chibern wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 6:29 pm
As a beginner foiler, I'm always having to remind myself "turn the kite first" and "follow the kite".
Heel-to-toe, down loops seem easier to complete without worrying about dropping the kite than "up and overs" but I have issues once I'm through the turn. I'm always getting pulled downwind for a ways before being able to turn back up wind. I don't have this issue when gybing with an "up and over" kite movement but I have to concentrate more on kite positioning.
I tend to loop it high and tight.
Going toe-to-heel gybe, the down loop is easier regarding kite movement but more awkward to initiate. Doing a toe-to-heel using "Up and over", I always seem to have to do a mid-turn kite dive to keep from dropping the kite especially on my weak side.
Well, I disagree with the "follow the kite" that others advice...
A lot in fact
This works well (for some, not in waves always) on "traction" boards, meaning TTs and Waveboards that gets dragged on the surface and has loads of friction, thus requires a lot bigger kite or more wind relative to the boardspeed, and dont go downwind much in the turn.
With a hydrofoil, you have to turn coordinated with the kite, NOT follow the kite.
If you follow the kite, you will end up with no power mid turn or at the end of the turn
When doing downloops, you have to turn some before you loop the kite, if going REALLY fast downwind, to avoid slack lines.
If a normal carve, it is not that important...
Flying the kite up, which is by far my preference, you have to initiate the turn, having the kite quite low, simultaneously while flying the kite up.
The whole idea is not to get the kite in front of you, but keep tension on the lines all the way, AND, having the kite high and on its way down on the new tack, so it gives power perfectly and you dont risk losing speed, nor to get the kite so low that you risk getting it in the drink, or lose power if out in marginal wind.
Timing is everything, and I am able to make an uploop foiling carve in less wind than a downloop carve I think, and less risky.
In normal winds, yes what you experience chibern is pretty normal, you can not make a tight carve when downlooping, and you end up going fast on the way out almost or out of control if going beam reach as we prefer, which is most often NOT what you want as a freerider, but perfect as a racer going deep.
Peter