2. Wingfoil Alvor 🌊 First Contact: Mastering the Wing on a Stable Board
Wingfoil Alvor – This stage is often called “wing-surfing” or “kneeling-to-standing.” We intentionally keep the hydrofoil off the board for now. Why? Because learning to manage the wing and find your balance simultaneously is too much information for your brain. By using a super-stable board (like a large SUP or your high-volume wing board without the foil mast), you can isolate the skill of wing handling.
2.1. The Water Entry and Prep
- Depth Check: Wade out until the water is deep enough for your board to float freely, but shallow enough that you can still comfortably stand to mount the board.
- The Kneeling Stance: Get onto the board and position yourself in the center, near the middle handle. Start on your knees. Keep the wing’s leading edge up high, in the neutral (de-powered) position we practiced on land.
- Getting the Wing Ready: With your weight balanced on the board, use the wing’s main handle to flip the wing out of the water and into the air. Keep it lightly held with your front hand.
2.2. The Kneeling-to-Standing Sequence
This is the moment of truth. Go through these steps deliberately and slowly:
- Generate Gentle Power: Slightly pull the wing in with your back hand (sheeting in) to generate just enough momentum to stabilize the board. Aim the wing slightly away from the nose of the board.
- Front Foot Up: While keeping the wing slightly engaged for stability, shift your weight onto your back knee. Lift your front foot and place it on the board where it will be for your final stance—near the front foot strap position, or slightly forward of the center line.
- The Smooth Press: Place your front hand back on the wing’s neutral handle. Now, press down with your front foot and push your body up off your back knee. Keep your weight centered and low.
- The Final Stance: Bring your back foot up to the final stance position. You should be standing comfortably with your feet roughly shoulder-width apart, perpendicular to the length of the board.
Pro Tip: Stance is Everything Your feet should be centered over the board’s width. Too far to one side, and you’ll capsize. Your knees should be slightly bent, acting as shock absorbers. Don’t look at your feet—look forward!
2.3. Wingfoil Alvor – Controlling Direction and Power
Now that you are standing, you have to learn how to steer and manage the wind’s power.
- To Steer Upwind (into the wind): Pull the wing forward and up, reducing its angle to the wind. Lean your weight slightly backward and onto the board’s tail (this is called edging the board).
- To Steer Downwind (away from the wind): Push the wing back towards the tail of the board and slightly flatten the board. Lean your weight forward.
- De-Powering (Stopping): The easiest way to stop is to lift the wing directly above your head (the neutral zone). The wing acts like a flag and generates almost no forward pull.
- Maximum Power: To accelerate, move your back hand further back on the wing handle or onto the boom. This increases the wing’s angle to the wind (more area catching the wind), giving you more drive.
2.4. Wingfoil Alvor – Upwind Challenge (Getting Back)
The single biggest frustration for beginners is being blown downwind. The moment you can consistently sail back to your starting point, you have completed this chapter.
- The Angle: To go upwind, you must aim the nose of your board at a 45-degree angle into the wind. If you aim any higher, you will “stall” and stop. If you aim lower, the wind will push you downwind.
- The Crux: This requires aggressively edging the board with your body weight and making sure your back hand is pulling the wing in to create power, while the wing is angled correctly into the wind.
- Drill: Pick a target on the shore (e.g., a specific tree or building) and sail to it. If you can consistently hit that target, you are ready for the final step.
Price for wingfoil lessons and rentals
| Semi-Private Lesson (2 students x one instructor) | FROM 35€/hour |
| Private Lesson (1 student x one instructor) | FROM 60€/hour |
| Rent full wingfoil set | FROM 80€/day |