Wingsurf Basics: How pressure affects the handling characteristics of your wing

Less wind, less pressure!

At the lower wind limit - when you have to pump in order to get on the foil at all - many wings benefit from being filled a little less tightly. If the manufacturer specifies a pressure range for wings, the lower limit should be selected. With specifications such as "inflate to max. 8psi" you can confidently inflate 1 psi less hard. The advantage: the reduced inflation pressure usually gives the wing a little more "life" and ensures that it charges up better when pumped up - this then provides a noticeable extra boost for light wind performance.

Pumping brings control

The situation is exactly the opposite at the upper wind limit - the main aim here is to stabilise the centre of effort and the profile of the wing as much as possible. This is best achieved by increasing the pressure of the wing, which increases the stiffness and thus the profile stability. In strong winds, you can confidently inflate to the upper end of the recommended range. However, deliberately exceeding the pressure specification is not a good idea, as the seams can then suffer over time.

The rider's body weight is also a factor: if you are rather light and weigh less than 70 kilos, you can often live with a little less inflation pressure than a 95-kilo lump, regardless of the wind force. Try it out!