Should I buy wing foil kit  after my first lesson ?

The simple answer I don’t think so – best wait a bit.

Why ? The board you want to learn on is not one you will want to keep for very long. You will progress very quickly and out grow a starter board. BUT it is essential you start on a big board beginners board. It is a massive mistake to try and skip this stage and rush to a smaller board.

In the first year of winging there will be a lot of progress and changing of boards. Once you have cracked the basics you will want to drop to a smaller board. Which again you are likely to progress quickly on and again fairly quickly you will want a smaller board.

If you skip steps and just go for a smaller board you are very likely to find it hard, get frustrated and give up. Which is bad. You want to be having fun and progressing. Being oil too big a board is way better than being on too smaller a board.

The best option is to get lessons then hire a board till you really know what you want. The worst thing you can do is is buy too small a board and stall your learning progress.

It is a different case with hand wings. Buy a hand wing straight out will be fine. But make sure you get advice on the best size for you as that will vary depending on your weight and winds you are going out in. As a guide for most people the good started wing would be 6.5m -5m. There is a thriving used market which is worth looking at.

Purchasing a foil can be complicated as there are a lot of variables. Again it is important to get advice. The main thing is to purchase a foil set up from an established brand that gives you options to grow with you. Again there is a thriving used market.

I think the best thing to do is wait – hire and get tuition BUT if you want to buy kit straight away then make sure you get some good advice and go for a big board. It is all about having fun. Making it easier is more fun and you progress quicker.

At the Lagoon we offer a full range of training and hire packages to help you progress. Once you have had a few sessions the best way to progress with us is instructor led clinics.

The Lagoon offers a great value way to practice. By joining the club you don’t need to buy kit, we provide everything, including instructor led clinics to help you progress. Membership or Flexipass allows you to hire wing kit, even take wing kit away to different locations so you can practice in flat water and explore different venue. Plus the membership includes, for no extra cost our intermediate and advanced wing foil clinic.