What Are the Main Parts of a Hydrofoil? A Beginner’s Guide
If you're thinking of getting into kite foiling, wing foiling, or foil surfing, understanding your gear is essential — especially the hydrofoil itself. A foil setup might look complex at first, but it’s made up of just five key components, each playing an important role in how you ride.
Let’s break them down:
1. 🛹 The Board
The board is what you stand on — and it needs to be compatible with your foil setup. Most foil boards have a mounting track or a 4-bolt pattern that connects to the mast.
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For beginners: Choose a larger board with extra volume (float). More floatation helps you recover from mistakes and reduces nose-diving — which happens a lot when you're learning!
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Front foot strap: Highly recommended when you're starting. It helps with consistent foot placement and gives you more control during water starts, which you’ll be doing a lot.
💡 Pro tip: Don’t use a regular kiteboard or surfboard unless it’s specifically designed for foil attachment.
2. 📏 The Mast
The mast connects your board to the foil below. It determines how high you ride above the water and affects both stability and handling.
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Short masts (40–60 cm): Great for learning and shallow water spots. Easier to control and recover from crashes.
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Medium masts (60–85 cm): A balanced option for progression and all-round use.
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Long/tall masts (90+ cm): Favoured for racing and freeride cruising. They offer a higher ride and allow you to handle choppier conditions — plus they feel awesome once you're confident!
3. 🦅 The Front Wing
This is the most critical part of your foil — it provides the lift that allows you to glide above the water.
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Larger wings (high aspect): More lift, more stability, and better low-speed performance — ideal for surfing waves, cruising, or learning.
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Smaller/narrower wings (low aspect): Built for speed, agility, and racing. They have less drag and a more responsive feel, but are harder to control.
💡 Think of the front wing as your “engine” — it controls how fast you lift, how stable you are, and how much effort it takes to ride.
4. 🦋 The Stabilising Wing (Rear Wing)
This smaller wing sits behind the front wing and balances out your ride. It doesn’t generate much lift, but it provides pitch control and smooth handling.
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Usually comes matched to your front wing.
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Some riders experiment with different tail wings to fine-tune their ride (for example, more speed vs. more stability).
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Rear wing angle shims can also change performance — more lift or more looseness.
5. 🔩 The Fuselage
The fuselage is the long bar that connects the front wing, rear wing, and mast. It plays a crucial role in stability, turning radius, and balance.
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Longer fuselages: More stable, ideal for beginners and wave riders.
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Shorter fuselages: More manoeuvrable and playful, but twitchier.
💡 Just like the wings, fuselages are often designed to match a brand's wing sets, so make sure your setup is compatible.