Downwind foiling (with a parawing or SUP foil) is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be dangerous. Especially for beginners, wind strength, changing conditions, and proper planning play a crucial role. With good preparation, the right equipment, and respect for the conditions, downwind runs can remain controlled, safe, and enjoyable.
This guide focuses on practical safety rules for downwind foiling, including preparation, self-rescue, and emergency situations.
Preparation (MUST-DO CHECKLIST)
- If possible, do not go downwind foiling alone → find & add you local spots and crew in our foiling map
- Use a board leash and inspect it before every run
- Take a phone with you (waterproofed) and share your live location with someone
- Tell someone your plan (route, expected exit point, and timing)
- Wear the correct neoprene suit for the water temperature
- In cold conditions: pack closed neoprene gloves in case you need to paddle back by hand
- In hot conditions: use sun protection
- Wear a personal flotation device (PFD) with a whistle and light
- Bring food (fast energy) and drinking water
- Carry a tourniquet for deep foil cuts
- Extra safety: bring a personal locator beacon (PLB) with a strobe light
- Extra safety: wear a helmet
- Extra safety: wear something brightly colored
- Check the weather forecast (temperature, swell, wind, lightning) and daylight hours
- Prefer short, safe runs over one long and committing run, especially in winter or strong winds
- Bonus tip for the ocean: bring a line cutter knife
Have a Plan B (Self-Rescue)
Your paddle can break. Your parawing, foil, or even your board can be lost. Always assume that something may fail.
- Stay within realistic paddling distance of shore (for most this is less than 2 km)
- Keep enough energy reserve for self-rescue
- If everything fails, you must be able to swim or paddle back to shore
- After a fall, take time to recover: stay calm, breathe, reset
- Do not rush back onto foil when tired or stressed
- When in doubt, abort early
In Case of Emergency
If all preparation fails:
- Stay with your board whenever possible
- Call 112 (works in most countries worldwide) or 911 (US, Canada, Mexico) and have your coordinates ready.
- Use your whistle, light, or strobe
- Wave both arms above your head to signal for help
- Use your PLB if everything else fails.
This downwind foiling safety guide is open source and can be found on GitHub. We welcome your contributions via pull requests or by sending ideas and feedback via email.
For readers who consider safety advice overrated, here are our moronic downwind foiling safety tips:
Moronic Downwind Foiling Safety Tips
- Leashes are for dogs, don’t let anybody think you are a kook by using one
- Traveling light is essential: no vest, no phone, no water, no food - board shorts only
- Under no circumstances go foiling in conditions you are familiar with or comfortable in
- Never tell anybody what downwind run you have planned
- Sand your mast and foils as sharp as possible
- Nighttime runs are the best time of day
- No need for conditioning, don’t train your fitness, it’s for influencers
- Even if you’ve never foiled before, just go out there. You’ll figure it out on the fly
- New gear? Best place to test it is a sketchy 100 km run
- Historically, the best carvers have always been ninjas. Dress accordingly, dark colours are key (this is where your common sense is required: will you dress like a ninja to not be seen, but then have the problem of too much sun protection or not travelling light enough?)
- The further away from shore, the more fun
- Hurricanes or lightning storms make the best waves
- Success does not come for free: always go well beyond your limits
- Having a plan B means you are not fully committed to plan A
- If in doubt, continue. Don’t be a little bitch, always go all in
- If in trouble, freak out and fight for your life, there’s no help coming
- Every man for himself: you fall, you die