Why You Should Try Wingfoil with a Downwind Board

Downwind boards exploded onto the foiling scene recently, initially designed to make it easy for SUP foilers to get on the foil out in the middle of the ocean. Thanks to their long and narrow design, downwind boards build and maintain water surface speed much better than shorter and wider foilboards. It didn't take long for foil addicts to realise that downwind boards also allow you to wingfoil in unimaginably light winds.

Not interested in freestyle? Does your home spot have more lightwind days, or do you just love chasing breezy and glassy conditions? We strongly recommend you try a downwind board—we’re confident it will blow your mind. We’re going to go over the ENSIS downwind board, the WALTZ, and explain why it works and why it is great for lightwind wingfoiling.

How the WALTZ Works and Why It Is Great

Long and Narrow

Longer boards are faster through the water (when not planing), but if you simply made a board longer, you would also increase the drag and the power needed to make that board go fast. This is balanced by trading off on the width and going narrower, thereby reducing the drag but also the stability. The dimensions of a downwind board need to be carefully balanced, but when done correctly the end result is a board that easily gains speed with minimal power.

"A boat’s ability to go fast is a balancing act between its length and the power driving it, whether supplied by wind or engine," - Jerry Milgram, Professor of Marine Technology at MIT.

The Rails

Part of the secret sauce in the WALTZ design is the square/sharp rails that run far forward on the board. It's all about water flow. When a board moves forward, the displaced water flows around it. Water tends to flow up and hug rounded rails, sticking the board to the water surface and increasing drag. Square rails break the curve and give the flow of water a point to release from, rather than hold on. This means that the WALTZ accelerates quicker and releases from the water surface easier, which is perfect for foil takeoffs. The front rail section and nose are kept rounded, so when you touch down, it is smooth and natural.

The Tail

The WALTZ pin tail gives you more leverage when you’re pumping the board to generate speed, which also makes it easy to pitch the board up for foil takeoff from the water.

Why Wingfoil with the WALTZ

In moderate and “normal” wind conditions, the qualities of the WALTZ make it incredibly easy to get on the foil. It allows you to use a smaller wing, a smaller foil, or a combination of both. In light wind, you can easily build speed with minimal pumping until foil takeoff, and when you fall in, you will have the confidence to get back on the foil. The WALTZ is so good in light wind that, with good technique and practice, you will start foiling in almost no wind.

If you’re not interested in jumping or freestyle, and you are a competent foiler who can handle a narrower board, the WALTZ is a must-have for your wingfoil quiver. You’ll get more days on the water and get on the foil quicker with less effort. The WALTZ is versatile, and if you’re interested in SUP foiling, you should size your board according to those needs. But if you’re interested in the WALTZ purely as a wingfoil board, it is available in sizes from 85L to 135L. As a guideline, we would recommend picking a size that is at least 15 liters more than the volume you’re currently using.