Hey everyone! Chris Rasman here.
Thanks for checking out West Coast Windsports. We’ve got some exciting things coming this summer. Sam, Jack, and I will be putting out blogs, vlogs, and other forms of foil content with how to’s, gear reviews and comparisons, tips and tricks, and plenty of foil brained rambling I’m sure.
Here’s my take on getting started with Wing Foiling in Squamish.
Gear Basics
Contrary to what you may have heard, you definitely don’t need a high aspect hydrofoil to Wing Foil. The right setup depends on your goals for that session, the conditions, and the spot you are riding. If you’re still learning and already own a bigger or mid sized lower aspect foil (more curved & with more roll to it), that’s actually a great starters platform, especially if you learned on it behind a boat.
For boards, start on something big and floaty; 100L or more so you can stand on it like a table without sinking. That said, if you’re up for it, grabbing a board you can grow into can be more rewarding in the long run. I learned on a 60L mid-length board and it was incredibly frustrating at first, but once I could get up consistently, it served me well for 2-3 full seasons. So let’s call the other option 65-85 litre mid length style board.
Wings, for capturing da wind propulsion brah!
In Squamish, I recommend having something around 3.5m and 5m. Those two sizes cover a huge range within our local conditions. I’m about 190 lbs, so adjust up or down based on your weight (e.g., 3m + 4.5m or 4.5m + 6m). You’ll want at least two wings if you plan to ride as much as possible. If you only have the means to get one, get a 5m when learning.
Launching at Waterfront Park (formerly known as Nexen Beach, and I’ll probably call it that for awhile)
The new waterfront park has a great setup. I usually rig my foil and board first at my truck, then walk them down to the grass with the wing in my backpack and the pump attached.
• Place the board rail down on the grass with the foil and base of the board pointing into the wind direction. This keeps everything controlled and prevents embarrassing accidents.
• Open the wing, attach the leash to the board or mast, and tuck the excess leash underneath the rail.
• Pump up the wing
• Play around with the wing on land for a bit. Feel how it reacts to different angles. Leading edge points to the direction you will go. Sheathe in your back arm to load with wing with power, sheathe out your back arm to de power. There is a lot of wing handling skills that we can go over on another blog post.
• Put on your wetsuit and you are ready to go!
Always carry the board downwind of the wing (and the wing upwind of the board). I like to tuck the board under one arm and flag the wing out behind me with the other. It’s easy and controlled. If your board is really big, tie the wing to a sandbag, water jug, or pole first (anything that you can find to anchor it, just be careful its not flapping around as this can cause damage) and carry the board to the water line, then go back up and grab the wing. Mind the tides! If you get stuck in a conversation long enough, your board might be gone when you come back…
Entering the Water
Attach your board leash before you enter. I like ankle some people like calf, some people prefer to attach it to the same waistband The Wing is on. (This is non negotiable from my opinion. Wing leash should go on your waist) I enter with the board traction pad down (foil up) and the wing behind me, downwind. Hold the foil base near the board with one hand and the wing with the other. Once you’re deep enough that the wing won’t bounce off the shore, let it go of it and focus on the board. Kick out until it’s deep enough and you can safely flip the board over without the foil hitting bottom, then paddle out another 50+ feet.
If you’re new to wind sports, loading the wing and jibing can feel tricky at first (I came from surf foiling with zero wind experience, and it wasn’t intuitive for me). My best advice: start overpowered. Learning in marginal wind makes everything much harder.
While learning, do your zigzag attempts right in front of the beaches at Waterfront and Squamish. For starters, just try one direction at a time without jibing. If you feel confident, go for it. When I was learning I would pump the foil through a jibe because I didn't have a good understanding of Wing management yet. Try to stay upwind by taking breaks to lay down when necessary, and gain some ground prone paddling back up. If you drift into the Blind Channel, it’s not a disaster. You can paddle back or drift far enough to exit at the small dog beach in the far corner and then walk back through the parking lot. This little beach is actually a great safety net for learning. Fold up your wing, walk back up to the beach and try again.
Getting Up on Foil (Water Start)
The technique varies a bit depending on your board size. Here are my tips for both big floaty boards and smaller semi sinker boards.
On a Huge Floaty Board (100L+):
These boards are very forgiving for beginners. Start by getting on your knees or in a low crouched position on the board. Hold the wing overhead with both hands on the center handle, angled into the wind so it fills nicely. Sheet in gently to build power and forward pull.
Keep your weight centered or slightly back at first to prevent the nose from diving. As the board starts planing and gaining speed, pop up your front leg changing your positioning to what Sam likes to fall "military stance". Then next step is to stand up smoothly once you feel board planing on the water. If you have some speed, you will need to keep pressure and weight forward to prevent the foil from engaging just yet. Next, stand up. The foil will want to lift with some more speed and a bit of back foot pressure. Stay low and balanced, looking ahead. The extra buoyancy gives you more time to find your balance, so focus on smooth wing handling and gradual power rather than forcing it. A few strong pumps with the wing can help generate that initial lift if needed. While foiling, it’s important to not forget to bend your knees and stay loose. But it’s also extremely important to stand up straight and not hinge at the waste. Think about keeping your spine in line with your mask if that makes sense. That trick is a helpful reminder for all forms of foiling. Bend your knees when necessary, stay loose, stay stacked. No hunching over.
On a Semi-Sinker Board (Around 60-80L):
Smaller boards require better timing and balance since they sink more easily when stationary. Get into a “stinkbug” position first: knees on the board, chest low, heels close to your butt for stability. Hold the wing overhead and sheathe in to get moving.
Build speed while staying low and compact, use short, powerful pumps with the wing to accelerate without losing control. Once you have decent forward momentum, shift your weight forward to keep the board planing. Pop up quickly but controlled. Front foot plants first, then back foot into position. A few well timed pumps with the board and wing, and you are up on foil.
This takes more practice and strength, but once you’re up, it feels very rewarding and responsive. Start in slightly stronger wind and focus on quick, efficient movements so you don’t sink the board during the transition. It also helps to remind yourself to wait for gusts to attempt this and don’t burn all your energy in the walls. Additionally, don’t forget to pump the board and Foil as well as the Wing once you’re up and planing, but not quite on foil and ripping.
Exiting the Water
Think of it as the reverse of entering. Don’t ride or paddle too close to shore to protect your gear. When you think you can touch bottom, hop off. Keep the wing in front of you (downwind) and hold the flag out handle for control. As you reach the shallows, flip the board over, tail toward shore, nose to open water so you have a free hand on the mast and can control where the board is floating. The last thing you want is the wind flipping the Foil over and bumping you on the head.
You can walk out holding the fuselage if that feels natural. Just always remember to mind the wing as well. Keep it down wind of you so it doesn’t blow into your foil. Leave the board traction pad down on the gravel, sort out the wing first if needed, then come back for the board. For mid length or small boards that fit under your arm, just carry everything back upwind the same way you brought it down.
That’s a summary of the intro basics from my perspective. Squamish offers consistent and incredible conditions for various types of winging once you dial in. Got any questions? DM us on instagram! We are happy to help. Get out there, stay safe, and we’ll see you on the water!