105 lt Foilstyle board using my standard wave sails (sizes 3.7 m to 5m) and fast free ride foil (850cm^2). For me as an experienced windsurfer/windfoiler, I can turn tighter and drive the sail harder than I can on a wing. Windfoiling does take more commitment because can't flag out as easy and you need to keep even mast-foot pressure from the sail.....but that's also fun too. Windfoiling is also good in really gusty conditions as you can also uphaul and plod in, and windsurfing wave sails are bomb proof compared to wings.

At the moment, I definitely enjoy mixing it up and winging has given something new to learn (which is frustrating but also rewarding).

Same, but >90% windfoil on small kit for me.

A couple of these thinly veiled "why don't you just wing, what's wrong with you" type posts recently. What do they expect in this sub forum, is it market research or insecurity?

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jstone1 said..

Roy said..
I have windsurfed for 35 years, freeride wind-foiled for 4-5 years and started winging about 1.5 years ago. Over that time I have done roughly 30% Wing, 30% Windsurf (wave/freewave board) and 40%Windfoil.

For me the main benefit of winging is that you can flag out the wing and then focus on riding waves. The downside is that it does take time to learn, wings are like paper (they will rip if they touch your foil, and bladders can get punctures) and using board/wing leashes are a total pain.

For windfoiling, I ride a 105 lt Foilstyle board using my standard wave sails (sizes 3.7 m to 5m) and fast free ride foil (850cm^2). For me as an experienced windsurfer/windfoiler, I can turn tighter and drive the sail harder than I can on a wing. Windfoiling does take more commitment because can't flag out as easy and you need to keep even mast-foot pressure from the sail.....but that's also fun too. Windfoiling is also good in really gusty conditions as you can also uphaul and plod in, and windsurfing wave sails are bomb proof compared to wings.

At the moment, I definitely enjoy mixing it up and winging has given something new to learn (which is frustrating but also rewarding).

Same, but >90% windfoil on small kit for me.

A couple of these thinly veiled "why don't you just wing, what's wrong with you" type posts recently. What do they expect in this sub forum, is it market research or insecurity?

Agree what's the point!

windsurfed for many years , and still do when it's over 20+kts, been wind foiling below 20kts for past few years. got rid of all my slalom gear last year. and this season will try winging. 1. why not? would like to try something new 2. If I am like the others in my area, will probably be dumping my windfoil gear . time will tell. maybe I'll do both.

As far as I can tell most former windfoilers who turned to winging and then say winging is better hadn't unlocked the awesome advantages and thrills of windfoil downwinding - power, speed, full-rail carves on swells and easy fast upwinding. IMO unequaled by any other foil sports

I windsurfer for about 30 years then saw foiling so got a Windfoil and competed after 13 goes. Got hooked on racing as a great way to improve faster! last year and this year I've had a dozen WingFoil sessions. Some old habits about foot swap are hard to give up and never wave riding is a hindrance when riding toeside. I haven't ridden fin for about 3 years and before then just a couple times each since I got the foils.
I love the freedom and light wind of all foils and not scared of the crashes at 30kts . But so far winging is proving kinder and cheaper!