As an old windsurfer (63 with 30 years of practice) I agree with your points. I really begin last summer after 10 session in on year. I have done 20 sessions last summer. I am still learning but I am hooked. I go to foil because of a bad injury of my ankle. Now windsurfing is painfull for me but not foiling. 1) Not Physical: I agree. Even if my watch tell me I am in an intense exercise after 2 hours of practice. I still fall at each jibe and I have to climb on my board and take off every two minutes. I remember my 2 first years of windsurfing. I was young but after each session I was exhausted. I m sure I will be very confortable as soon I will pass the gybe. 2)No need to live near the ocean. It's my case. The first sea spot is at 2 hours of my house. I have stopped to windsurf on the small lakes around my place long time ago because they are small with irregular wind almost the time under 20 knots. After my hollidays I have done very good sessions (almost 10) on a lake were you have only 500 meters to cross. 3) Not so expansive. I agree if you compare to windsurf. With one board a foil with 2 front wings and 2 wings (6 and 4.5) I practice from 15 knots (even less) to 30. For windsurfing in the same conditions I had 2 boards, 3 sails(7,3, 6,3 and 5.4) , 3 fins, 3 masts and 2 wishbones. 4) I travelled by plane to my hollidays with all my stuff in one board bag of 23kg. 5) I don't totally agree on light wind. It's clear that you need wind to learn. between 15 to 22 was perfect with my 6 meters (20 better than 15 for the first sessions). But after few session you take a lot of more pleasure on wind light than in windsurf. I don't like heavy sails so my bigger one was a 7.3. It was fine with 16-17 knots regular. In irregular wind it's not pleasant as you loose planning quickly. Now with my 6 meter wing I had very enjoying session on lakes with irregular wind. If the wind is between 10 to 20 you wait for the gust to take off and you continue to fly at 10. When I am with 6 méters in low conditions windsufer are more often over 7.5 with less planning than me. I have seen good and young winger taking off in nothing. Only kite foil can be better.
Please make a video to convince my wife that winging is not expensive! Life Hack: When you buy a new wing size, make sure it’s the same brand and color as your other wings. I always tell her the gear is much cheaper than owning a boat. Plus winging is way more fun.
Cheaper than therapy and a personal trainer ;) The ole "more you go, cheaper it gets" rationalle might not be as peresuasive for the wifes out there. LOL. At least you don't waste $50 on greens fees, $25 on beers, and come home drunk with a new $1000 driver. -Tucker
I am 66 and my Garmin fenix says that I do very little in intense exercise when winging. All my work is getting back on the board after falling so it is harder initially but your advice on regular breaks as a beginner is good. Holding the wing up in no wind is hard but you need only a few knots to make the wing weightless.
Thanks for sharing Adrian. I know I got gassed when I was learning but rarely feel too worn out these days. Riding overpowered and doing race runs does burn the legs too :). As we like to say... it's as extreme as you make it. -Tucker
Learning on snow this winter with Snowskate. Wind shadow due terrian can be challenging compared to a kite where the wind 20 m in the air is clean. No stoke yet. More of a workout than fun.
As an old windsurfer (63 with 30 years of practice) I agree with your points. I really begin last summer after 10 session in on year. I have done 20 sessions last summer. I am still learning but I am hooked. I go to foil because of a bad injury of my ankle. Now windsurfing is painfull for me but not foiling.
1) Not Physical: I agree. Even if my watch tell me I am in an intense exercise after 2 hours of practice. I still fall at each jibe and I have to climb on my board and take off every two minutes. I remember my 2 first years of windsurfing. I was young but after each session I was exhausted. I m sure I will be very confortable as soon I will pass the gybe.
2)No need to live near the ocean. It's my case. The first sea spot is at 2 hours of my house. I have stopped to windsurf on the small lakes around my place long time ago because they are small with irregular wind almost the time under 20 knots. After my hollidays I have done very good sessions (almost 10) on a lake were you have only 500 meters to cross.
3) Not so expansive. I agree if you compare to windsurf. With one board a foil with 2 front wings and 2 wings (6 and 4.5) I practice from 15 knots (even less) to 30. For windsurfing in the same conditions I had 2 boards, 3 sails(7,3, 6,3 and 5.4) , 3 fins, 3 masts and 2 wishbones.
4) I travelled by plane to my hollidays with all my stuff in one board bag of 23kg.
5) I don't totally agree on light wind. It's clear that you need wind to learn. between 15 to 22 was perfect with my 6 meters (20 better than 15 for the first sessions). But after few session you take a lot of more pleasure on wind light than in windsurf. I don't like heavy sails so my bigger one was a 7.3. It was fine with 16-17 knots regular. In irregular wind it's not pleasant as you loose planning quickly. Now with my 6 meter wing I had very enjoying session on lakes with irregular wind. If the wind is between 10 to 20 you wait for the gust to take off and you continue to fly at 10. When I am with 6 méters in low conditions windsufer are more often over 7.5 with less planning than me. I have seen good and young winger taking off in nothing. Only kite foil can be better.
Thanks for sharing your experience! -Tucker
Please make a video to convince my wife that winging is not expensive! Life Hack: When you buy a new wing size, make sure it’s the same brand and color as your other wings. I always tell her the gear is much cheaper than owning a boat. Plus winging is way more fun.
Advice taken! The wife issues should be addressed :-)
Cheaper than therapy and a personal trainer ;) The ole "more you go, cheaper it gets" rationalle might not be as peresuasive for the wifes out there. LOL. At least you don't waste $50 on greens fees, $25 on beers, and come home drunk with a new $1000 driver. -Tucker
I am 66 and my Garmin fenix says that I do very little in intense exercise when winging. All my work is getting back on the board after falling so it is harder initially but your advice on regular breaks as a beginner is good. Holding the wing up in no wind is hard but you need only a few knots to make the wing weightless.
Thanks for sharing Adrian. I know I got gassed when I was learning but rarely feel too worn out these days. Riding overpowered and doing race runs does burn the legs too :). As we like to say... it's as extreme as you make it. -Tucker
Learning on snow this winter with Snowskate. Wind shadow due terrian can be challenging compared to a kite where the wind 20 m in the air is clean. No stoke yet. More of a workout than fun.
Much easier on skis.
Thank you for sharing your experience, my friend. 🤙🏽 Good winds to you. -Aaron
Lol you included golfing in the list of action sports
#GolfisWhatYouMakeIt. LOL -Tucker