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The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:45 pm
by plummet
Well I've been foiling for almost 2 years. The first 6 months allowed for reasonable progression as I was out most weeks.
Then a job/career change meant I wasn't able to kite mid week anymore. So I became a weekend warrior.
Splitting sessions foil and mutant on the weekend depending on conditions meant I might not foil for weeks at a time.
Over winter when the wind and weekend didn't line up there could be weeks at a time with no kiting at all and maybe foiling every 6-8 weeks.

As a result of the lack of water time, I'm forever consigned to the same skill level. I spend a most of the session getting back to where i was last session.
Then I don't progress any further. I'm constantly stuck in just being able to sometimes foil gybe and most of the time having to surface gybe.

I'm thinking if you want to be good this foiling game is for guys who can get out often and invest a lot of time practicing.
For the part-time occasional foiler progression is very difficult.

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 3:05 am
by gbrungra
I’m in a similar situation. Except can’t foil gybe. Only occasional surface gybes. Not enough time on the water.

I’m hoping a Surf sized foil wing (slower, more stable) will be my ticket for progression...

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 3:31 am
by tswierkocki
Time for a surf foil. I was stuck and not progressing and then I got a surf foil. Now I’m foiling through all my transitions, riding waves much better, and just got my 360’s down.

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 4:02 am
by ap888
That’s what I have heard like the Moses 633 wing helps a lot with gybes and such

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 8:58 am
by TomW
ap888 wrote:
Sun Sep 30, 2018 4:02 am
That’s what I have heard like the Moses 633 wing helps a lot with gybes and such
Yepp

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:03 pm
by tautologies
tswierkocki wrote:
Sun Sep 30, 2018 3:31 am
Time for a surf foil. I was stuck and not progressing and then I got a surf foil. Now I’m foiling through all my transitions, riding waves much better, and just got my 360’s down.
Surf foil is key. I have the large Naish on my board and did foil transition on the first day out on it. I'm not consistent but I think I've only been out on a foil maybe 10 times over 2 years. I also tend to focus on riding wind swell when I am on .
:thumb: :thumb:

I think this is good. Plummet, here are a few thoughts I have on this as I am also mostly weekend warrior these days. I think to progress you might just have to tighten up your goals a bit. I obviously have no idea what your process is, but if you are in the water all the time things come a lot more naturally. When the time is limited you might want to start doing a more structured approach to learning. So try to make a spreadsheet or note down on a document, what your current status is (try to quantify). Then think about what you want to achieve over time.
Then note down the goal. Of 20 attempts I made 5 foil and 10 surface transitions for the session and keep the record. This will do a few things: help you quantify your actual progress to keep you less frustrated with perceptions. It should help you dedicate a bit more time to actual learning instead of trying a gybe. I try to mix my session between free riding and dedicated learning telling myself I will now I will make x number of attempts. I know it is nerding out, but it keeps me motivated.

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:31 pm
by jumptheshark
tautologies wrote:
Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:03 pm
So try to make a spreadsheet
lol, now you made a funny!

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:49 pm
by tautologies
jumptheshark wrote:
Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:31 pm
tautologies wrote:
Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:03 pm
So try to make a spreadsheet
lol, now you made a funny!
:lol: :lol: Nerding out.

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 9:20 pm
by bragnouff
I'd say, don't worry. Just remember why you foil / kite. For me it's all about being out there, and foiling surely does provide more days on the water. I probably don't learn something new, some days are far from being epic, but even then I still enjoy the feeling of gliding over water, zooming up and down the beach, watching dolphins, downwind runs into the sunset, and pretty much just soaking up the view and the magic of it. All about the stoke! Still progressing, but in a more organic way.

I kind of play bass guitar too, I never dedicated enough time to practice every day, and my technique is poor, I know there are plenty of things I'll never be able to play, also plenty of things I'm not interested in playing, even if I respect and admire the artist's virtuosity. However, I've accepted being a mediocre player, and I'm content with it, there is still lot of material out there that is reasonably simple and groovy and just feels good to play. Simple, but right. And being with friends and making some noise together is just an endless source of enjoyment.

Maybe I'm not super competitive, and I can still enjoy the simple things.

Re: The stagnant foiler.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:26 pm
by Peter_Frank
I got it the same way, relatively stagnant but not because of too little time on the water :lol:

There are some basic reasons why one dont progress:

1. Way too little time on the water.
2. Not over-talented, and you reach your own limit at some point and you feel stagnant.
3. Not trying new things, meaning no progression.
4. Not riding with others, so you dont share nor get any "real life" motivation and input for progression.
5. You learn slow, maybe older, so it feels like you dont progress.

I am in #2 and #5.

Got loads of experience and good/talented in waves on both waveboards and hydrofoils.
But I can not do the "smart" things many can do, I simply got a physical limit that is hard to get beyond, in terms of moving my body, like some agile skateboarders and similar can.
Some can do these "magic" tricks quite fast and easy, not even having much time on the water, so very personal what YOU can do.

I know it is like that, so I just keep pushing trying new things, and also doing things I love and CAN do well to get some confidence ha haa.

Progressing very slowly now, and sometimes I have a day where I go "backwards" - but so many years have taught me to still enjoy these as it is how it is - a sport that is so dependant on complex skills that can change instantly with a blink of an eye - so no problems with that :thumb:

8) Peter