GEAR: SHOULD YOU PRIORITIZE GLIDE OR LIFT WHEN CHOOSING YOUR NEXT FOIL

Understanding the balance between glide and lift is key to selecting a foil that suits your style.

When choosing a new foil, the decision often comes down to how much lift you want in relation to glide. This is indeed a critical factor to consider. Let’s take a closer look at these two essential characteristics of a foil and their relative importance based on your specific needs.

Lift

Lift refers to the amount of upward force a foil generates, allowing you to rise out of the water and stay on foil. It’s the immediate "lift-off" power that a foil produces as water flows over its surface.

Key Characteristics:

- Lift is generated at low speeds: A wing with high lift allows you to get up on foil with minimal speed and effort. This is especially important in light winds or when starting out.

- Thicker profiles = more lift: A wing with a thicker, more curved (cambered) profile usually creates more lift, as it displaces water more effectively.

- Trade-off: High lift wings are easier to get up on foil but tend to create more drag, making them slower at higher speeds.

A foil with lift is ideal for:

- Beginners who need help with early take-off.

- Light wind conditions.

- Stable and forgiving performance at lower speeds.

Wing foiler: Jules, GONG team rider, with the Plus, HIPE Perf and foil X-Over.

Glide

Glide refers to a foil’s ability to maintain speed and momentum with minimal effort, especially when you're not actively powering it. Glide is about how well the foil sustains movement through the water after you’ve generated speed.

Key Characteristics:

- Glide is influenced by drag: Wings with less drag (thinner profiles and higher aspect ratios) tend to glide further and retain speed better.

- Higher aspect ratio = better glide: A long and narrow wing generates less drag, allowing you to maintain speed efficiently.

- Trade-off: Wings optimized for glide typically have less lift at lower speeds, making take-off more technical.

A foil with glide is ideal for:

- Riders looking for efficiency and speed.

- Downwinding or long-distance sessions.

- Carving and dynamic riding, where maintaining speed in turns is key.

Wing foiler: Malo, team rider GONG, on the Cruzader Point FSP Pro, Droid UPE Aramid X and a Veloce foil setup.

The difference between glide and lift:

- Lift gets you on foil and keeps you stable at lower speeds.

- Glide keeps you moving efficiently once you’re on foil, especially when you’re not actively pumping or powering the wing.

An analogy: Think of lift as the initial push needed to get a bicycle moving from a standstill. Glide, on the other hand, is like coasting downhill: how far and efficiently the bike keeps rolling without needing extra pedaling.

Choosing the right front wing:

If you prioritize lift: Choose a wing with a thicker profile and more surface area (e.g., Curve H). Perfect for light wind, easy take-offs, and forgiving stability.
If you prioritize glide: Opt for a thinner, high-aspect wing (e.g., Veloce). Great for dynamic riding, carving, and maintaining speed over longer distances.
The best compromise between lift and glide is our Sirus. An L or XL is perfect for winging. Biggers are magic for pumping and flat starts.

Wing foiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, with a Droid Perf Series, HIPE Cruzader and Sirus foil setup.