OXZAWing foil gear for beginners: the complete setup checklist
1. Board
Volume = your weight in kg + 30–40 L for the first season. An 80 kg rider wants 110–125 L. Width matters for stability on the knees; length matters less. Plate-mount (twin track) is the standard.
2. Foil — the four parts
This is the part OXZA builds, and the part worth getting right because it outlives three boards.
| Part | Pick | Why | Direct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front wing | REVSTAR-A 800 (75–95 kg) · A 1100 (95 kg+ or light wind) · A 725s (under 75 kg) | Mid-aspect, early lift, forgiving — why | $1,099 |
| Mast | REVSTAR-M 84 (flat water) · M 94 (chop) | Stable standard profile — guide | $1,099–1,199 |
| Fuselage | FU700 T8 AL | All-round length, aluminium first — guide | $450 |
| Stabilizer | ST-A 200 | Max pitch stability while learning | $250 |
Total foil, direct: about $2,900. Build Your Setup assembles exactly this and checks compatibility.
3. Hand wing
Roughly 5 m² for 70–90 kg riders in 15–20 knots. Your first wing should have a stiff centre strut and handles you can find without looking. Buy it used if you can — you will outgrow it.
4. Leashes and safety
- Wrist or waist leash for the wing. Non-negotiable.
- Coiled board leash. Also non-negotiable.
- Impact vest and helmet. The foil is sharp and the board is hard; the first month is mostly falling.
5. Wetsuit
By water temperature, not air. Hood River in May is ~50 °F: 5/4 with hood and boots. July: 3/2. The Gorge season post has the table.
What to skip for now
- High-aspect wings. Season two.
- Carbon or titanium fuselage. Upgrade the fuselage alone later; everything else carries over.
- Masts over 94 cm. More mast is more ways to fall.
- A quiver. One wing, one foil, lots of sessions.
The upgrade path, so you don't over-buy
Season 1: everything above. Season 2: add an L 750 for light days and move to a titanium fuselage if you ride salt. Season 3: a 104 mast, a smaller stab. Every step keeps the rest of the kit.
Questions
What size board should a beginner wing foiler buy?
Body weight in kg plus 30–40 litres. A 80 kg rider learns fastest on 110–125 L.
How much does a beginner wing foil setup cost?
Foil direct from OXZA: about $2,900 (A 800 wing, M 84 mast, FU700 AL, ST-A 200). Add a board, a wing and a wetsuit from elsewhere and a complete kit lands around $4,500–6,000.
What wing size for a beginner wing foiler?
Around 5 m² for riders 70–90 kg in 15–20 knots. Bigger for lighter wind, smaller for strong wind or lighter riders.
#beginner #wingfoil #setup #checklist #buyingguide
Keep reading
Where to wing foil in Hood River: the Gorge spot guide
The main Hood River launches for wing foiling, windsurf-foiling and kitefoiling — Sandbar, the Event Site, Wells Island, Stevenson, Rowena — with wind, current, crowd and skill notes from the OXZA workshop down the road.
High aspect vs low aspect foil wings: which one should you ride?
High-aspect hydrofoil wings glide and pump further; low-aspect wings lift early and forgive mistakes. How to decide by your riding, your conditions and your skill — with REVSTAR examples from AR 7 to AR 13.
Fuselage length: what it actually changes on a hydrofoil
Why a 600 mm and an 860 mm fuselage ride like different foils with the same wings — pitch stability, turning, pumping, stall — and how to pick between REVSTAR FU600, FU700, FU860 and FU1000.