Days 1 and 2 of learning to SUP foil using were spent in small waves close to shore. For day 3, I wanted to do a downwinder. Check out the video below to see how it went!
We were away and didn't have access to a car to drive to the start, so decided to pump up a wing, tie the paddle to the handles, put an empty backpack on and wing a few kilometres upwind.
When we got far enough, we sat on our boards to deflate the wings and stuff them in the backpacks. Luckily in this location, there was a port with a harbour wall where we could shelter from the wind and do this in calm water but it's definitely easy enough to do next time in the open ocean. Just remember you're likely to drift downwind a bit while you're doing this, so may want to wing slightly further upwind than you first thought.
Once the wing is packed away and your backpack is on securely, you can start paddling downwind back to where you started!
For this session, I knew I wouldn't get much time on the foil while paddling as I was still very much learning, so I chose a slightly bigger foil and went with the 1400 Glider, paired with the Ace Downwind Foil Board which I've found perfect for both winging and SUP downwinding!
I went for the 7'4 Ace and it felt great - I was surprised how much I appreciated the stability when paddling in the choppy and windy water, allowing me to put more power into the paddle stroke without losing balance. However, the 7'10 would suit a larger rider, giving you early take off and allowing you to use a smaller foil and wing but with added stability on a rough water surface.
Watch the video to see how it went!
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