If you’re a kitesurfer looking for the next level — kitefoiling is probably what you’re thinking about. Riding above the water on a hydrofoil is a different experience from anything on a twintip. It’s quiet, smooth, and addictive. But it’s not for everyone and it’s not easy.
This article is an honest guide to kitefoiling in El Gouna — what you need to know, what equipment we use, and how to approach it.
What Is Kitefoiling
Kitefoiling = kitesurfing on a board with a hydrofoil instead of a classic twintip. A hydrofoil is a wing under the water on a mast. Once you gain speed, the wing generates lift and the board rises above the water. You ride above the surface — without water drag, without chop, without noise.
It’s a different feeling. Imagine riding a twintip — you feel the water under your feet, chop, impacts. On a foil, none of that. You fly. Silence, smoothness, speed with minimal effort.
Why It Requires Experience
Let’s be upfront: kitefoiling is not for beginners. Not because we want to be exclusive — but because it doesn’t work without fundamental skills.
Kite Control Must Be Automatic
On a twintip, you can focus on kite and board simultaneously — you do both consciously. On a foil, you need all your concentration on your feet — where the board is, how high you’re flying, how you’re tilting the foil. The kite you must steer automatically, subconsciously.
If you’re still thinking about where to put the kite — you don’t have the capacity for the foil. It’s that simple.
We Recommend IKO Level 2+
As a minimum, we recommend IKO Level 2 — meaning you can ride independently, do transitions, ride in both directions, bodydrag. Ideally, you should be able to jump and have dozens of hours on the water behind you.
Why? Because the foil reacts fast. A small change in foot pressure = a big change in height. If you’re not used to reacting instinctively — you’ll fall. And falling on a foil is different from falling on a twintip — the foil is sharp and moves unpredictably under water.
What Equipment We Use
Levitaz Foils
We use foils by Levitaz — a German brand we’ve known since 2015. Various wing sizes and mast lengths for different levels and conditions:
- Larger front wing = more lift, slower, more stable — better for foiling beginners
- Smaller wing = faster, more agile, less stable — for advanced
- Shorter mast = you ride closer to the water, less room for error, but works in shallow water
- Longer mast = more space above water, smoother ride, you need deeper water
Flysurfer Kites
For foiling, you typically ride a smaller kite than on a twintip (the foil has less drag, so you need less power). From our range of 250+ kites (Indie, Stoke, ERA, Soul, Sonic, Hybrid from 2.5 to 21 m²), our instructors or team at the rental will select the right size.
El Gouna Conditions for Foiling
Shallow Lagoon — Advantage and Disadvantage
Our lagoon is shallow with a sandy bottom. For learning to foil, the shallows are an advantage — fall and you stand up. But a foil with a longer mast (70-90 cm) needs depth, otherwise it digs into the bottom.
Solution: we have a rescue boat that takes you to deeper parts of the lagoon. Simple, it works.
Flat Water
The lagoon is sheltered — no waves. For foiling, flat water is ideal, especially when learning. On choppy water, you’d have to react to every bump — on a flat surface, you can focus purely on foil technique.
Wind
Kitefoiling works in lighter wind than a twintip. Thanks to minimal drag, a smaller kite and lighter wind suffice. This extends your wind window — days when you’d sit on the beach with a twintip, on a foil you ride.
How to Start Kitefoiling With Us
Open Hours
The most common format: you show up, say you want to try foiling. We verify your level (IKO card, brief chat, possibly we send you on the water on a twintip to see how you ride). If you’re ready, you get a foil board and ride.
Open hours cost €65-€115 per hour depending on format.
Individual Coaching
For faster progress, we offer individual coaching with an instructor. The instructor guides you through your first attempts, corrects technique, advises on equipment setup. That’s the fastest path.
Own Equipment
Have your own foil? No problem. Kitepass for €10/day, storage from €13/day. Bring your foil, leave it with us, ride whenever you want.
Typical Learning Progression
Days 1-2: Getting Acquainted
First attempts on the foil. Board on the water, you try to lift above the surface. You’ll fall — a lot. That’s normal. The foil reacts differently from a twintip and your brain is still learning.
Key: don’t think about the kite. If you’re thinking about the kite, you don’t have capacity for the foil. The kite must be on autopilot.
Days 3-5: First Flights
You start to lift and stay above water. First for a few seconds, then longer. You learn to control height — front foot pushes the board down (lower flight), back foot lifts it (higher flight). It’s like tightrope walking — constant small corrections.
Days 5+: Riding
You ride above the water consistently. You start working on turns, upwind riding, smoothness. This is where the addiction begins — that feeling of flight is so good, you don’t want to go back to a twintip.
Who It’s For and Who It’s Not
Ideal for:
- Experienced kitesurfers (IKO Level 2+, dozens of hours on the water)
- People looking for a new challenge
- Kitesurfers who want to ride in lighter wind
- Those seeking a quiet, smooth experience on the water
Not for:
- Kitesurfing beginners
- People who don’t yet have automatic kite control
- Those who don’t want to fall a lot (learning to foil = lots of falling)
Safety
The foil has sharp edges and moves under water quickly. Safety rules:
- Helmet — recommended whenever on a foil
- Impact vest — protects during falls
- Sufficient distance from other riders
- Rescue boat — always available
- Instructions from the team — where to ride, where not to, how to share the lagoon with others
We take foil safety seriously. A foil can be dangerous if you don’t respect it.
Conclusion
Kitefoiling is a progression worth pursuing — if you have the level for it. It’s a new dimension of kitesurfing: quieter, smoother, functional even in lighter wind. And El Gouna with its shallow lagoon, flat water, and rescue boat is one of the best places to start foiling.
Want to try it? Get in touch or check out the rental. We’ll advise whether you’re ready, select equipment, and get you on the water.