GEAR: SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR FOIL WHEN REPLACING YOUR “BEGINNER” WINGBOARD?
Upgrade your gear smartly with advice from our experts.
Many of you reach out to our technical advisors when looking to upgrade the gear you started with in favor of more performance-oriented and exhilarating equipment. The first upgrade is usually the board—opting for more compact and playful shapes like those of the Mint or Lemon, or the Cruzader Point and Diamond boards for their glide in light wind conditions. Naturally, the next question is about the foil choice. Here’s our advice 👇
Wing foiler: Moritz, GONG team rider, riding a Mint FSP 2X 2025, Plus wing, Carbon Mast 85 V3, Ascent front wing and stab, and Titanium Fuselage V3
Upgrade Your Foil When You Progress or Want to Specialize in a Specific Style
Switching to a new board does not necessarily mean you need to upgrade your foil right away.
You can continue using your beginner foil for a while longer. Another smart approach is to keep it for light wind conditions, where the strong lift of beginner foils is an asset, and complement it with a smaller, faster, and more playful foil for every other conditions.
For example, you can add an Ascent front wing and stab to your quiver. This gives you a very versatile and high-performing setup with a gentle character that ensures continuous progression.
If you're looking to specialize in freefly on spots with fun swell bumps, the Curve H wings offer the perfect blend of glide, maneuverability, and forgiveness—making you feel confident in surf or downwind modes. Both options work great for freeride sessions too:
- Ascent: for versatility
- Curve H: for glide with its higher aspect ratio
Advantages of Keeping Your Beginner Foil:
- Expand the lower wind range of your quiver
- Ride in tricky conditions
- Practice and solidify basic maneuvers
- Let friends or family learn with it
Wing foiler: Francesco, GONG team rider, on Mint FSP 2X 2025, Plus Wing 2025, Aluminum Mast 85 V3, X-Over front wing and stab, and Aluminum Fuselage V3.
Advantages of Upgrading Your Foil Along with Your Board:
Yes, your beginner foil will work with a more compact board—it may even feel easier to handle. However, you won’t unlock the full performance of your new board.
Boards with narrower outlines compared to beginner boards rely more on the foil’s glide than its lift to take off. You build speed on the water, and speed generates lift. This means that you get a comfortable lift thanks to the speed you produce. So replacing your high-lift foil won’t be a handicap when riding a more performance-oriented board.
In return, you'll enjoy:
- Higher speed
- Better glide
- More maneuverability
- Enhanced sensations!
If you're unsure about foil sizing, consult the buying guides at the bottom of each product page, and if you're still in doubt, feel free to contact our technical advisors.
Wing foiler: Charlie, GONG team rider, on Mint FSP 2X 2025, Plus Wing 2025, Aluminum Mast 85 V3, Curve H front wing, Curve stab, and Aluminum Fuselage V3.
Foil Front Wing Ascent V3
Foil Front Wing Curve H V3 FG
Foil Front Wing Curve H V3
