Wing Foil Experience on Asphalt

Wingskating with a Norden Surf Skateboard

It’s all about dryland training again - we were out on a former helicopter airfield in Kiel with a surf skateboard and a 4-square-meter wing.

In principle, you can ride on asphalt with any skateboard, but so-called surf skateboards, with their special truck design, provide a riding experience similar to that of surfboards.

Surf skateboard from Norden with G-Trucks - rides like a skateboard, but with significantly tighter turns

Norden's surf skateboards are equipped with G-Trucks, which resemble standard skateboard trucks but, thanks to the front truck's extremely steep steering angle, allow for tight turns without the wheels lifting off the ground.

This means you can get rolling just by actively shifting your weight and ride virtually any line - just like on a surfboard.

Wingskating with a surf skateboard

This can also be applied to winging. It’s amazing how close the riding experience on solid ground is to real wing foiling. You can perform all the gliding moves from wing foiling - it’s even easier than on the water, since you don’t have to worry about the foil’s flight height.

But be careful! You should know how to skateboard (or longboard) - at least have some confidence riding these boards on asphalt.

Wingskating = dryland training for wing foiling

With wingskating, you don't need much wind, and you can practice all kinds of gliding moves

Smooth asphalt... that’s usually hard to find. Good wingskate spots are few and far between, because in addition to the open space, you also need a relatively flat landscape around it so the wind doesn’t blow too gustily.

Large wheels on skateboards - like those found on the Surf-Skate from Norden - make it easier to roll over rough surfaces, cracks, vegetation, small ledges and loose stones.

You should wear protective gear, since a fall can always happen. A helmet, knee and elbow pads and gloves reduce the risk of injury.

The Norden surf-skate is equipped with G-Trucks

The extremely agile front axle delivers a surfing-like feel on asphalt

Once you’re all set up, you’re ready to go. The start-up friction is very low, so even a light breeze is enough to get you moving.

All kinds o - —you can practice all of this on land and adapt more quickly later on the water. The wing behaves exactly the same; on the water, the only thing added is foiling.

Grass and cracks in the ground - no problem for large skateboard wheels

Norden offers surf skateboards in two lengths: 28.5“ (72.5 cm) and 30” (76.5 cm) (Link to the manufacturer). We brought along the longer 30-inch model and had a lot of fun that day at the MFG-5 grounds on the Kiel Fjord, despite a light breeze (you’ll find a short video from that day below).