Imagine: you're standing on a board, a light wing in your hands, the wind hits you in the face, and… you soar over the wave. Not a fairy tale, but wingfoil — a sport that has combined surfing, wind and technology.
But how did it come to be? Let's take a walk through a history filled with forgotten inventions, accidental discoveries and even viral videos.
Hydrofoils and the first experiments
It all started in the 1960s, when American Walter Woodward patented a hydrofoil — an underwater wing that lifts boats above the water. But the technology was complicated, and it did not become a mass sport.
In the 1980s, windsurfing enthusiasts began experimenting with foil boards. That was also when the first prototypes of handheld wings appeared:
- Jim Drake and Uli Stanciu developed a rigid, fan-like wing. In 1982, their friend, windsurfer Pete Cabrinha, tested it at a competition in Kailua. A photo of the yellow wing made it into magazines, but the idea was considered strange: “Why hold the sail in your hands?”
- Roland Le Bail from France tried to create a “sail without a mast”, but 1980s technology did not allow him to make it light enough.
- Sami Tuoronen from Finland invented the Skimbat, later known as the Kitewing — a compact wing for snow and ice.
The surfer who didn't want to paddle
Years passed. Alex Aguera, a windsurfing fanatic, was living in Hawaii. One day his friend Kai Lenny, a professional surfer, asked: “Can you make a board that flies by itself? No sail, powered only by the waves?”
Alex was fired up by the idea. He attached an underwater wing to a board and tried to “catch” the energy of the ocean. It was rough, but it was exciting. He still had to paddle, though — and that was when Flash Austin came onto the scene.
A “beta wing” and a foil board
Flash — a champion kitesurfer and part-time “mad professor” — took a strange wing and a SUP foil board in 2018 and asked: “What if we combine them?” His friends thought he was crazy, but Flash kept dragging his contraption to the beaches of Maui.
And one day he took off. The formula was clear: a wing in the hands + a foil under the board = magic. Social media began buzzing: “This is a new sport!”
Inflatable wings and a viral explosion
Ken Winner picked up the idea and figured out how to make the wing inflatable — light and convenient. Duotone, Naish and other brands began producing their own equipment. Then came Kai Lenny's wing breakthrough.
In April 2019, Kai published a video of himself soaring over the waves with a wing in his hands and captioned it “This is Wing Surfing”. The video exploded on YouTube. Everyone rushed to buy wings, while manufacturers competed to make them better. By the end of the year, wingfoil was everywhere, from California to Australia.
Wing Center Dahab
Where dreams of flying become reality
In 2022, a place appeared in Dahab where dreams of flying over water become reality — Wing Center Dahab. We are not just a school, but a true launch pad for anyone who wants to learn wingfoil quickly, safely and with pleasure.
Why choose us?
- Modern RRD equipment. Our large selection of wings and boards lets you gradually reduce the size of your equipment. There is a suitable setup for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced riders.
- A proven teaching method. We have helped hundreds of people take off. Our instructors explain complicated things in simple words, and you can experience your first flight during the “Foil + Boat” lesson.
- Warm and windy. Dahab is sunny all year round, the water remains warm even in winter and the steady wind creates an ideal combination for learning.
