7 biggest Mistakes People do while Starting to Learn wing foiling

So, you’ve decided to give wing foiling a try.

First off—nice choice. It’s thrilling, it’s weirdly addictive, and, well, it’s also a bit humbling. I remember my first few sessions: a lot of splashing, a bit of cursing, and a surprising amount of time spent just staring at the gear, wondering if I’d ever get it right. If you’re just starting out, you’ll probably make mistakes. That’s normal. Actually, it’s kind of the point. But, you know, some mistakes are more common (and more avoidable) than others. Here are the seven biggest ones I see beginners make. Maybe you’ll spot yourself in a few of these—I know I did.

1. Ignoring the Wind (or Misreading It)

This one’s huge. Wing foiling is all about the wind, but it’s easy to underestimate how much it matters. I used to think, “Eh, I’ll just wing it” (pun not intended, but I’ll take it). Turns out, if the wind is too light, you’ll just stand there, flapping your wing like an overenthusiastic bird. Too strong? Well, let’s just say you’ll get a very quick lesson in humility. Checking the forecast and learning to read the water is half the battle—maybe more.

2. Choosing the Wrong Gear

It’s tempting to grab the smallest, sleekest board you can find. Looks cool, right? But starting on a tiny board is like learning to ride a bike by hopping straight onto a racing model. Bigger boards are more stable. They float better. You’ll spend less time swimming after your gear and more time actually learning. Trust me, the cool gear can wait.

3. Skipping the Basics

There’s this urge to jump straight to foiling. I get it. The feeling of flying above the water is what we’re all after. But if you don’t nail the basics—balancing on the board, handling the wing, getting upwind—you’ll just end up frustrated. Sometimes, I think, it’s better to spend a whole session just practicing standing up and steering. Not glamorous, but it pays off.

4. Poor Stance and Posture

This one sneaks up on you. You’re so focused on not falling that you end up stiff as a board, or hunched over like you’re hiding from the wind. Relax your knees, keep your back straight (well, as much as you can), and look ahead. It feels awkward at first, but eventually, your body figures it out. Or mostly does.

5. Forgetting Safety

I’ll admit, I sometimes forget to check my leash or put on my helmet. But it only takes one wipeout to realize why safety matters. The foil is sharp. The wind can change. It’s just not worth skipping the basics—especially when you’re new.

6. Not Asking for Help

There’s this weird pride thing, where you want to figure it all out yourself. But honestly, a lesson or even just a few tips from someone more experienced can save you hours (or days) of trial and error. I wish I’d asked for advice sooner. Some people just seem to know all the tricks.

7. Giving Up Too Soon

This one’s tricky. Wing foiling is hard at first. There’s a lot to juggle, and progress can feel slow. Some days, it feels like you’re getting worse, not better. But, I don’t know, if you stick with it, suddenly things just click. Or, at least, they start to. That’s the fun part.

Anyway, those are the big ones. Maybe you’ll avoid a few, maybe you’ll make them all. Either way, that’s part of the ride. Good luck out there—and don’t forget to laugh at yourself. I still do.

Hope you enjoyed this post!