DON’T MISS OUT: THIS SUMMER, I’M STARTING TO LOWKITE!

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Lowkite

21 august 2026 0

Experience total freefly and effortless launches from virtually any spot!

A compact, ready-to-fly wing. Take off, pack the lowkite away in seconds and surf freely. Then redeploy it just as easily to ride back upwind.

Of course, it makes you want to give it a go.

But between “I have to try this” and your first session, there are often a few questions: is it difficult? What gear do I need? What conditions should I choose? How do I manage the lowkite and the foil?

Good news: getting started is much easier than it looks. And if you’re already familiar with foiling, your first flights often come straight away.

Here’s everything you need to know to get started 👇

Why lowkite?

Because it brings something genuinely new to foiling.

Its first major advantage is an incredibly minimalist setup. No inflatable struts, no pump and a tiny packed volume. One or two lowkites fit easily into a boardbag, on a boat or in the trunk of a car.

Then there’s the freefly. You use your lowkite to ride and get back upwind, then pack it away to completely free up your ride on a wave or bump.

No more choosing between sailing and pure glide: both are part of the same session.

And contrary to what its strong freefly image might suggest, the lowkite isn’t just made for riding downwind with the swell. You can also go for freeride sessions and throw tricks.

Foiler: Bastien, GONG team rider, on a Cruzader Diamond FSP Pro, Plus V3 lowkite, HM77 mast, Veloce DW V3 Atmo front wing and Veloce V3 Atmo monobloc stab.

OK, BUT HOW DO I GET STARTED?

As with all boardsports, if you start out in the right conditions, your learning curve will be smooth and rewarding. You need:

the right equipment;
an easy spot and easy conditions;
good advice on how to handle your equipment.

If your first sessions are frustrating, it simply means the conditions were too challenging, your equipment wasn’t suitable or you were missing a key technical tip. Here are the basics for stress-free progression:

CHOOSE GEAR THAT HELPS YOU

A board with enough stability and volume makes starting easier and gives you time to manage your lowkite.

If you’re new to foiling, choose a Lance for its stability or a Zuma for its glide.
If you already wing foil on a board with volume matched to your weight, it can work for learning, but your low-end range will be significantly reduced. To learn without making things unnecessarily difficult, we recommend a mid-length from the Cruzader family with around 20 litres more volume than your body weight in kilos, or even a Sner or Xiggy from our SUP foiling range.
For the convenience of an inflatable, we recommend the HIPE Like for beginners. If you’re already an experienced foiler, choose a HIPE Freefly, Diamond or Cruzader, depending on your program.

A foil that takes off early, glides easily and remains predictable lets you focus on the lowkite rather than fighting to stay on foil. An X-Over foil if you’re new to foiling. A foil with more glide for more experienced riders: Curve, Fluid or Veloce.

Finally, choose a lowkite that is stable, predictable and intuitive, like the Plus V3, whose progressive pull, easy-to-use power and effective depower make your first take-offs easier while maintaining control and comfort as the wind varies.

Foilers: Louis, Valentin, Patrice and Loic on Plus V3 lowkites.

START IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS

For the best possible learning conditions, look for:

calm water;
side-shore wind (blowing parallel to the beach, ideally with a slight onshore component that naturally brings you back towards shore);
steady wind, without major gusts or lulls;
wind strength suited to your lowkite’s wind range.

These conditions allow you to focus on technique rather than fighting the elements. Flat water makes balancing easier, while side-shore wind provides maximum safety by allowing you to naturally make your way back towards the beach.

Conversely, choppy water or very gusty conditions make learning considerably more difficult. What feels hard in these conditions often becomes surprisingly simple when the wind is clean and the water is calm.

For your first sessions, keep things easy. It’s the best way to quickly build on your successes, gain confidence and discover the unique feeling of flight.

Absolutely avoid offshore wind, which can dangerously carry you away from the coast when you’re learning.

Foiler: Loic, GONG staff, on a Cruzader Point LW FSP Pro, Plus V3 lowkite, HM85 mast, Veloce Free Fly front wing and Veloce stab.

HOW DO YOU FLY YOUR LOWKITE?

Take some time to handle your lowkite on land. Learn how it reacts, how to generate or reduce power and how to move it around the wind window.

Building a few automatic reflexes on land immediately makes getting on the water much more intuitive.

Learn the basics of flying your lowkite in this tutorial:

Getting on the water and taking off for the first time

Your first objective isn’t simply to learn how to ride, but also to manage everything that happens before you get on foil. Getting into the water is probably the step that raises the most questions before a first session.

How do you carry your gear?
What do you do with the kite while entering the water?
How do you manage the board and lowkite at the same time?
How do you generate power for take-off?

Once you understand the sequence, everything becomes much clearer.

In this tutorial, we explain how to get into the water and take off:

Your first manoeuvres?

This is where the playground really starts to open up. Once you’re comfortable with your lowkite, you can gradually learn to change tack, improve your upwind performance and start exploring freefly.

Learn the jibe and tack with our How Tos: