The recent development of foilboards, which plane very early on a hydrofoil fin and thereby lift off the water producing low friction, represent the ideal complementary hydrodynamic platform for wings.
15 years after Drake originally invented windsurfing in 1967, his updated, newer wing concept was different because it was not fixed to the board via a mast and universal joint.
Newer, lightweight, efficient, inflatable wings offer enough propulsion when combined with foilboards[6] to allow excellent performance characteristics.
[7] In March and April 2018, Hawaiian Flash Austin tested 3.5 m2 and 4 m2 handheld wings on a SUPfoil in Maui.
[8][9] Inspired by Flash’s success, Ken Winner began working on inflatable wings again and the sport as we know it was born.
In contrast to other sports, the wing is not board-bound: it can be used while riding a surfboard, kiteboard or standup paddle board, but also in combination with a skateboard, snowboard, or even on inline skates.
[12] Wing surfing companies have founded an organization for the sport called the Global Wingsports Association (GWA).