5 Min Wingfoil Tutorial: How to Switch your Feet

Are you ready to take your wingfoiling skills to the next level? In this brief tutorial, we'll guide you through the process of perfecting foot switches while wingfoiling. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn this essential technique or an intermediate rider wanting to improve your fluidity on the water, this video has got you covered.
Join our experienced wingfoiling instructors, Gav and Chris as they break down the foot switch technique into 3 easy-to-follow steps. From the positioning to timing and the the all important back foot, we'll provide valuable tips and tricks to help you nail your foot switches every time. By mastering foot switches, you'll enhance your maneuverability, boost your confidence, and unlock a whole new realm of possibilities in your wingfoiling sessions.
Key tutorial highlights:
0:00 Intro
1:38 Start the clock
1:44 Movement
3:31 Timing
4:39 Back Foot
5:28 Conclusion
**Note: Wingfoiling can be an extreme water sport. Ensure you have the necessary skills, experience, and safety equipment before attempting foot switches or any advanced maneuvers. Always practice in appropriate weather and water conditions, and consult with a professional instructor if needed.

[@harryhalfmoon]

Thanks for this. Particularly for stressing the importance of repetition.

[@hydrofoilacademy]

You are welcome mate. Trying to share the knowledge. I’m a slow learner so it took me 1000s of goes at it. Keep at it, you will get there. 🤙

[@ricardoseveneves]

Great tip. Will start trying as soon as I can.

[@hydrofoilacademy]

Best of luck!

[@juliantaylor3419]

Wow great video so helpful

[@hydrofoilacademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tomaszkurzawa1074]

Thank you guys for your advice😊👍

[@hydrofoilacademy]

Our pleasure!

[@xxxyyy4538]

love the "1-2-3" hint❤
will try. typically do my switch with a quick touch-down.
(also, had to change board. many things worked, but, not foot switch 😅)

[@hydrofoilacademy]

Did it work?

[@xxxyyy4538]

@@hydrofoilacademy unfortunately broke my skywing board, so "re-learning" basics on a new, smaller board😅

[@martinomovies]

Some good tips. I ride with a semi open stance. So I’ll try to line my feet up along the centerline before the gybe. Also a good tip to practice while in taxi in 12 knots. That’s hard to do because I just want to get up on foil!

[@hydrofoilacademy]

Yes, I found this to be so important. Feet need to be on the centre line. I hope that helps you.

[@xxxyyy4538]

hmm. "but"... riding switch is much more comfortable with open stance...
perhaps some adjustments before foot switch?

[@jensomatdreitausend9610]

Great tutorial! Thank you! How can you avoid the wing pulling you elsewhere when switching feet? What’s the correct handling of the wing?

[@hydrofoilacademy]

I put the wing high and sheet in a bit. This gives you a bit of weightlessness to help with the change.

[@simonvictorsmith8730]

Great tutorial. I've not so far heard the tip of pushing the nose down first, I've only heard that you should press the tail down to get the nose to rise before stepping forward. What are your thoughts on that please?

[@hydrofoilacademy]

Both will work but i find it easier to get into a rhythm by pressing with the front foot first.

[@blairj88]

Epic

[@hydrofoilacademy]

Thank You Blair 🙏

[@davidhmws]

How do you feel about learning how to do this before learning how to jibe? That would mean learning to sail toeside before learning to jibe, and then learning to jibe by switching feet first? Seems appealing to me rather than switching feet after jibing.

[@Tobeon2]

My personal experience is that switching to the heel side from the toe side after the jibe has been relatively easy. The following is the degree of difficulty of progressing based on my personal experience (1 being the easiest and 6 being the hardest)
1. Jibing
2. Switching from the toe side to heel side after jibing
3. Going up wind on a toe side on wavy condition.
4. Going fast on a toe side
5. Foot switch from the heel side to the toe side
6. Tacking.
I am still working on 5 & 6 and I can only do the toe side tacking at about 15-20 % success rate at this point. I would NOT even try heelside tack for a while... 😅😅😅

[@davidhmws]

@@Tobeon2 hey thanks for the personal perspective.

[@hydrofoilacademy]

I have to agree with the comments below. I think the natural steps are to gybe first then the footswaps. Thats not set in stone though, if it works for you, then go for it.

[@nicoduvivier1561]

Nice tutorial, but for what reason everyone is riding with foot strap (except for freestyle) i find i disturbing 😳

[@hydrofoilacademy]

I find footstraps give me stability

[@johnrussell3680]

😓 promo sm

[@hydrofoilacademy]

That was not the intention. Sorry you think that.