I thought it worthwhile revisiting the original post now that I have a little bit of experience.
Anyone tried wing foiling? Now all the major kite brands are coming up with their offerings. Duotone, slingshot, cabrinha are just some examples.
Yes, I have. I have used the Naish, Duotone and Gong products. 3,4,5,7m wings. They are all good.
Anyones tried it yet? Whats the minimum water that you need to start playing with this? Duotone offers several sizes and the biggest, 6m they say is from 10knots.
If you are a water god, excessively fit etc etc 10 knots is possible, but not for me. I think 12/13 knots is my minimum on a 7m wing. I kite foil below that. But my bottom end has improved with both my board and wing pumping abilities.
How difficult is it to learn? I have some experience foiling, but really just learning. I thought this could be fun in places where kiting is not allowed or bad access..?
If you are using the Naish/Gong products, handing is really easy and it is easy to get started on a SUP (especially if you have never foiled before). The duotone wing is bit more frisky when you are not moving, but a little practice gives you the necessary skill to manage it. Gunnar has some great video's using the Ozone Wasp providing the clues.
I could already foil, so I had no challenges at all on a SUP board. I have now shrunk from an 8 foot 150L SUP down to a 6.5 125L SUP (this improved the winging experience enormously).
And I now wing in heaps of places I would/could never launch a kite at, so there are a heap of new locations. And it appears at the moment that the wing offends neither windsurfers or kiters
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Is it suitable to give to someone whos never tried a kite? Can u ride a regular SUP with this and have some fun?
I am currently teaching my wife to wing (previously taught her to do basic kiting) and she likes the fact that she can do it without any assistance. Teaching her on a SUP...... it's not exciting like a SUP foil, but it is getting her going. Once her basic wing skills are down, I will introduce a foil on a short mast.