When you’re wingfoiling, it’s imperative that you understand and respect all the safety rules, which are applicable both on and off the water. Spending some time familiarizing yourself with the relevant safety precautions and correct wingfoiling technique will allow you to fully enjoy the sport while remaining safe.

• Always check the weather forecast before you leave home. Don’t hesitate to make use of social media and web forums to ask local and more experienced riders about conditions and what to expect.
• When the day comes, be sure that the wind strength and water conditions correspond to your skill level. Be honest with yourself. 
• When you get to your spot, check the surroundings and the water access – if there are lots of swimmers and sunbathers it’s probably not the best place to sail!
• If the wind is offshore (blowing from the land), it’s not the best time to wingfoil! If you get into difficulties, the wind will very quickly blow you a long way out to sea.
• Before you launch, check out where there are shallows or sandbanks that you may need to avoid and plan a detour route. 

• On the beach, a sudden gust of wind can lift up and blow away a badly positioned board and foil, risking injury to people and damage to other equipment further downwind. We recommend always laying your board down flat, nose into the wind and your foil upright, with the wing protectors on.
• Never leave your board on the beach with the foil in place without putting on the wing protectors. It can lead to a lot of unexpected problems! 

• Always check over your equipment before you leave home or sail. Your wing and board leashes must be replaced if they show signs of wear and tear. The foil must be firmly screwed into its mountings and the wing should be inflated as specified by the manufacturer.
• Before going on the water, check over the downwind area in case the wind dies or you can’t stay in the wind zone. 
• Always have a rescue plan if you can’t get back to the place you started from.

• If there are lots of people at the water’s edge, respect the launching rules by swimming out far enough to launch safely, away from everyone.
• Always respect the sailing rules and conventions when you’re on the water. Make sure you understand them all and ask lifeguards or other wingfoilers if you are unsure.   
• Be aware of all other water users: swimmers, surfers, kitesurfers, and windsurfers as well as leisure crafts.

• Always avoid conditions when the wind is blowing off the land towards the sea.
• If possible, avoid going out alone.
• If you’re going for a “downwinder,” always let someone know when you’re leaving, where you’re going, and when you have arrived. Try to never go more than three miles offshore, and if you do, always take some kind of tracker like a smartwatch, GPS, or a VHF, as well as a distress flare and flashlight in case of emergency. 

• Don’t try showing off all your best jumps close to the shore! It can put yourself and others at risk of getting injured.
• In waves, avoid jumping/flying upwind of other riders. If your board leash breaks, your board could be a serious danger for anyone downwind. 
• A big advantage of wingfoiling is that you can get a good distance offshore very quickly and enjoy riding the big swells further out. If that’s what you’re looking for, find spots where foil boarding isn’t banned and where there aren’t too many people (surfers, windsurfers, kitesurfers, etc.).