Dan Hallam

Questions & Answers

What other water sports do you do and how long?

I enjoy all water based sports and will mostly likely be found at the beaches across the UK's South Coast trying to get afloat on either a windsurf board, kite kit or wing foiling. Where I can I enjoy a bit of surfing, SUP surfing or wake foiling or wakeboarding.

What do you like about wing foiling?

Ive really enjoyed learning something new. Also it's made the average days at the beach more exciting as the wave riding ability bis unrivalled.

How did you learn and how long did it take you to wing foil?

I jumped on my friends kit and went and gave it a go. Couldn't stop catching the wing tip on the water to begin with - after about 20mins I was foiling then a few sessions later had my gybes sorted. I had the advantage in that I had done quite a lot of kitefoiling, wingfoiling and some tow foiling.

What is your favorite gear combination and why?

I've been lucky enough to try quite a bit of kit and the F-One Swing is definitely up their as a great wing but looking forward trying their next one that's on its way. The Sling wing I'm using now is also really good. Foil wise, it's such a personal opinion but I'm really enjoying my F-One Phantom 1480. Board wise I'm still a bit undecided on what's best in terms of size, weight is my biggest influence on the board I choose currently. I've got some new kit heading my way in the next month so my opinions may change as I try some of the latest kit.

What was your favorite wing surfing session?

I did a 24 mile downWINGder from Swanage to Christchurch in the UK that was pretty epic. Also some over head high rolling swell sessions in Weymouth were as that was my entry into winging in big swell.

What do you want or believe will significantly improve the wing foiling gear?

We have already seen shifts in board sizes and now the foil sizes are coming down in size too. More time is what the sport needs, It's still a young sport so it just needs time for people to try it and it will grow and the kit will become more affordable and there will be more shredders doing more aspects of the sport in more areas.

What tips or recommendations do you have for anyone who wants to start?

Having taught people from scratch I don't think coming into the sport and thinking it's a light wind sport helps. Go out in 18 knots and learn then work on your light wind skills once you can do it. The people getting going in under 14knots are on kit designed for light winds.

What is your biggest water sport achievement?

Sailing across the Atlantic has to be one of my biggest achievements afloat.