Short mast to learn? The case for 75–85 cm from day one

Posted by WingFoil Admin on 2026-10-11

Conventional wisdom says learn on a short mast. SURF Magazin argues the opposite, and it sparks a good debate.

Key takeaways from the SURF Magazin article "Foils for wingsurfing: What length of foil mast makes sense?": • Masts run from about 30 to 100 cm. The author says length should depend mainly on your spot, not your skill level. • Holding a steady ride height is the hardest beginner skill, and a short mast leaves little margin, so you get more stalls and hard touchdowns. • With enough water depth, beginners do better on 75–85 cm: room to correct height, and chop does not slap the board. • In genuinely shallow water, 50–70 cm is a workable compromise at any level. Very short masts still help in supervised lessons. • Steep chop, waves and racing favour 85–95 cm. For most spots, 75–90 cm covers everyone.

Did you learn on a short mast or go straight to a longer one, and what length do you ride now at your home spot?

Source: Foils for wingsurfing: What length of foil mast makes sense? (SURF Magazin) — link below.