The Smart Way to Upgrade Your Wakefoil Setup: Foil First

You've got your starter wakefoil setup and you're getting pretty comfortable on it behind the boat. You can get up on foil, you've tamed the bucking bronco, you've dropped the rope, and you can even pump around a bit. So what's next? You know you want something that'll give you better performance without being so difficult to use that it slows your progression. Ryan and Caden have been there and have some suggestions to keep wakefoiling fun and exciting as you grow your skills.

What Should You Upgrade First?

You'll get the most benefit from upgrading your foil, specifically the front wing. This makes sense since the foil is the only thing in the water once you're up, and the front wing has the biggest impact on how a foil performs.

You can probably drop down 400-500cm2 on that wing. If you started around a 1500cm2 front wing, look at wings in the 1000-1100cm2 range. Right away it'll feel faster and more maneuverable. Carving will become a lot of fun. Go ahead and keep your same stabilizer, though. It'll help keep you, well, stable while you're getting used to your smaller front wing.

While it's best to change only one component at a time to keep your setup from becoming too unfamiliar, if you're doing a lot of pumping you may want a longer mast. Anything between 75 and 85cm is a great size for some wake-to-wake transfers and pumping out to the third wake.

When Can I Downsize My Foilboard?

You don't need to rush into getting a smaller board. While a smaller board will be more reactive and nimble, it also gives you less room for your feet to work with. A larger board helps get you up on a plane and lets you get comfortable before popping up on foil.

However, once you've got your smaller front wing and can consistently get right on foil without planing on your board first, then you are ready to downsize your board. A lot of people start with a board around 4'6". You don't want to go too small yet, but something around 3'6"/110cm or a bit larger will work well for many riders.

Where Should I Put My Mast?

Start with the mast all the way to the back of the track while you're getting used to your smaller board. That lets you have a wider stance as you learn to tame that bronco again, and then you can start to move the mast forward as you progress.

To Sum Up...

Choose one thing to upgrade at a time, starting with downsizing your front wing. That'll give you a big performance boost without making you feel like you're starting all over. Get a longer mast for pumping if you want, and then get a smaller board once you're feeling proficient on your new foil setup. Once you've got all this dialed in, go ahead and explore other stabilizer options to fine-tune your ride. As always, the crew is happy to recommend upgrade sizes and options that suit you and your conditions. And then we'll catch you on the water!

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