As it is with wingfoil tacking, the exciting and essential skill of wingfoil jibing has two fundamental flows: heel-side to toe-side and toe-side to heel-side. Presuming you are new to jibing, the best starting point is the heel-side to toe-side transition. This involves riding with your front foot forward and executing a seamless turn into the “switch” position (toe-side), which eliminates the need to change your feet during the jibe.

Step 1: Get comfortable with the foil

First, let’s get you comfortable with that foil beneath you. Imagine the little plane below the surface—you must know how to control it. It will instantly respond to your every weight movement. Bigger foils that are ideal for learning are more forgiving and will allow you to have some more time to put it all together, so I definitely recommend starting with big gear in the beginning of your wingfoil journey.

Let’s practice for the jibe by riding heel-side and practicing subtle turns to the left and right. This will help you get a sense of the control needed for the jibe, which you will initiate by shifting your weight from your toes to your heels.

When transitioning to toe-side, the key is to shift your weight forward, leaning onto your front foot. This adjustment is the secret sauce for maintaining that perfect balance and control during your turn. To master riding toe-side, you have two options: initiating a jibe into toe-side or switching your feet while riding. The choice is yours.

Whether you’re switching from toe-side to heel-side, or the other way around, it all starts with lifting the front of your board. As you do this, shift more weight onto your back foot and swiftly switch your foot positioning. This ninja move ensures your board stays perfectly balanced throughout the entire maneuver. Don’t forget, the wing above your head can act as your wingman, providing that extra lift when you need it.

Step 2: Master the heel-side to toe-side jibe

Many wingfoilers consider this type of jibe to be the easiest, making it the perfect starting point for newcomers. Entering the heel-side to toe-side jibe you want to first generate additional speed. To do so, just before making the turn, pull on your back hand to grab some power in the wing. Then, transition to holding the wing high overhead. Keeping the wing elevated will help you master this move. Now, carve your turn to point the front of your board downwind. Shift your weight onto your toes and bring your hips forward. Then, release your back hand from the wing. Allow your board to keep turning while your wing is still high above. Simultaneously, switch your hands and start pulling on the back hand again to power the wing. Finish the maneuver by pumping the wing and the board a bit if your speed drops during the jibe.

Step 3: Move on to the toe-side to heel-side jibe

This second style of jibing has similar steps, but is a little bit more difficult to start with. I believe once you master the heel-side to toe-side jibe, this jibe will be much easier to handle.

Let’s get to it. Build speed before starting the jibe by pulling on your back hand slightly more to power the wing. Now hover your wing overhead as you initiate the turn. Keeping your wing high will help you have more balance. Release your back hand as you begin carving your board downwind while transferring your weight onto your heels.

As the board turns, switch your hand on the top handle, or on the top of the boom. The key moment is when you’re completing the maneuver, swiftly pull back on your back hand to catch the wind and maintain your speed as you exit the jibe. If you need more speed, you will need to pump the board slightly to continue flying.

By mastering both heel-side to toe-side and toe-side to heel-side jibes, you’ll unlock a world of control and excitement in your wingfoiling skills. Mastering the switch of your feet while riding is also another next-level achievement. Always remember: practice, practice, practice and be patient. It all takes time, but let me tell you it is worth it.

Paula Novotna @paulanovotna is the first-ever women’s world champion in wingfoiling, excelling in both freestyle and racing. Follow her journey on her social media channels, including Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, and Facebook. She’s here to inspire and share her experiences with you to become a better wingfoiler.

The post Three Ways to Master Your First Wingfoil Jibe appeared first on Sailing World.

After honing your skills with wingfoil jibes, the next progression is taking your wingfoiling to the next level by perfecting the tack. Tacks are not only practical for changing your direction swiftly but also add a touch of style to your wingfoiling performance. Mastering tacks requires practicing diligently, and once you’ve perfected them you’re sure to impress others on the beach, and enhance your overall wingfoiling experience. So, let’s get to it.

Step 1: Start from Toe-side Stance

Begin by attempting a tack from your toe-side stance. While riding toe-side, keep your wing elevated to maintain control. To set up for the tack, glide upwind while holding your top hand on the wing. Ensure that your wing is positioned correctly.

Step 2: Turn the Wing and Change Hands

Now it’s time to initiate the tack. Turn the wing over your head to the opposite direction while keeping your board on course. Quickly switch your hands, starting with the one on top. Simultaneously, use your bottom hand on the wing to pull it and catch the wind to continue riding smoothly.

Step 3: Weight Distribution

As you complete the tack, be prepared for your board to want to rise. Counter this by shifting weight onto your front foot immediately after the tack. Depending on the wind conditions, you may need to employ a slight pumping motion to maintain momentum.

Step 4: Practice and Consistency

With practice, you’ll become more consistent in executing your tacks. As you improve, you’ll notice a significant enhancement in your wingfoiling performance and the movements will all become second nature. The elegance of well-executed tacks will garner admiration from fellow wingfoilers and motivate you to continue progressing in the sport.

Step 5: Transition from Heel-side to Toe-side

Transitioning from a heel-side stance to toe-side can be a bit more challenging than the previously explained tack, but let’s break it down:

• Build speed while riding heel-side and turn your board upwind in the opposite direction.
• Keep your wing elevated and release your back hand. Swiftly rotate the wing over your head.
• Change your top hand to your second hand rapidly and position your back hand on the second handle to maintain speed.
• Balance your board and shift your weight from heel-side to toe-side. Place more weight on your front foot to maintain control.

Step 6: Heel-side to heel-side tack (Complete Tack)

For the advanced tack—from heel side to heel side—which is great for upwind progress, follow these subtle steps:

• Start similarly to the previous tack, but position your feet out of the back strap and toward the middle of the board.
• Throw the wing over your head while turning your board.
• As you change your hands and pull on the back hand, switch your stance on the board.
• The board will naturally rise during the turn, so shift your weight to the front of the board.
• If you lack sufficient speed, employ a pumping motion to keep going.

For additional tips, follow me on Instagram @paulanovotna. Happy wingfoiling and see you on the water.

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Last year, my family and friends took a welcome break from the racing circuit to explore the Abacos Sea in the Bahamas onboard a Sunsail bareboat catamaran. Like any family outing this was supposed to be all about relaxing and recalibrating, but those who know me know I’m not one to sit around and twiddle my thumbs. Nope. For this family adventure I made sure to bring my wingfoiling gear, and I’m glad I did as I was rewarded with many days of beautiful flat-water fun straight from the back of the yacht. As this was my first time on a charter catamaran with wing gear, I did learn a few new things that will make me better prepared next time, so here are some tips to help you get the most out of your wing foiling adventure trips.

Travel light

Traveling with massive bags can add extra anxiety and cost to the start and end of a holiday, not to mention taking up valuable space on board whatever yacht you’re on, so consider investing in an inflatable board.  I have a board made by French company Gong, which inflates to 20 psi and packs down into a normal size travel bag. I barely notice the difference over a traditional hard board. I have traveled several times with a hard board, but they’re pretty unwieldy and you’ll get charged oversized bag fees both ways. Not to mention, there’s a good chance it’ll get dinged somewhere along the way.

I also normally use a 1.25-meter wing boom, so for traveling, I cut mine in half and added a smaller piece of carbon tube inside at the join so it fits easily into the bag too.

Also, don’t tell the airline it’s a surfboard. Generally, they like to charge you extra for a surfboard but if you say they’re golf clubs it’s cheaper or even free. Armstrong even makes a board bag with “Golf” written on it.

Check the forecast and take only what you need.  If you’re heading to the Caribbean, chances of using your 3-meter wing are pretty slim so save the space.

I haven’t tried one yet, but they do make small travel pumps or even electric ones that plug into a USB socket. This could be another great space saver.

Launch away

I rigged up everything on the bow tramp of the Sunsail Catamaran, tied all the leashes together, tossed them overboard and walked the leash back to the stern. When launching, I had the wing in my hand, pushed the board a meter or so away from the boat and jumped on!  The first few attempts didn’t go so well, but I eventually realized that there was a big wind shadow for the first few meters behind the boat. The situation is a similar story for coming back to the transom when you’ve finished.  It’s easy to underestimate how little wind there is at the back, so you’ll glide toward the stern for a long way. It’s best to consciously touch the board down and do the last few meters with the board in the water.  This also means you’re less likely to fall backward onto the transom.  One other option is to have the tender on a long tether off the transom and stop with a seat on the nice and bouncy tubes.  The sensible thing would be to stop well away from the boat and swim your gear back to the ladder, but we all know that’s not going to happen!

Lash it down

Triple check you’ve got everything in your bag before you leave because the chances of getting spares on your trip are low.  Also, make sure you tie everything down once you’ve finished or are transiting between anchorages because you don’t want a storm to come through in the night and blow your board away…which might have happened to me on my last trip.

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