When will i relax and enjoy my foiling?

[Slappysan]

It sounds like you might have too much kite, foiling is only fun for me when a bit underpowered and it's just plain stressful if you are overpowered.

Also not everybody gets hooked on foiling, I've been foiling for years and if it's windy enough for me to ride my SB instead that's what I'm still doing. Getting a Peak 4 to foil with has made the draw of foiling a little greater but I'm still on my SB at 14+ knots.

[GregK]

Foils move through the water very differently than surface boards move along the top so prior surface board experience & skill doesn't apply much, in fact IMO the more surface board experience you have the longer it takes to develop the muscle memory, neural connections, and instinctive reactions necessary to foil. You can't think about it and then react, it happens too fast, you have just instantly react, and that takes time to learn.

I'm mid-50's with about 40 years of surface board riding ( waterskiing, windsurfing, kiting TT's and surfboards ) and it took me about 2 - 3 times as long to re-program for foiling, meanwhile the 20-year-olds that started the same time as me picked it up much faster.

And that learning phase is hard work because you're tensing way too many muscles. Once you get it, it's soo relaxing not having to push all that water against the pull of a big kite, you just slice through it almost effortlessly.

Just do it as much and as often as you can, and it will get better anD BETTER ...

[3InletsWindsports]

Usually it takes relaxation to initiate fun.
At some point you will relax and then the fun truly starts.

[juanpasala]

It took me a season going at it each weekend... till the racers pulled me into their group, now there s no peace

[FLandOBX]

"When will i relax and enjoy my foiling?"

IMHO, the answer is that you will enjoy your foiling when you relax. Six sessions isn't many, but if you're working on toeside, then you should be able to focus on relaxing your body when you ride. If you relax, then you should be able to foil much longer than an hour per session. My TT sessions average about 2 hours on the water, but I can easily stay out 3 hours on the foilboard. Slappysan may be right that you're riding overpowered. Once flying on foil, you should be in that "Zen Zone" without a lot of tension in your muscles. I'm still in my first season foiling, but it is very relaxing with a smallish kite and surf wing. Just my 2 cents.

[Whattheflock]

It took me a bit before I could relax.. many many crashes. Im always trying something new so Im still crashing.. ALOT. It's part of the fun.. when you first "relax" and realize it, it's a nice experience. "Oh wow this is good..I'm still progressing!" Keep at it!

[tmcfarla]

I’m reasonably competent foiler, maybe 100 sessions, and it is no where near as relaxing as going out on a surfboard. Foiling is more fun in most conditions, but I still can’t completely space out like I can with a surfboard, and I don’t think any amount of practice will change that. All that said, it took me about 10 sessions to get comfortable, and about 20 sessions before I stopped having many unexpected crashes. Within 20 sessions I would say foiling transitioned from being “challenging” to “relaxing”, but a surfboard will always be more relaxing. I like foiling more, but every time I use a surfboard I am surprised by how easy it is.

[richy-c]

"When will i relax and enjoy my foiling?"

IMHO, the answer is that you will enjoy your foiling when you relax. Six sessions isn't many, but if you're working on toeside, then you should be able to focus on relaxing your body when you ride. If you relax, then you should be able to foil much longer than an hour per session. My TT sessions average about 2 hours on the water, but I can easily stay out 3 hours on the foilboard. Slappysan may be right that you're riding overpowered. Once flying on foil, you should be in that "Zen Zone" without a lot of tension in your muscles. I'm still in my first season foiling, but it is very relaxing with a smallish kite and surf wing. Just my 2 cents.

yes i am riding with a big kite at the moment and do feel overpowered at times. Its catch 22 though as Im not good enough yet to be able work a small kite to produce the power. For instance my last session was on a 12 Ozone Alpha in 13 to 18 mph wind but in the lulls i was under powered as im not confident with looping the kite on the foil yet.

[slowboat]

I experienced overwhelming exhilaration the very first moment I foiled and still get it 2 years later. I think it is true that some people don't get hooked on it as others do.

[deniska]

Hello no offence to you foil lovers I just cant seem to relax into it.

you are doing it wrong.. get a beer, sit down, relax and enjoy.. might take you more than 6 sessions though...