Learning kite foil
from scratch

Kite foil is the discipline on everyone's lips in kitesurfing right now. Flying above the water from as little as 8 knots of wind, it delivers a unique kind of glide with far less physical effort. Here's what a kite foil beginner needs to know to get started with confidence.

1. What is kite foil?

Kite foil combines a kitesurfing kite with a board fitted with a hydrofoil: a structure shaped like a miniature aircraft that's bolted underneath the board. Once you're going fast enough, the foil's wings generate lift and raise the board clear of the water. The rider then flies, roughly 60–90cm above the surface.

This is the same hydrodynamic principle used by sailing foilers and SUP foils. The key difference with kite foil is that it's the kite doing the pulling, not a sail or a paddle. The result is an incredibly smooth sensation of flight, without the chop of waves or the drag of a hull dragging through the water.

2. Why kite foil is more accessible than you'd think

Contrary to what many assume, kite foil is a surprisingly accessible discipline once you've got the fundamentals of kitesurfing down. Here's why:

• A wider wind range: the foil flies from as little as 8 to 12 knots, where a classic twin-tip would struggle to get planing. You can ride sessions others are sitting out on the beach.
• An ultra-smooth ride: flying above the water means no chop, no bumps, no cross-swell breaking your rhythm. The glide is continuous and near-silent.
• Less physical: with no board friction against the water, the muscular effort involved is dramatically reduced. Sessions can run longer and tire you out less.
• Easier upwind riding: the foil offers an exceptional upwind angle. You go upwind almost like a sailing boat, with very little effort. It's one of the most appreciated advantages of foiling.

3. The gear you need to get started with kite foil

The foil board

To begin, choose a dedicated foil board rather than a modified twin-tip. Foil boards are wider (60–75cm), thicker and more stable. They offer enough volume (40–80 litres) for the water start and floating at the beginning of a session. "Compact" or turf-style models are ideal for beginners because their shape reduces drag on take-off.

The mast

Mast height determines flying altitude. To begin, a mast of 75 to 85cm is recommended. The shorter the mast, the more stable and forgiving the foil. Masts of 90cm and above offer more performance but are less stable for your first sessions.

The fuselage

The fuselage connects the mast to the wings. Its length affects stability: a longer fuselage (85–95cm) gives more longitudinal stability, which makes learning easier. A short fuselage (65–75cm) is more manoeuvrable but demands more precision.

The front wing

This is the single most important part for a kite foil beginner. Front wing size determines your lift and your usable wind range:

The rear wing

The rear wing (or stabiliser) provides longitudinal stability. To begin, a rear wing with a larger surface and a flat profile offers the best compromise between stability and ease of use.

4. Choosing the right kite for foiling

Foil is ridden with smaller kites than classic twin-tip kitesurfing. The reason: the foil produces far less drag, so you need less power to keep moving. Too big a kite will overpower you quickly.

Recommended kite size

• 8–12 knots: 9–12m² kite (light wind)
• 12–18 knots: 7–9m² kite
• 18–25 knots: 5–7m² kite

What type of kite should you choose?

Inflatable kites (LEI: Leading Edge Inflatable) remain the standard for kite foil thanks to their buoyancy (they float if they hit the water) and their rigid structure, which makes water relaunches easier. Recent kites designed specifically for foiling, such as the Duotone Unit, are particularly well regarded: their wind range is broad and their handling precise.

5. Prerequisites: what you need to know before you start

Kite foil is not a discipline for complete beginners. Before you even think about foiling, you need to have the fundamentals of kitesurfing under control, independently:

• A reliable water start: getting going from the water in both directions, without hesitation
• Riding both ways: comfortable on both tacks
• Going upwind: the ability to make it back to your starting point unassisted
• Managing the wind window: flying the kite, working the power zones and depowering
• Independent safety: self-rescue, understanding right of way on the water, reading the conditions and checking the Met Office marine forecast

If you're still learning to kitesurf, start with our advice on getting started in kitesurfing before you think about foiling. Reckon on 15 to 30 kitesurfing sessions before you're ready for the transition to foil.

6. Progression: your first kite foil sessions

Sessions 1–3: the first take-off

Your first sessions focus on one thing only: feeling the foil take off. Pick ideal conditions: 10 to 15 knots of wind, flat water, few other people around. Water-start in your normal stance on the foil board. At first, the board will pitch, slap the water, and settle again. That's normal.

Gradually you'll feel the board start to lift. The moment the foil takes off for the first time is an unforgettable feeling: silence, smoothness, flight. Hold it for 2–3 seconds, then settle back down. Repeat the exercise until take-off becomes reliable.

Sessions 4–7: stabilising the flight

Once take-off clicks, the goal is to hold the flight over increasing distances. The secret is body weight control. In foil, it's body position that controls altitude, not the kite. Shift back to climb, forward to descend. The movements are subtle: millimetres of shift make all the difference.

Sessions 8–12: first gybes

The gybe on a foil is more technical than on a twin-tip, because you have to manage the transition between flying and touching down, and back again. The method:

Sessions 13+: pumping and long-distance flight

Pumping is the technique of generating lift through rhythmic body movements, even when the wind drops. It's the skill that separates intermediate foilers from confirmed ones. Pumping is learned gradually: start with light knee flexes and see how the foil responds.

7. Safety specific to kite foil

Foiling introduces specific risks that every rider needs to know:

The foil is sharp

Carbon foil wings are extremely sharp. When you fall, never fall towards the foil. The golden rule: always fall forwards, away from the foil, pushing the board out in front of you. Wear a helmet and an impact vest as standard during your early sessions.

Keeping your distance

A flying foil moves faster than a standard kitesurfer. Keep a minimum distance of 30 metres from any other water user (kitesurfers, swimmers, paddlers). In busy areas, slow down and stay low.

Self-rescue on a foil

If something goes wrong, self-rescue (getting yourself back to the beach unaided) is more complex with a foil, because the board is less buoyant and the foil creates drag in the water. Practise coming back to the beach in "no foil" mode (foil in the water, board flat) before you venture far from shore.

8. Budget: what does a kite foil set-up cost?

Here's a realistic breakdown of what to expect for a kite foil beginner set-up:

Well-regarded brands in foiling include Axis, Slingshot, F-One, Lift Foils, Nautilus and Jobe. For a beginner, a good-brand secondhand set-up is more than enough for your first 20–30 sessions.

9. Best conditions and where to fly a kite foil

Kite foil is best ridden in specific conditions that differ from classic kitesurfing:

The ideal conditions

• Flat water: lagoons, lakes, sheltered bays, flats. The foil hates chop and short, bumpy waves that disrupt take-off.
• Light to moderate wind: 8 to 18 knots. The foil comes into its own in conditions where a twin-tip struggles.
• Plenty of open space: the foil needs distance to build speed and take off. Avoid confined areas.
• Enough depth: the mast is typically 75–90cm long. You need at least 1.5m of water depth to avoid striking the bottom.

Good UK spots for kite foiling

Several UK locations offer the flat water and steady wind that kite foil thrives on:

• Hayling Island (Hampshire): a large area of sheltered water and a strong kite community make it one of the best places on the south coast to build foil hours.
• Portland Harbour (Dorset): a big, protected harbour with flat water and reliable wind, popular with foilers looking to avoid open-sea chop.
• West Wittering (West Sussex): flat water at low tide and plenty of room to spread out, ideal for early foil sessions.
• The Solent (Hampshire/Isle of Wight): sheltered stretches with consistent thermal and sea-breeze wind, a favourite for light-wind foiling.

To discover more locations, browse our guide to the best UK kitesurfing spots.

10. The future of kite foil: racing, freestyle and downwind

Kite foil is expanding fast and now covers several distinct disciplines:

Kite foil racing

Kite foil racing is the discipline's headline event. "Foil race" competitions pit foilers against each other around regatta-style courses. Top speed in racing can reach 25–30 knots (28–34mph). The IKA Formula Kite world championship draws athletes from around the globe, and kite foil racing has also become an Olympic sport.

Kite foil freestyle

Freestyle foiling is the discipline's emerging edge. Riders throw jumps, rotations and grabs while airborne above the water. The tricks are spectacular because flying height allows airs of several metres. Brands including Slingshot and F-One now build gear specifically for freestyle foiling.

Downwind foil

Downwind foiling means riding ocean swells on a foil over distances of several kilometres. It's one of the most extraordinary experiences in the whole of watersports – combining the power of the kite with the lift of the foil to ride swell in a straight line for kilometre after kilometre. Spots such as Maui and Tarifa are world references for downwind foiling, and stretches of sheltered UK coastline are increasingly attracting foil downwinders too.

Just starting out in kitesurfing and foiling has caught your eye already? Begin with the basics in our guide to getting started in kitesurfing and explore the full world of kitesurfing on Matosurf.