1 / 4 · Launching and carrying gear
2 / 4 · Location and weather
3 / 4 · Safety gear and riding with others
4 / 4 · Care before and after use
A good ride starts before you lay out your gear and carries on until it's dried and stored. If there's a lot to remember, split it into three scenes: “before you ride, while you ride, after you're back.”
01. Before: check where you'll come back first
Don't just look at where you'll go in; also check where you'll come back out, the depth, obstacles on the bottom and the wind direction. Starboard HQ's guide says to avoid big shorebreak or unpredictable stormy conditions, and to choose a spot where you can easily get back to the beach.
In particular, wind blowing from the land out to sea can carry you and your gear away from shore. As a beginner, avoid these conditions and follow the guidance of instructors and site operators. A forecast page isn't a verdict that guarantees safety on site.
02. One more check on your gear and protective equipment
Check the wing and leash for damage, and check that the valves are closed. Get a helmet, buoyancy gear suited to the activity and clothing suited to the water temperature ready, too. Don't think of an impact vest and a certified life jacket as the same thing.
It's better to ride with others nearby you can ask for help than to ride alone. If it's your first time at a spot, learn the riding areas and local rules first.
03. While you ride: keep distance between wing, foil and people
Take care that the foil's sharp parts don't touch the wing, and handle the wing so you don't fall onto it or drag it along the ground. Keep your gear under control and watch around you while going in and coming out, too.
Before changing direction or jumping, check other people's paths. Avoid swimming areas, crowded spots and spaces shared with other water activities, and leave plenty of room.
04. After you're back: rinse, dry and store
After using it in the sea, rinse it with fresh water. When you do, close the valves so no water gets into the bladders. Even if the surface looks fairly dry, dry it thoroughly, folds included, before putting it in the bag.
Starboard HQ's guide recommends letting the air out between sessions rather than leaving it inflated for long. Avoid high heat and strong sunlight, and check its condition again the next time you use it.
- Before: getting in and out, depth, wind, gear condition
- During: keep wing and foil apart, look out for people around you
- After: close the valves, rinse in fresh water, dry completely, store
Sources and scope
The illustrations are the original safety and care pages (pages 11–14) of Starboard's Wing User Guide; the explanation is Starboard Korea's commentary. The water temperature, wind speed, wave height and time figures in the original are the conditions given in that document and don't define a range in which any individual is fine to head out. Follow on-site instruction and local water rules as well. The distinction between types of buoyancy gear was added as Starboard Korea's editorial note.
The illustration is Starboard's original artwork; the explanation is Starboard Korea's editorial guide, translated into English here. Sources checked: 2026-09-08.
