I can ride my foil for 30+ minutes without stopping or falling, which obviously involves lots of transitions. For a long time I did these transitions without foot swaps. It is absolutely possible to do transitions without foot swaps, and to ride aggressively upwind on toeside. Maybe my snowboarding experience made it easier for me, but the single best piece of foiling advice that anybody ever gave me was "you don't have to learn foot swaps if you don't want to, just ride toeside" I'm learning foot swaps now, but I'm glad I learned to progress without them.
The Liquid Force impulse wing set is really good for light wind. On those days when the wind is dying, you can pump it to get back to shore (sometimes)!
For kite redirection before turns, I was told (as you said) to carve upwind to tighten the lines before turning the kite. In lighter wind the timing is much more important. I’m not sure why, but lately I’m screwing up the timing more often. Getting the lines tight first is super important and I’m probably getting lazy with it. Great vid! A foil jumping tutorial would be awesome.
Good stuff, keep em coming. Very interesting what you say about the gybe and turning slightly upwind before sending the keep to get the kite deeper in the window. Must try that next time.
Nice video and gear suggestions. Though it’s kind of costly, I’ve found having two foils set up on the beach beneficial for professing. First practice the moves on the 633 (or whatever large wing you ride), then grab the lower volume/higher aspect wing setup to follow up on. The lower volume wing will instantly tell you what fine details you need to go back to the big wing to practice on. For me, having that input within the same session seems to help.
I'm not tacking yet, either. I think the key is to go into it with some speed. The guys that are into racing make it look so easy, but every attempt I have made was total failure.
Nice stuff in there. I can jybe without feetchange on any drirection, i can feet swap only on once side, and been trying the tack lately with just 1-2 success (including one tack to toeside). For the tack, i found that if i thought i was going upwind enough, i wasn't. I have to force myself to try to get the board all the way around (so 360 or tack to toeside), to really have the feeling of it. Keep up the good work
I think this is another great video. Guess i'm going to ride some flatwater this summer and figure out how to switch my feet. LoL... Foiling is so humbling! C'mon down to SPI this fall and ride some waves ;)
I'm with you on tacks. They seem totally impossible now, but I'm just starting with them. On the other hand, air jibes felt impossible before but now are quite easy. It feels like lifty foil kite will help with air tacks and I only have one foil kite (12m). Inflatable kites are too fast and don't provide enough hang time for tacks at my skill level.
I just ordered a beginner foil setup. So, I might have to refer to this video in the future. Never used a rope slider spreader bar. Makes sense though. Thanks
Great vid - thanks! I'm now foiling in both directions on the tall mast. However, I still have to stop and do a waterstart on each change of direction. My question is: Is there a preferred technique to try first in order to ride in the other direction? should I attempt to come around to toeside and ride in the other direction remaining in toeside, or should I try switching my feet first (no toeside necessary) and then changing direction? Or is there no recommended "order of operations" it's just basically the wild-west and try whatever works for you? LOL - thanks again for the vids.
Ed. To me this is the Wild West. I believe investing in the footswitch pre transition is worth the effort. A quicker gratifying transition is probably heel to toe, but don’t fall in love with it, because most people do when they stop dipping on the water each tack. If you switch feet first, you can learn riding Toeside without learning it through a transition by just continuing your path of riding. To each their own unfortunately on this one.
I'm able to turn toe side but not do a foot switch transition just yet. Mostly flying a Cloud D 8m and Flysurfer Soul 12m. I have the big Lift 170 which is a very stable wing. I like your videos.
Just got my hydrofoil equipment ( gong foil similar to moses onda, big wing) and will start to try. My question is: should I use the back strap or not? Many users says that I should not, other say that it is better just to have a dedicated position of the feet at first trials....what is your advise? Thanks a lot and congrats for your videos and advises. Ciao!
It’s all personal preference, but I’ve never liked utilizing a back strap. I do however use a hybrid racing board (slingshot hypermiler) and I keep the back strap on but only put a foot ion it for jumping. That means I go to a wider stance than normal which took some time to get used to for jumping. Just my preference though.
Hey man love the art on the wall behind you. Where did u get it? Also how many session did it take you to transition on the foil... I have not kited with a surf board and It seems im scared to change feet... I’ve had 12 sessions on a foil so far.... fuck I wish I could turn so frustrating. From: The little bit better than shitty kiteboarder. Cheers
Hey Daniel, the artist is Shaun Thomas, he has a line of surf artwork. I also had no experience on a unidirectional. I spent 10-15 sessions just working on surface foot switches. Then it probably took another 10-20 sessions to become successful on air to switch feet. The front wing is extremely important as well. I found a foil setup with a lot of pitch control. It is frustrating and is a process. Best of luck, I don’t know of any shortcuts.
I’m trying to decide if I should start waterstarting with 1 strap in front or 2 straps in front ? As a windsurfer the 2 strap set up was the norm but several friends suggest the One strap as a beginner. What was your experience and do you think and does it matter ?
I was “forced” to start with a windsurf setup by my buddy in Cozumel. Happy I did because it makes it much easier for switch foot jibing because the angles are less during foot changes.
2 straps is best in my opinion. Later on when you're learning gybes and tacks, having the 2 strap setup is much easier so... might as well get used to it at the start!
actually, go for the full 3 strap setup: you'll have to get used to taking your back foot in and out, but again, this is a skill you will need later on anyway, so might as well get used to it! Also: jumping.
What a well prepared video. Finally a video an average joe can follow. You are my hero dude.
Thx for the kind words.
Great check list my friend...we’re all working through it with every session. Remember, there are no bad days on the water.
I can ride my foil for 30+ minutes without stopping or falling, which obviously involves lots of transitions. For a long time I did these transitions without foot swaps. It is absolutely possible to do transitions without foot swaps, and to ride aggressively upwind on toeside. Maybe my snowboarding experience made it easier for me, but the single best piece of foiling advice that anybody ever gave me was "you don't have to learn foot swaps if you don't want to, just ride toeside"
I'm learning foot swaps now, but I'm glad I learned to progress without them.
The Liquid Force impulse wing set is really good for light wind. On those days when the wind is dying, you can pump it to get back to shore (sometimes)!
For kite redirection before turns, I was told (as you said) to carve upwind to tighten the lines before turning the kite. In lighter wind the timing is much more important. I’m not sure why, but lately I’m screwing up the timing more often. Getting the lines tight first is super important and I’m probably getting lazy with it. Great vid! A foil jumping tutorial would be awesome.
Just found your channel and subscribed. Love the tone and realism.
Thx M!
Good stuff, keep em coming. Very interesting what you say about the gybe and turning slightly upwind before sending the keep to get the kite deeper in the window. Must try that next time.
Thanks for sharing, your points are very helpful
Nice video and gear suggestions. Though it’s kind of costly, I’ve found having two foils set up on the beach beneficial for professing. First practice the moves on the 633 (or whatever large wing you ride), then grab the lower volume/higher aspect wing setup to follow up on. The lower volume wing will instantly tell you what fine details you need to go back to the big wing to practice on. For me, having that input within the same session seems to help.
I'm not tacking yet, either. I think the key is to go into it with some speed. The guys that are into racing make it look so easy, but every attempt I have made was total failure.
Great video great information thank you
Nice stuff in there.
I can jybe without feetchange on any drirection, i can feet swap only on once side, and been trying the tack lately with just 1-2 success (including one tack to toeside).
For the tack, i found that if i thought i was going upwind enough, i wasn't. I have to force myself to try to get the board all the way around (so 360 or tack to toeside), to really have the feeling of it.
Keep up the good work
Nice editing!
I think this is another great video. Guess i'm going to ride some flatwater this summer and figure out how to switch my feet. LoL... Foiling is so humbling! C'mon down to SPI this fall and ride some waves ;)
I'm with you on tacks. They seem totally impossible now, but I'm just starting with them. On the other hand, air jibes felt impossible before but now are quite easy. It feels like lifty foil kite will help with air tacks and I only have one foil kite (12m). Inflatable kites are too fast and don't provide enough hang time for tacks at my skill level.
I agree, just enjoying staying semi dry at this point in my progression. Time to get back on the failure 🚂.
I was waiting for summer water temps to plunge into tacks. It will be another 500 fails. I recently pulled fully dry session :D
Nice video thanks
Have you talked about what your favorite harnesses?
I haven’t. I don’t have a specific preference outside of a seat harness with rope slider.
Wow, bro your videos are getting better! Hey, good thing Jonah wasn't a kiteboarder, he might of got away from that 🐳! 😆
I just ordered a beginner foil setup. So, I might have to refer to this video in the future. Never used a rope slider spreader bar. Makes sense though. Thanks
Great vid - thanks! I'm now foiling in both directions on the tall mast. However, I still have to stop and do a waterstart on each change of direction. My question is: Is there a preferred technique to try first in order to ride in the other direction? should I attempt to come around to toeside and ride in the other direction remaining in toeside, or should I try switching my feet first (no toeside necessary) and then changing direction? Or is there no recommended "order of operations" it's just basically the wild-west and try whatever works for you? LOL - thanks again for the vids.
Ed. To me this is the Wild West. I believe investing in the footswitch pre transition is worth the effort. A quicker gratifying transition is probably heel to toe, but don’t fall in love with it, because most people do when they stop dipping on the water each tack. If you switch feet first, you can learn riding Toeside without learning it through a transition by just continuing your path of riding. To each their own unfortunately on this one.
The OK Kiteboarder Great! Thanks so much for the reply... as soon as we get some wind again I’ll get on it!
I'm able to turn toe side but not do a foot switch transition just yet. Mostly flying a Cloud D 8m and Flysurfer Soul 12m. I have the big Lift 170 which is a very stable wing. I like your videos.
Thx Geno. Sounds like you’re well on your way. 👍🏻
Just got my hydrofoil equipment ( gong foil similar to moses onda, big wing) and will start to try. My question is: should I use the back strap or not? Many users says that I should not, other say that it is better just to have a dedicated position of the feet at first trials....what is your
advise? Thanks a lot and congrats for your videos and advises. Ciao!
It’s all personal preference, but I’ve never liked utilizing a back strap. I do however use a hybrid racing board (slingshot hypermiler) and I keep the back strap on but only put a foot ion it for jumping. That means I go to a wider stance than normal which took some time to get used to for jumping. Just my preference though.
Hey man love the art on the wall behind you.
Where did u get it?
Also how many session did it take you to transition on the foil... I have not kited with a surf board and It seems im scared to change feet... I’ve had 12 sessions on a foil so far.... fuck I wish I could turn so frustrating.
From: The little bit better than shitty kiteboarder.
Cheers
Hey Daniel, the artist is Shaun Thomas, he has a line of surf artwork. I also had no experience on a unidirectional. I spent 10-15 sessions just working on surface foot switches. Then it probably took another 10-20 sessions to become successful on air to switch feet. The front wing is extremely important as well. I found a foil setup with a lot of pitch control. It is frustrating and is a process. Best of luck, I don’t know of any shortcuts.
Foil face! 5:49
I’m trying to decide if I should start waterstarting with 1 strap in front or 2 straps in front ? As a windsurfer the 2 strap set up was the norm but several friends suggest the One strap as a beginner. What was your experience and do you think and does it matter ?
I was “forced” to start with a windsurf setup by my buddy in Cozumel. Happy I did because it makes it much easier for switch foot jibing because the angles are less during foot changes.
2 straps is best in my opinion. Later on when you're learning gybes and tacks, having the 2 strap setup is much easier so... might as well get used to it at the start!
actually, go for the full 3 strap setup: you'll have to get used to taking your back foot in and out, but again, this is a skill you will need later on anyway, so might as well get used to it! Also: jumping.
do you suggest developing heel to toe in both directions?
I would recommend symmetry with all development. 👍🏻
👍