Learn to Wingsurf

Whiteadder is the ideal location to start your wingsurfing journey. It's much easier to learn the sport on a flat water reservoir like Whiteadder than in the open sea.

You can expect expert guidance from our RYA-qualified Wingsurf and WingFoil instructor, Stewart Williams.

Don't know what wingsurfing is?

Take a look at this video -->https://youtu.be/s9wbRyAiX1Y

If you like windsurfing you may love wingsufing. The wing (sail) is much like a set of birds wings. You hold the wing above your head and stand up on the board powering the wing up just like you sheet in a windsurf sail. The bonus being when you drop the sail you do not have to haul it up out of the water like you do on a windsurfer, the wings float on top of the water. Better for your back and the fun factor.

Once you master wingsurfing on a board like a windsurf board you move onto a wingfoil, which is a board with a mast and hydrofoil underneath which raises out of the water when you get going really fast. Because wingsurfing and wingfoiling kit is quite expensive, another advantage of lessons at Whiteadder is you can try our beginner kit before purchasing your own.

Please book a session at a time that suits you but recognise that the weather may not be suitable for that day. We have a large choice of dates to offer you the chance to try wingsurfing. If the weather is not suitable on the day you choose - your booking can easily be moved to another date or a refund given. We have a range of wings and so we can get you out in a large range of wind strengths, so cancelling is very unlikely. Once you crack wingsurfing you can return and try wingfoiling.

Wingsurf and Wingfoil - the differences explained..............

‘Winging’ is a generic term that covers the sport of using a handheld wing (with no mast) to use wind power to propel you on a board on the water. Wingsurfing and Wingfoiling are different disciplines to windsurfing and kitesurfing.

To become a winger, it’s not essential that you have experience in any other watersport. However, wingsurf is a natural extension to SUP (stand up paddleboarding) and will appeal to paddleboarders as an alternative use of their board when the wind is too strong for safe paddling (as long as they can attach some sort of centreboard). And if someone wants to wingfoil then it’s likely that they will have already had some experience with wingsurf and want to take it up a notch or two.

Wing foiling uses exactly the same handheld wing as wingsurfing, but the board is much smaller (in length and volume) and has a hydrofoil (the ‘foil’) attached underneath. This is where terminology gets confusing as the ‘foil’ consists of a mast, fuselage, front wing (nothing to do with the wing you hold to catch wind) and rear stabiliser. Looking from above, the fuselage, front wing and rear stabiliser look like an aeroplane. At speed, the board lifts off the water and then travels ‘on the foil’ much more quickly than on the water.

We have a minimum requirement that you must be able to climb aboard a paddleboard-ized board unassisted from the water while wearing a buoyancy aid. Being comfortable in cold water with a wetsuit is also advisable.

Please bring with you:

1. Wetsuit (if you have your own one, otherwise we will provide you one)
2. Swimwear (for under your wetsuit which we provide)
3. Spare change of clothes - warm ones
4. Closed toe footwear (that you don’t mind getting wet, just in case our boots don’t fit you)
5. Cap & sunscreen (for warmer days)
6. Woolly hat - well fitting if possible (for cooler days)
7. A towel
8. Food and water bottle for after your session (if you choose) Coffee and tea, microwave and kettle available but no cafe.
9. A separate bag (for wet and dirty things)
10. Any personal medication (e.g. inhaler)

Please also note the below:

1. We would advise all jewellery is removed
2. Long hair should be tied back
3. Any cuts of grazes should be covered with waterproof dressings

We will follow the RYA Wingsurf syllabus.