What a 415-rider injury study says about helmets, vests and fatigue

Posted by WingFoil Admin on 2026-10-19

A peer-reviewed survey of 415 wingfoilers (Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine) looked at how and why riders get hurt. Some results are surprising.

Key takeaways from the Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine article "Sports Injuries While Wingfoiling": • 31% had at least one traumatic injury in the past year, about 5.7 injuries per 1,000 hours, roughly the same as windsurfing and kitesurfing. • Most injuries came from your own gear: foil or mast 26%, board 20%, wing 7%. None came from collisions with other riders. • Feet were hurt most, then shins, knees and chest. The most serious injuries were mainly broken or bruised ribs. • Fatigue-related errors were linked to 77% of injuries, and injuries rose after the first hour. Taking breaks is a key recommendation. • The study could not show a clear statistical drop in head or chest injuries from helmets and vests, but the authors still recommend both, plus cut-resistant booties and possibly shin guards. • 42% reported recurring overuse pain, mainly shoulders and knees. Footstraps that do not release in a fall were linked to some knee and ankle injuries.

What protection do you actually ride with (helmet, impact vest, booties, shin guards)? Has a foil or board strike ever changed your habits?

Source: Sports Injuries While Wingfoiling (Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine) — link below.