short shaft - interesting idea on how to learn foiling

[fun2kite]

Looks like an awesome way to get started with foiling.
Will other manufactures come up with short shafts? Could also be used in shallow locations.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5&v=pzRG6n11t1w[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5&v=pzRG6n11t1w

[nothing2seehere]

Can't find the other thread but it was suggested before. I was quite interested in the discussion because I'm about to start learning. From what I remember the general consensus was that it was additional expense for maybe 1-2 hours of use.

Its probably an interesting idea for a school offering lessons but I think the general consensus was that you just wouldn't get the use out of it. Even as a shallow water toy I don't know how often you would use it as you would probably find you end up going elsewhere because the shallow water is probably full of other learners crashing their kites on top of each other anyway

[ROLAVI]

I bought a moderate/intermediate foil and on my 4 session I was still not quite dialed in. A person watching me said I was going too fast and out of control. He offered to let me use his custom shorter mast lower aspect lift foil and board. The setup was probably 1/3 easier and I could kite in control make some transitions for the first time. I thought hard about buying one as it was so easy and smooth. However, within two more session on my gear I was able grow beyond wanting a lower performance foil.

[ronnie]

It is maybe an idea that is best used as part of lessons with gear designed to make the learning process easier?

[Peter_Frank]

A lot of downsides, and almost no advantages really - will only make it more difficult IMO, especially around here with chop waves

The other thread was here.

PF

[mig27]

A lot of downsides, and almost no advantages really - will only make it more difficult IMO, especially around here with chop waves

The other thread was here.

PF

The only advantage I could think of is learning on an easy way how the foil works, when you ride the board on the surface.

Nevertheless a long (80-100cm) mast under your board has different dynamics, and that is what it makes hard to learn the water start and to ride it on the surface. A shorter mast will make it probably more easy, yet you will not learn it correctly.

For a kitesurfing school indeed a nice tool to have for some students, for a foil beginner It would be a waste of money. My two cents

I am just beginner "off", so this whole process is still fresh in my memory

[Zeeko]

Hi

to be honest, last year we sold 85cm lenght mast, and this year we sell 90cm one.
5cm is a lot of difference.
For sure during the first minutes of learning you feel more confortable (specially for waterstart) with a short mast, but after some trials (depends on the rider aibility, it can take 2hr as 5days for other), you will never go back to short mast.
Short mast are more sensitive to pitch and chops,

1m is common for racers and hydrowaveriders, 90cm for learning fast.
As you said very short mast can be reliable for schools only, as 2m inflatable kites for example, but not for riders.

Ride easy
Nicolas