Wing surf progression: first session wins and what to practice next

Setting up for a wing surf session

After another fantastic set of wing surf sessions, I wanted to share a few common takeaways and practice tips that might help newer riders continue their progress. Whether you're just starting out or are ready to move onto wing foiling, these observations should give you a clearer idea of what to work on after your first lesson.

Comfort with the Wing and Staying Upwind

Most riders showed great progress during the session, especially in getting comfortable handling the wing and staying upwind—a key milestone in early wing surfing (and foiling). Some even managed a few turns, which is a fantastic achievement on day one.

Wing Position and Flow

One area where beginners often struggle is stalling the wing—usually caused by pulling in too much on the back hand, which kills the flow of air and causes the board to slip sideways. The fix is simple: release a bit of pressure on the back hand and extend the front hand to get the wing higher above you. This re-establishes airflow and helps generate forward motion. Once you’re moving at a decent pace, you can apply more back hand pressure without losing flow. (This links to the concept of apparent wind—a topic for another day!)

Session preparation

Board Stance and Upwind Control

Another common challenge is stance. Facing too far forward on the board often results in drifting downwind. Adjusting to a 45-degree stance—with your front foot just to windward of the centerline and your back foot just to leeward—makes it easier to control the wing and point the board upwind. This small change often leads to immediate improvement, as seen in riders who finished the session confidently holding their line upwind.

Next Steps for Progression

Here are some things I recommend practicing after your first session:

• S-Bends: Practice heading slightly upwind and downwind by shifting the wing forward (to bear away) and backward (to head upwind). This helps build control and lets you feel how the wing’s pull affects the board’s direction.

• Wing Flow Awareness: Work on keeping the wing flying smoothly. Let the airflow do the work instead of muscling it—this will become more intuitive with time.

• Stronger Wind Sessions: Once you’re comfortable on a standard beginners setup, get out on a slightly windier day. Try spotting gusts and using them to bear away with power. If you're balanced and countering the wing’s pull effectively, the board should accelerate and if you've already moved onto wing foiling you might even feel that first bit of lift from the foil!

• Gear Familiarity: If you haven’t already, demoing or hiring gear helps build consistency and familiarity, this really speeds up the learning curve and will help you choose the right set of gear when you are ready to buy.

  

  On the water - challenging conditions!

Final Thoughts

Every rider progresses at a different pace, but the key is consistency and small, focused improvements. If you can stay upwind, control your stance, and feel the wing working with you rather than against you, you're well on your way. Developing confident wing handling will be a huge advantage when you move onto wing foiling.

Looking forward to seeing you back on the water soon—keep practicing, and enjoy the ride!