Foil Wing: The 3 best Wings for Paddle Boarding

A SUP Wing is an inflatable paraglider with which you can turn your board into a Wing SUP. These small and lightweight wings are also called Wing Surfers and are very flexible to use. They can be used on almost any paddle board if there is enough wind, and depending on their size, they will give you a pretty decent boost.

Unlike a windsurf sail, the wing is held freely in the hand and can therefore be positioned quite variably.
The modern paddle board wings consist of a bridge, usually with holding loops or a handle bar, and the wings. There are wing surfers in different sizes and countless designs. The vast majority of them have viewing windows in the wings so you can see any obstacles on the track when you hold the “gliding wings” in front of you.

Windy conditions are rather difficult to master with “normal” paddle boarding. With a SUP Wing, on the other hand, it turns into great fun. With a little practice, you’ll quickly pick up the skills you need and reach blazing speeds.

Wing surfers are available in a variety of sizes. The selection starts at just under 2 m² and goes up to models with an area of over 7 m². Depending on your preferred wind strength, you should choose a suitable one.

In light winds, the large wings are clearly at an advantage, as they have a larger surface area to attack. The stronger the wind blows, the smaller the dimensions of the Wing Surfer may be. Of course, the weight of the wing increases with the size, although basically all models are in a range that allows effortless handling.

The SUP Wings are inflatable and therefore very easy to transport in the usually enclosed bag. Due to the small packing dimensions you will surely find enough storage space for a Wing Surfer in your SUP luggage.

Only at the water the wing surfer is inflated with the help of an air pump and is ready for take off in a few minutes. Due to the low weight and space requirements, you can therefore always have your Wing with you and use it within a short time if there is enough wind.

Of course, practice makes perfect on an inflatable wing paddle board. In the beginning, it will be easiest for you if you hold the wing in such a way that the tail wind pushes you forward (“downwind”). More complex maneuvers such as changing direction, riding against the wind for a short time, etc. you will of course only succeed with increasing experience.

It is of course an advantage if you already have the necessary skills in handling a paraglider through practicing other sports (kitesurfing, etc.). At the beginning, however, the wind should not be too strong, so that you can familiarize yourself with the handling without too much pressure on the gliding surfaces. It is best to start in a sitting or kneeling position and try out how the wing behaves in different positions.

When standing, you can then hold the wing either at a suitable angle above your head or like a classic windsurfing sail. However, it still feels very unfamiliar at first and you have to be patient until you get the hang of it.

This depends on many factors and can therefore unfortunately not be answered in a general way. First of all, the size of the wing surfer and the wind strength are decisive for the speed. After all, the wind is your propulsion and the larger the attack surface, the more thrust you get.

The shape and fin setup of your paddle board is also critical to speed. Narrower touring boards with a large single fin, for example, result in much snappier running characteristics than wide allrounder boards with 3 fins.

If you want to use your inflatable paddle boards with a wing, then you have to accept a few compromises. Originally, Wings come from the so-called “foiling area”, where the boards practically “fly” over the water with the help of a special, very long and sword-shaped fin.

However, with a suitable wing surfer, you can turn just about any conventional board into a wing SUP, with boards with a large single fin being the most suitable. The advantage compared to the already known paddle boards with windsurfing sails (“rigs”) is the flexibility of the wings. Basically, of course, narrower and thus streamlined paddle boards are also much faster with a wing as a drive than wide models with a more rounded silhouette (shape).

In addition, the fins should also be large enough so that you can steer your board well in strong winds. Touring boards with large single fins provide the best compromise between stability, maneuverability and glide. Some paddle boards also have a mast base insert for a windsurfing sail.

These models are usually also perfect for the use of a wing. Last but not least, most of these boards also have special fin setups, for example with additional single fin in the middle of the tread.

Actually not, because your propulsion is the wind. However, since as a beginner you have no other option than to go “to leeward” (with the wind) at first, you should of course also think about the possible way back. Of course, this also applies if there is a sudden calm and there is no wind!

For this case it is therefore always recommended to have a paddle up your sleeve. Some wings and also many paddle boards have an integrated paddle holder. Otherwise, you can also transport your paddle in the luggage net of your board.

This depends primarily on the area of the wing. The larger it is, the more efficiently the wind power can be transferred. However, there should be at least 2 – 3 wind forces for the use to be worthwhile. The weaker the wind, the more effort it takes to keep the wing in a good position. Apart from the feed, the wind also reduces the weight of the wing to be held. On very changeable days with wind and calm you should therefore leave the Wing in the bag!

Sure, in principle every board sport is suitable for it. For example, it is also possible to use the Wing on a snowboard or skateboard.