Sinking Waterstart

Xavi Corr explains how to launch on small wingfoil boards

This video tutorial from Starboard shows how to get started with small boards. Small boards (low-volume boards) have a volume in liters that is less than the rider’s body weight in kilograms.

Xavi Corr weights 75 kg and uses a 54-liter board in this video. This means the board is about 21 liters short of the buoyancy needed to support the rider. As a result, the board sinks when he tries to launch. That’s why a special launch technique is required: the sinking (water)start.

(1) Position yourself in the center of the board and shift your weight onto the wing's front tube, which is floating in the water. Place your front foot in the footstrap, and rest your back foot on the deck in front of the rear strap.

(2) If the wind blows hard enough in a gust, lift the wing by the front handle and reach under the wing to grab the boom. With both hands on the boom, keep your body low so the board doesn't sink too far.

(3) Now the power in the wing helps lift the board. The forward motion creates dynamic lift, which pushes the board - with its nose slightly raised - toward the water's surface.

(4) Once the board is floating on the water's surface, start pumping with the board and wing. That's how you'll get into foiling quickly.

What's the best way to learn the sinking waterstart?
Don't use a board that's too small. A board that's 15 liters less than your body weight (e.g., a 65-liter board for an 80-kg rider) is a good starting point. Choose a wing that's half a square meter larger than you normally would. More power in the wing helps when practicing the sinking waterstart.

Tip:
If you can't get your front foot into the strap (because the board doesn't sink far enough), you can also start by kneeing on the board. To do this, position your knees parallel to the front straps. As soon as you lift the wing, use the wind to move forward so the board stays more stable in the water. Stand up with your front leg first, then pump yourself into foiling.

Make sure the water is deep enough!
Boards with low volume sink when you stand up - the less volume, the deeper they sink. In the video, you can see that Xavi is standing in water that comes almost up to his hips. So when you’re stepping onto the board, the water needs to be about twice as deep as your foil’s depth. Otherwise, you’ll hit the bottom and damage your foil. Also, when foiling, make sure you’re only riding in deep water. If the water beneath you is too shallow, you won’t be able to get back up after a fall and you might have to swim a long way.