Introduction
One of the biggest questions every progressing wingfoiler faces is:
“Is my gear holding me back ?”
Most of us learn on large, stable equipment designed to make those first flights as easy as possible. Big boards and large beginner foils are fantastic learning tools. However, sooner or later you start looking around the beach and notice that the more experienced riders seem to be using much smaller gear. You may find yourself wondering:
“Is it their gear that makes them better than me?”
The temptation is to assume that a smaller board or foil will instantly unlock better gybes, smoother transitions, and higher speeds. Occasionally that’s true. Much more often, progression comes from improving technique, investing time on the water, rather than exercising your credit card.
Over the last few years, I’ve gradually downsized every part of my setup. Along the way I’ve learned a few lessons. In this article, I’ll explain what I learned, when I think it makes sense to downsize, and why I believe most riders should change their foil long before they change their board.
In a Nutshell (tl;dr)
Key considerations.
- Expand your Wing quiver first. When you first decide to spend more of your wingfoiling budget, consider your wing quiver first. Having a quiver of wings that covers all of the conditions you ride in comfortably should be priority one. I have a three-wing quiver: 7m, 5.5m and 4m. This gives me coverage for most conditions I get at my home spot.
- Ride the gear you’ve got. It is tempting to think that a new board or foil are what you need to learn that new skill. Unfortunately, time on the water is the real key here, not your spending power.
- Change foils first. As you become more competent, you should look at changing to more advanced foils first. When flying, you are riding the foil, a new foil can make your old board feel very new and fresh.
- Changing stabiliser has a noticeable impact. As you change down front foils, you should consider a smaller stabiliser too. Most front foils will have a stabiliser that best matches their characteristics.
- Don’t change to a smaller board too early. A smaller board that doesn’t float your weight easily is no fun if you still fall in and restart a lot.
- A smaller board will improve your transitions. If you can already gybe successfully, a smaller board will help you get even better. It will not help you master gybe basics.
- Change one thing at a time. Change the foil or the board, do not change both things at once.
- Expect to take a backward step. When you move to new gear, expect to have a period of adjustment. You will need to refine your skills and adapt to the new gear.
- It’s not new skills; it’s making existing skills better. When you downsize, you keep using the skills you already have, you just need to be more precise and dynamic.
- Everything happens quicker on a smaller, lighter board. When you move to a smaller, lighter board it is much more responsive to your actions. You need to be more positive in everything you do. This is especially true during takeoff.
- Try before you buy if you can. If you have friends at your local spot who may be happy for you to try their smaller gear, this can really help you determine if you are ready to downsize. I have been very lucky in this respect as we have a very friendly community, but generally Wingers are very happy to help each other out. Alternatively, some stores offer demonstration gear, or maybe try to rent something when on holiday.
My Downsizing Path
The table below summarises what I changed, why and how easy the change was (5 stars easy to master, 1 star very hard). For context I weigh just under 80kg, much lighter or heavier riders will have different specific gear as they progress.
| Equipment | Key Differences | Adjustment Required |
|---|---|---|
| Slingshot Infinity 99 and Wingcraft 120 Ltr | Original beginner board and foil setup. | |
| Slingshot Phantasm PFI 928 | Lighter carbon setup with more rigid connections. Provides smoother flight with less chatter at speed. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Slingshot Phantasm G1000 | Smaller mid-aspect foil offering significantly more glide. Carries speed through transitions and helps gybes, but requires more speed to take off. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Slingshot Phantasm G1007 | Mid-aspect foil for lighter winds. Similar feel to the G1000 but with more low-end lift. Can over-foil in stronger winds or bigger swell. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Slingshot Phantasm PS360 V Stabiliser | Smaller stabiliser that makes the G1000 setup more responsive and playful. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Swift NG Custom 90L Board | Smaller and lighter board. Less stable when starting but noticeably more agile, responsive and efficient once flying. | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Slingshot Phantasm PTM 899 | Smaller high-aspect foil that pairs well with the Swift board. Fast-turning, agile and surprisingly easy to foil once powered. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Foils First
As highlighted above, I changed foils first. Once you’re flying, the foil is doing most of the work. It determines:
- How early you take off
- How much glide you have through transitions
- How stable the setup feels at speed
- How responsive the board feels beneath your feet when carving a turn
A new foil will make your experience very different without having the tougher job of mastering a new board.
Most beginners start on a large, low-aspect foil because it delivers plenty of lift at low speeds and remains forgiving while developing basic foil control. You should continue to ride this type of foil until you can:
- Maintain sustained flight confidently
- Ride comfortably on all points of sail
- Control altitude consistently
- Steer turns with the foil and control glide
| Foil Type | Characteristics | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low-Aspect Foils | Short span, deep chord; very stable; early lift at low speed; forgiving in turns. | Beginners wanting predictable progression and easy takeoff. |
| Mid-Aspect Foils | Balanced stability, glide, and agility; versatile all‑round performance. | Progressing riders moving beyond beginner stages. |
| High-Aspect Foils | Wide span, narrow chord; maximum glide and speed; requires precise control; higher stall speed. | Intermediate and advanced riders seeking speed, glide, and efficiency. |
You can keep using your beginner foil to learn the gybe, but a more advanced foil may help you master this skill.
Why consider a new foil?
Once your basic skills have developed, you may find a new smaller Mid or High Aspect foil beneficial if:
- You are going out in windier conditions and find the older foil becomes unstable at higher speeds.
- You find the current foil feels like it has too much lift (over-foiling) in windier or wavier conditions and you are using too much front foot pressure.
- You are initiating gybes but finding that the foil slows down too fast during the turn. If you are confident enough to enter the gybe at speed, then a smaller, higher-aspect foil will carry that speed for longer through the turn.
My Foil Journey
Slingshot Hoverglide Infinity 99.
My first foil setup was a Slingshot Hoverglide Infinity 99. With a massive 2400 cm² surface area, it was designed to get riders flying as easily as possible. It did exactly that.
The Infinity 99 carried me from my first flights all the way through to the point where I was foiling on all points of sail under control.
The front foil had a very thick profile and as I started going faster in windier conditions I noticed the foil felt as if it vibrated at speed. It was a slight chattering sensation. The setup was also based on Aluminium and Slingshot had released a new all carbon alternative; the Phantasm range.
The Slingshot Phantasm PFI 928
The upgrade to the Phantasm foils was not driven by a desire for dramatically different ride characteristics. It was about moving to the newer Phantasm carbon platform, which was reported to be lighter, more streamlined and more rigid. I reasoned that the weight reduction would help me take off more easily and the more rigid, streamlined system would be more stable at speed.
I chose the PFI 928 front foil, which remained a relatively large, low-aspect foil of very similar surface area to the Infinity 99.
The transition was very easy. The foil behaved in a very familiar fashion. The ride benefited from a smoother, slightly faster and more refined feel. Most noticeably, as I had hoped, it eliminated some of the chatter that I occasionally experienced on the older aluminium setup.
But it didn’t fundamentally change my riding or improve my skills. Not every upgrade produces dramatic improvements, but, sometimes newer equipment simply rides a bit more nicely.
I continued to progress my riding on this setup and started the process of learning the gybe. I got to the point where I was completing gybes on foil around 30% of the time in my stronger stance.
The Slingshot Phantasm G1000 – a step change
Thanks to a fellow Grafham Winger, I then made a big jump in foil size. He told me he thought I should try a smaller Mid Aspect foil to benefit from the availability of longer glide and more time to complete the gybe manoeuvre. Since he also rode Slingshot Phantasm foils, he offered to let me try his front foil on my setup.
I did, I loved it, and I immediately ordered a Phantasm G1000 Mid Aspect foil that is 1300 cm surface area.
I found I adapted quickly to riding this foil in windy conditions. In more marginal conditions, it took a little more getting used to. I went back to having a few roller-coaster starts because the stall speed was lower. This meant relearning the beginner lesson of building board speed before trying to take off. After a few sessions, I was very comfortable using the new foil on all but the lightest wind days.
After four or five sessions on the new foil, I found that the extra glide and reduction in deceleration through the transition helped me land a much greater proportion of my gybes. In particular, I found that the more agile foil really helped me master the toe to heel gybe which I had been struggling with.
On reflection, I think this is a case where the foil did help me progress, but I had already mastered the basics of the manoeuvre. The foil just opened up the ability to go into the turn at a higher speed, and it lost less speed through the transition, allowing me to ride out.
The Slingshot Phantasm G1007 – the low wind weapon
Once I had become used to the G1000 foil I found using the PFI928 on light wind days frustrating. It felt very slow and cumbersome by comparison.
After some research, I added a Phantasm G1007 Mid Aspect foil to my quiver. At 1700 cm² it offered earlier lift in light winds, while retaining much of the responsive handling that I had grown to love in the G1000. I became very comfortable using these two foils depending on the wind conditions, and felt like they had very similar ride characteristics.
Eventually I sold the PFI 928 to another Grafham winger who wanted a beginner foil for his wife to learn on.
Changing the stabiliser – The Slingshot Phantasm PS360 V Tail
The next change I made was to buy a smaller stabiliser. I found the change more subtle than a change of front foil, but noticeable nonetheless. Pairing this stabiliser with the G1000 front foil felt a little more agile and manoeuvrable. On windier days when the lake bumps got bigger, I especially found that the smaller tail felt more locked in and controllable.
Going smaller – The Slingshot Phantasm PTM 899
I rode the G1000 foil for a long time, enhancing my skills, gybes, foot switches, etc to the point I was ready to change board. Only once I had changed to a lighter board did I add an even smaller foil to the setup. I purchased the Slingshot Phantasm PTM 899 , this foil has a surface area of 925 cm. The first time I used it was quite windy ~ 20 knots plus. I was really surprised by how easy I found it to get foiling. It is faster than my bigger foil and you need to be a bit more positive driving through transitions, but overall I found it much easier to use than I had imagined given the significant reduction in surface area.
The small foil certainly allows for greater speed. It is obviously less forgiving, so you need to ride it better to get the most out of it. I now ride this setup when there is plenty of wind and use the G1000 if the wind is a bit more marginal or up and down. I am certainly not embarrassed to take my bigger foil. I’m out to have fun, not obsess over whether I am riding smaller kit than someone else.
Changing My Board
My first board was a Slingshot Wingcraft V1 120 Litres. This board readily floated my weight and saw me through my learning stage, mastering flight and learning to gybe.
I rode this board for three seasons without seriously considering changing it.
So why did I change down:
- Friends at my lake suggested I would enjoy a smaller board.
- I felt that a lighter board would help me improve my riding further
- I thought a smaller board would be better for taking on holiday.
I found adjusting to the new board significantly more difficult than adjusting to new foils. It took several sessions to feel comfortable. My experience was:
Day 1
My first session on the new board was in marginal 11 to 16 knot winds. It was not perfect, but I was keen to try out the new Swift Board.
I set up my Slingshot Phantasm G1000 foil.
As I am around 80 kg, the board just about floats me. I found I needed to be much more careful about centring my weight to avoid sinking either the nose or tail too much. I could use the normal kneeling start to get going, but it was much like being a beginner again. I needed to be more precise in positioning my weight to avoid sinking the front or back. When going to standing, I found I needed more speed and again needed to be careful with foot placement.
Throughout my first session, I gradually improved at getting up and riding in taxi, but my first attempts to take off were thwarted by a feeling that I couldn’t keep the front foil down and I was rearing up. I went back to shore and moved the foil back. While I was adjusting the foil position, I started talking to a friend from the lake who has recently downsized to a 90 litre board too.
He told me it had taken him five or six sessions to get comfortable with his new board. He also recognised the problem of rearing up that I described and said he had tried moving the foil a lot, but in the end it was tweaking his technique that was needed. He took a look at my new positioning and advised against moving it back further as it was somewhat behind middle already. His advice was simply that it would take some perseverance to get used to the new lighter and more responsive board.
Good advice as it turned out.
On my next attempt as soon as the board started taking off on foil, I turned downwind slightly, really fully pushed my weight forward and suddenly I was foiling under full control. Glancing down at my front foot, I could see I was towards the front of where the footstraps would go.
I’m well used to the feeling of the foil, but on the lighter board everything felt much more responsive. Carving the board upwind and turning back downwind felt much more responsive. Gybing in both directions felt much easier and I felt like I was able to keep more speed through the gybe than on my bigger, heavier board.
I was out for about thirty minutes but having to do much more work to get going again after any falls took its toll and I became tired.
Day 1 was therefore a qualified success. I knew I still had work to do and in some ways had taken a step backwards. However, I could see the prize would be a far more responsive board that was easier through transitions. I knew it would be worth it.
Day 2
11 to 21 knots of wind. 7 m wing. I used the big wing because I wanted as much help as possible in the take off. My aim was to get more used to taking off on the new board.
I used the bigger G1007 foil for similar reasons. I also felt the bigger foil would help stabilise the small board as soon as I was moving. I felt this could help me get used to it.
This was a much better session. I felt I had a more instinctive feel for the centre of gravity on the board.
I was much better at controlling takeoff. I found that I needed to be more responsive and active in levelling the board out. I think the bigger, heavier board was probably slowing its own takeoff with less effort from me.
My reward for improving takeoff was to find that it was much easier to gybe on both sides. In particular, I found I was completing more goofy stance gybes where I had the tendency to touch down on the heavier board.
I finished the day looking forward to next session and getting more turns in.
Day 3
13 to 24 knots NE with chop.
I went back to the 5.5 m wing and the G1000 foil.
At first this felt like a backward step. The lake chop made getting on the board and getting started awkward. The chop also seemed to make taking off harder, and I returned to fighting steep takeoff stalls.
Once on foil, I found I was becoming increasingly comfortable and definitely found I was completing more gybes.
After a while, I switched back to the G1007 foil as I felt it was helping to stabilise the board more when taxiing.
I concentrated on building speed before taking off and had a better session. My conclusion was that the new board didn’t need any new techniques; it just needed better technique. My old, bigger board had been masking some lazy habits.
Day 4
9 to 17 knots NE. Much less chop.
I used the 7m wing and G1007 foil.
Given the wind was quite marginal, this was a very good session. I felt that the new board took off more easily than my older bigger board would have done.
I finished the day feeling that I was now close to mastering the new board.
Day 5
12 to 24 knots W. Little chop on the lake.
I paired the 5.5 m wing with the G1007 foil.
This was my best session yet on this board. Take off started to feel smooth and I lost the feeling of fighting it. I completed multiple gybes in both stances.
I realised the board has a tendency to turn into wind if I stayed on my knees too long. It is much more sensitive to where I was kneeling and where the wing was. I became conscious of bearing it away and coming to my feet in a smoother movement. Again this was not a new technique, just getting a bit better at the existing one.
Day 6
11 to 20 knots SW. Little chop.
I paired the 7m Wing with the G1007 foil.
I had a good session and was beginning to think I had really “cracked it” when Grafham decided to teach me a little lesson.
I was quite a long way out from shore when the wind completely died. In the few knots of wind that remained, I did what I would have done on my old board and tried to stand and flog in. This didn’t work at all:
- Standing on the new board with very little speed is virtually impossible and very tiring. It is too wobbly.
- Even kneeling in almost no wind was very hard and I made almost no progress but fell in a lot, thus tiring myself.
As the forecast was for the wind to keep up, I decided to sit on the board and wait the lull out. After about ten minutes, the wind came back and I was able to foil back in.
The lesson I took from this was that the new board was not going to be a sensible option on really marginal days. I have my Gong Hipe Cruzader for them.
Day 7
13 to 26 knot S, water very flat.
I paired the 5.5m with the G1000 foil.
This was a great session even though Southerly is not the best direction at Grafham. I had refined all my pre-takeoff skills to the point where I felt as comfortable as I had on the old board. I was certain that the new lighter board took off more easily and once riding on foil it was easier to stay on foil. Less weight and windage gave me more glide and more glide time meant more success through gybes.
At the end of the session, I had decided that I would no longer need my trusty old Wingcraft anymore. I sold it to a beginner and I hope it is still having fun somewhere.
Conclusion
I am very pleased with the set up I have now. I have had my board for a year and I love it. My best days now are on the PTM 899 foil, I still enjoy the G1000 foil that I have ridden for several years though. On reflection I might have downsized my board sooner, but I still think that most of my progression comes from hours on the water, not new gear.
So stop wondering if you need smaller gear and get out there and ride. Check the forecast, pack the car and let’s Go-Wingfoil.