Wingfoil glossary

How to use this glossary

Wing

Handheld inflatable sail that generates power from the wind without kite lines; steered by hand grips and sheet angle.

Foil (hydrofoil)

Underwater wing system that lifts the board above the surface once flying speed is reached, reducing drag.

Mast

Vertical strut connecting the board plate to the fuselage and front/rear wings of the foil.

Fuselage

Horizontal beam that links the front wing and stabilizer (rear wing) of a hydrofoil.

Front wing

Primary lifting surface of the foil; larger wings give earlier lift and more stability, smaller wings more speed and agility.

Stabilizer (rear wing)

Smaller wing at the back of the fuselage that balances pitch and stabilizes flight.

Apparent wind

Wind felt while moving—true wind plus the breeze created by your own speed—critical for wing angle and power.

True wind

Actual ambient wind direction and speed relative to a stationary point on the water.

Waterstart

Technique of getting the board (and later the foil) planing or flying from a water start position using wing power.

Pumping

Rhythmic up-and-down input through legs and foil to generate or maintain lift when wind power is marginal.

Sheeting

Pulling the wing closer (more power) or easing it out (less power) via the central handle or boom.

Neutral / flag-out

Wing positions that dump power—flagging the wing downwind of the rider for safety or rest.

Wind window

Conceptual half-sphere of flyable wing positions relative to the wind; power changes with angle to the wind.

Luff

Leading edge of the wing going soft when under-sheeted or pointed too far into the wind—loss of power.

Stall

Loss of controlled flight when angle of attack is too high or speed too low—foil drops or wing stops flying cleanly.

Angle of attack

Angle between the foil wing’s chord and the oncoming water flow; too high causes stall, too low sinks.

Volume (board)

Litres of board flotation; beginners usually start on higher-volume boards for easier starts.

Leash

Tether linking rider to board and/or wing so gear does not blow away after a fall; use as taught by your school.

Impact vest

Flotation/protection vest commonly recommended for foil sessions to reduce injury risk.

Helmet

Head protection often used in lessons and windy sessions; foil masts and boards justify the habit.

Gybe (jibe)

Downwind turn changing direction while keeping the wing powered through the transition.

Tack

Upwind turn through the eye of the wind to change direction—more advanced than a basic gybe for many learners.

Heel-side / toe-side

Riding positions weighted on heels or toes; transitions between them unlock freer riding.

Touch and go

Brief foil flight followed by a soft touchdown—common drill while learning stable flight height.

Flight height

How high the board rides above water on foil; stable mid-mast flying is safer than over-flying.

Breaching

Foil or wing breaking the surface unintentionally—can cause sudden loss of lift or control.

Ventilation (cavitation-related feel)

Air reaching the foil surfaces, causing sudden grip loss; often from too much angle or chop.

Chop

Short, wind-driven surface roughness that makes early board starts harder than flat water.

Side-shore

Wind blowing roughly parallel to the beach—typical useful pattern in Essaouira’s bay for lessons.

Onshore / offshore

Wind toward or away from the beach; affects drift, safety corridors and teaching site choice.

Knots (kt)

Unit of wind speed used by riders; Essaouira trade afternoons are often discussed in mid-teens to thirties kt ranges when the Alizé is on.

Alizé

Local name for the persistent Atlantic trade winds that often fill Essaouira afternoons in the warm season.

High-aspect foil

Longer, narrower front wing shape favouring glide and speed once you can already fly stably.

Low-aspect foil

Wider, more compact wing shape favouring earlier lift and stability—common in learning setups.

Boom / handles

Grip system on the wing (soft handles or rigid boom) used to sheet and steer.

Leading-edge bladder

Inflatable tube forming the wing’s front structure; correct PSI matters for shape and safety.

Strut

Inflatable spine(s) supporting wing canopy shape from leading edge toward the trailing edge.

Canopy

Fabric sail area of the wing that catches wind between leading edge and trailing edge.

Trailing edge

Back edge of the wing; trim and tension affect how cleanly the wing flies.

Self-rescue

Procedures to return to shore or stabilize when you cannot ride—pack mentality every freerider needs.

Right of way

Etiquette rules between riders (and swimmers)—essential on busy Essaouira trade afternoons.

Semi-private lesson

Small-ratio coaching format that often maximises wing time per euro versus large groups.

Learn wingfoil in Essaouira