Woman riding a Ronix Koal Surface 727 Wakefoil in a lake

March 27, 2024 Written by: Ross Villarino

How to Wake Foil: Tips for Beginners

You may be wondering what wakefoiling is. It's a fair question considering that it's just beginning to take over behind-the-boat fun. Wakefoiling is a combination of all the best aspects of wakeboarding, wake sports and deep powder turns in mountains. Foils enable riders to glide high above the waterline, allowing for effortless turns and flow. This keeps the stoke high while keeping your body and mind healthy. You can also ride in all water conditions, which is a great advantage. You can also grab a tow from almost any watercraft with the wakefoils.

How to Get Up on a Wake Foil

The boat driver plays an important role when you first start. After you've placed the board on your feet and given the signal, the driver will slowly pull you to your feet before easing you into speed. This will allow for proper front-foot pressure once you are on your feet. You can gradually increase your speed and shift your weight back to engage foil.

For beginners, the most important detail to remember is getting the board in the right position before the driver accelerates. The foil acts as a heavy fin and if the foil is not in the right place, the board will pull you one way and you the other.

Start at a Slow Speed: 4-7 MPH

The best way to start is to use the boat's idle speed (a slow, gentle pull) as a means to push the board onto your feet. You should place your feet flat on the board, with the wake foil as close to the water surface as possible. It is more difficult to start with your heels on board.

As soon as you stand up on the board for the first time, make sure you apply firm pressure to your front foot. This is an important detail to remember. It is easy to crash while learning how to foil. This can be due to your weight and body position. Your foil will be more excited to jump out of the water if you have a higher body position and weight.

The best way to learn to ride is not to foil your first few rides. This means that you should get out of the water and cruise slowly, with enough pressure from your front foot to keep the board flat on water. This is not necessary to do for very long but it will give you an idea of how foil handles under your feet. It will also help you to determine how much control you need over the foil. Once you feel comfortable, shift your weight slowly and you will see yourself rising from the water.

Master your Stance

To keep your center of gravity low, a low athletic position with your knees bent and your butt down, and your back slightly curled will help you shift your weight quickly from your front foot to your back foot. This will keep your board level and balance. Don't be concerned about how you look at this stage. Once you reach the bigger mast, you can start to work on your killer style.

How to Fall Off a Wakefoil

You can fall with the weight of the handle and hold on to the handle. This is the best way to learn foiling. To avoid hitting foil, mast, or the board, you will want to fall as far as possible.

This video covers many basics such as: