Wave Riding Essentials – Bottom Turns & Floaters in Small Swell
You check the swell forecast. It says 2 feet. You might think it is too small. But for a wingfoiler, 2 feet is a playground.
Modern wave riding focuses on "linking." It is not about one big hit; it is about flowing through sections. Using tips from the 2025 GWA Wave discipline, here is how to dissect small wind swell.
The Wave Catch & Pump
The first skill is getting on. In light wind or small swell, you must pump the board and wing in sync with the wave's energy.
- Technique: As the lump lifts you, pump the foil. Once you feel the push of the wave, flag the wing to "neutral" (luffing) and let the ocean take over.
The Bottom Turn
This sets up everything. You drop down the wave face and carve hard at the bottom to generate speed for the climb back up.
- Pro Tip: Rail the foil deep into the water. Use the wing (held low) to help you point upwind and gain leverage against the turn.
The Top Turn Cutback
At the crest of the wave, you reverse direction. You carve back down the face.
- Execution: Lean back. Tweak the foil to slide the tail. Dump the power in your wing briefly to let the board snap around. This is the signature move of Cape Verde wave riders.
The Floater
Often, the wave breaks ahead of you. A surfer would pull out. A winger does a "Floater." You glide over the breaking whitewater section. The foil skims through the foam.
- Key: Extend your body forward to unweight the tail. Pump aggressively through the turbulence to maintain foil lift.
Linking Sections (The Combo)
The goal is flow. Chain a bottom turn into a top turn, then pump to the next section and hit a floater.
- Strategy: Maintain your speed. If you slow down, you sink. Adjust your foil angle to match the "peel line" of the wave.
Summary
Do not wait for a massive groundswell. Use the thermal wind chop or small wind swell at your local beach. Practice flagging the wing and carving the bumps. It is the purest form of foiling.