To wing or parawing?

Downwind Foil
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Hi all, currently facing a bit of inner turmoil and hoping the hive can help. I’ve just moved to the tropics in West Aus. Looking to start foiling to get me out on the water having been a lifelong surfer. The goal is to eventually be able to downwind capably, and move on to a DW sup when conditions align.

Conditions are a bit variable up here, winds are W (onshore) SW during the wet season avg 15 knots and swell 0.5-1m usually wind swells. During the dry season E (offshore) SE avg 15 knots and no swell.

I have been learning to foil behind a boat thus far. I like the idea of the midlength wind/parawind boards and code foils.

The question I have is what will be the quickest way to progress on foil and then learn to DW - parawing or wind? Thanks

2

Inflatable hand wing will be the most fun.

Foildrive for those light wind conditions might not be a terrible idea.

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Definitely wing first, it’s a much easier route than going para first. Our locals who have tried to go straight to para really are struggling.

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Yeah nice, any wing suggestions for first wing - I am 80kg

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Check Seabreeze, heaps of used wings there. A 5 mtr is a good starting point so check the shop ads out, plenty in Perth.

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Just buy an easy to use parawing and skip the wing IMO. Get a F-One Quest 4.5m (depending on your weight).

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Unless you’re a kite jedi, wing first I reckon.
Then when youre getting solid time up on foil, take the parawing for a spin when the conditions are decent for the para - clean 15-20 and calm water.
No need to make the learning curve steeper than it already is, or spending more time than necessary livebaiting for crocs :wink:

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8

Parawing requires better wind quality than the wing.I have very iffy,unreliable winds.

If the wing drops below a threshold the parawing will not fly,drops in the water,you have to sort it out etc..

Many days i have tried the Parawing ,total frustration,rigged the Wing and had an OK session.

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I’ve spent plenty time foiling in northern WA. I would absolutely go for the wing first and become a competent foiler before parawing or DW sup at least a year later. For winter (no wind) I’d also get a foil drive, or prone foil if you have a strong short board background

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I would go wing first.

Most of us kooks haven’t even scratched the surface of the wings fun capabilities.

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If you truly want to get to DW foiling. You may as well just go all in on SUP foil.

A: It’s very fun in the surf, which will be your best practice for DW foiling.

B: You’ll get reward right away. Being able to see gains immediately in balance and then riding waves very quickly is quite rewarding. Your first double dip is a milestone.

C: You won’t be reliant on wind. You can use a paddle whether there is wind or not. You can’t do a wind sport without wind. When you first get into wind sports as a surfer you will quickly realize. All those times you cursed the wind for ruining a session. That wasn’t useable wind.

That being said. Just like I said above. Wing is the easiest wind sport.

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