Wing, board and foil: find the names of your gear

Knowing the names makes your gear easier to understand

When you watch someone winging from far away, the first things you notice are the wing in their hands and the board under their feet. WingKids splits the gear into three main parts: the board, the wing and the foil. That doesn't mean you have to handle all three well from day one. The workbook suggests an order where you learn the basic moves first, and that leads to getting ready to learn the foil.

The board drawing marks the nose at the front, the tail at the back, the fin, the footstraps and the leash. The imaginary line running down the middle is the centreline. If you put too much of your weight on one side, the board can wobble, so this line helps you understand where to stand or put your knees. Also look for the personal floatation device TIKI is wearing in the picture.

On the wing, the names of the handles really matter. The neutral handle at the front and the power handles underneath are used at different times. The leash connects you to the wing so it can't blow away, and the workbook shows a wrist leash and a waist leash. The activity below is time to learn the names and jobs of each part before you get real gear ready.

Let's try it together

1. Find the board's centreline and the parts around it

   Point to the front and back of the board in the drawing, and trace a line down the middle with your finger. The centreline isn't always printed on a board. It's an imaginary line that helps you understand where things are. Find the footstraps, fin and leash too, and say their names. If a real board looks different from the drawing, don't assume every part is the same. Ask your instructor what's on the gear you'll use today.

2. Tell apart the front of the wing and its handles

   The front edge that meets the wind first is the leading edge, and the back edge is the trailing edge. The wide fabric part is the canopy, and the tube in the middle is the center strut. Find where the neutral handle and the front and back power handles are attached. In the picture, check the workbook's order: use the neutral handle to control the wing and work out the wind direction, then learn the power handles.

3. Check the connection before you pump

   The order is to attach the leash so the wing can't blow away, then use the pump. PSI on the gauge is a unit for air pressure, and too little or too much air can cause problems with the gear. Don't use the example number in the picture for every wing. Check the real product's recommended pressure with a grown-up. Learn how to open and close the valves, and how the tubes are set up, for the gear you actually use.

4. Take care of your gear during breaks too

   Even when you put the wing down, the wind keeps blowing. On the beach, you need to secure your gear safely, thinking about which way the wind is blowing. In the picture, find the side the wind reaches first and the side behind it, and look at what's nearby in case the gear moves. Leave the real way of securing it to your instructor to check. For the foil, start just by learning the names of the front wing and tail wing.