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14 march 2021 0

Here are all our tips for choosing the wing that will help you learn, progress, or perform like a pro in wing foiling!

Since the rise of this incredible sport just a few seasons ago, various practices and different wing models have emerged. With the right equipment, we can now expect crazy performances in pure speed, in the waves or in freestyle.

You can also seek versatility, which is one of the beauties of wing foiling, blending many magical aspects of different gliding sports. Follow the guide!

Wing foilers: Charlie and Bastien, GONG team riders, in Cruzader Point LW, Cruzader Diamond FSP Pro and wings Droid and Droid Boom (Perf Series).

Beginner: the Plus wing is the one you need. Smooth, progressive, and stable, it’s a light wing that’s easy to handle with plenty of built-in power to get you flying quickly.

Experienced rider: three wings, three distinct personalities.

The Droid: compact and powerful, with an impressive range of use and incredibly responsive handling — perfect for throwing tricks.
The Neutra: queen of wave-style riding, extremely efficient in relaunches, upwind performance, and jumps. Exhibits exceptional stability in free-fly.
The Pulse Race: delivers mind-blowing acceleration, incredible stability at high speeds, and an outrageously high top speed!

What’s the difference between the Perf Series, Team Series, and Pro Team Series wings?

It’s very simple: it all comes down to technology.

The Perf Series wings use a Dacron structure, a material that’s been proven for decades. Using this material for both the leading edge and the central strut makes your wing solid and reliable. They’re also very easy to repair, since Dacron is available everywhere in the world. If you get a small puncture or tear, any sailmaker can fix it. It’s the foundation, a standard, durable, and accessible material.

The Team Series and Pro Team Series wings use a UPE Aramid structure. That’s a step up. This material is about twice as light as Dacron, while being much stiffer.

In the Team Series, the canopy remains the same as on the Perf Series, which is made from triple ripstop spinnaker fabric. So, you gain in weight reduction and responsiveness thanks to the structure, while keeping the tolerance and simplicity of the classic triple ripstop canopy.

The Pro Team Series wings, on the other hand, use different canopy fabrics:

Code 95 for the Aramid X wings
Code Zero for the Aramid CZ wings

Code 95 is an extremely rigid, strong, and almost non-stretch woven spinnaker fabric. It’s still a fabric, but one that hardly deforms at all. The result is a much more rigid, more reactive, and more precise feel.

Code Zero is the ultimate step. Here, it’s no longer a simple woven fabric but a laminate which is absolutely inflexible, non-stretch, and ultra-stiff. The shape doesn’t move; the profile stays 100% locked in. It’s a material designed for pure performance, especially in racing and slalom, where every knot of wind must be converted into speed and upwind angle.

So here’s the logic:

Dacron → simple, strong, easy, and accessible
Aramid → lighter and stiffer, but keeps the forgiving feel of classic spinnaker fabric
Aramid X (Code 95) → woven fabric, maximum stiffness and precision
Aramid CZ (Code Zero) → laminated, absolute rigidity, race-level performance

It’s a technological progression that matches the increasing skill and performance demands of the riders.

Wing foilers: Bastien and Francesco, GONG team riders, on Racer FSP Pro, Droid Aramid CZ and Ypra Race foils.

Choosing according to your riding style?

Plus: the versatile and accessible wing for progression.
Droid: surf-freestyle wing with explosive power. It’s also a benchmark in light wind conditions.
Neutra: a smooth, fluid wing for surf, free-fly, and endless carving.
Pulse Race: the ultimate racing wing, offering incredible upwind performance and top speed.

Wing foiler: Moritz, GONG team rider, in Lance FSP 2X with a wing Plus.

What size wing should you choose?

For beginners, we recommend a 5m² wing. It's the most versatile size. You'll have enough power to fly in moderate conditions, with a manageable wingspan.

Soon, you'll find that one wing isn't enough. You'll want to fly all the time, so you'll complement your 5m² with a larger wing.

We recommend a maximum gap of 2m² between your wings, ideally 1m². This is especially true for smaller sizes because when you go from 4m² to 2m² due to stronger winds, you're halving the surface area, even though the wind hasn’t doubled in strength. On the other hand, moving from 7m² to 5m² when the wind picks up feels smooth and proportional to the increased wind force.

For each wing in our range, a wind range is recommended per size in the buying guide tab at the bottom of your wing's page. Example for the Plus wing:

Don't overestimate the power of wings. A rider weighing 85kg will need 15-20 knots with a 5m² wing to start flying at first. After about fifteen sessions, they’ll be able to fly in 15 knots with the same 5m² wing. If they’re athletic, they’ll pump hard and take off in 12 knots with a 5m², managing to glide through lulls down to 8 knots. All of this takes practice and time to master.

Wing foiler: Malo, GONG team rider, on a Cruzader Point and wing Droid Boom (Perf Series).

How to choose between textile handles, rigid handles, or a boom?

In the Perf Series collection, you can choose “boom only” wings (Droid Boom and Neutra Boom), or opt for a modular solution thanks to our GFS system, which allows you to mount soft handles, rigid handles, or a boom on the Plus, Neutra, and Droid models.

Textile Handles

They provide a very smooth and more secure feel. You get less “pulled” by gusts, as the strut can better absorb gusty conditions. In case of a fall or impact, textile handles are much less aggressive than a boom. They have the added benefit of being lightweight and compact. We recommend beginners opt for textile handles to protect their board and their teeth ;) The same goes when trying your first backflips, and you end up lying on the strut!

Rigid Handles

They provide an ultra-direct feel, making the wing much more precise, taking your performance to another level. The responsiveness is impressive, and the wing seems capable of accelerating endlessly. You get a direct connection with the wing, reacting instantly to your inputs. On the flip side, the wing becomes more technically demanding to handle. Rigid handles are the perfect compromise between a boom and textile handles. They offer both power and forgiveness in the profile, with the added benefit of being less bulky than a boom.

The Boom (equivalent to a windsurfing wishbone)

The ultimate solution for stepping into the world of high performance. This is why our Team and Pro Team Series wings are offered in “boom only”. The boom absorbs a significant portion of the flexing forces exerted on the central strut, making the wing extremely stiff while maintaining tension and minimizing flutter. It locks the wing’s profile for maximum power gain. The boom’s extended grip area enhances the wing’s maneuverability, allowing you to freely adjust your hand position for better control. This setup opens up new possibilities in freestyle! Get ready to master back loop spins and backmob tricks!

Wing foiler: Benjamin, GONG team rider, with his Stunt FSP Pro, Droid Aramid X, an HM85 mast, Ypra Freestyle and Freestyle stab.

The boom is also the lightest system among our rigid handle options. By eliminating two bends, it reduces the weight. A difference you’ll notice as soon as you handle a wing equipped with a boom. You gain across the board: lighter weight, improved comfort during navigation, and enhanced precision.

The front elbows of both the rigid handle and boom are ergonomically angled to relieve strain during long rides, offering a pistol-grip style that’s perfect for downwind/free-fly and surfing.

This setup allows you to maintain a base level of power, which you can fine-tune as needed, while eliminating potential flapping that could slow you down. It’s extremely practical when used skillfully.

Thus, handles and the boom are not just different gripping styles; they are performance elements you can adjust with GONG! This makes the wing’s profile even more responsive to your needs and desires.