Harder than wing surfing, since the foil adds a balance challenge, but very doable with coaching. Most people learn the wing first, then the foil.

Do I need experience?

Some wind-sport or board background helps, but keen beginners get there with lessons. Wing surfing first makes it easier.

Do I need to be able to swim?

Yes. You are on open water in a buoyancy aid, so you should be a confident swimmer.

Does it need a windy day?

Yes. It runs on wind, so lessons depend on suitable, steady conditions.

Taught properly, yes. The handheld wing is easy to release, and instructors teach you to handle the foil carefully. A helmet and buoyancy aid are sensible.

Wingfoiling à Canarias (Canary Islands)

Wingfoiling is the sport everyone is talking about, and for good reason. You hold a handheld inflatable wing for power and ride a board fitted with a hydrofoil, and once you are up to speed the foil lifts the whole board clear of the water. From there you fly along almost silently, the chop gone and the ride impossibly smooth. It feels like a magic trick the first time it happens.

It takes some learning, since you are mastering the wing and the foil at once, but it is more achievable than it looks with good coaching. Most people get comfortable on the wing first, then add the foil step by step.

The instructors on adventuro run wingfoiling lessons for all levels, with the kit and safety gear provided. Patience through the early splashes pays off the moment you first lift onto the foil.