Postby slingshotucf » Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:47 pm
I'm 160 lbs. this is my wing specific board so it's only able to do knee starts unless you're in really flat conditions or weigh under 140 lbs. I highly recommend a board not over 6'6", the longer the board, the more counter weight of the nose will affect the foil, plus you'll need a longer mast to get the turns easier and to keep out of hitting the nose in ocean swell. My students range from riding back and forth not on foil in an hour (session) to staying up wind in both directions and doing jibes in their first day. I use a 6'4" board with no straps and the foil way forward int he tracks to teach with. In sup foiling the push of the wave is coming from behind and you need to counter balance that push by having the foil behind your rear foot or under it. In wing'ing the wing is pulling you so it's easier to put the foil more forward and let the wing pull you up onto foil and as the foil pitches, you put a foot forward to level out. So work on getting up with feet next to each other instead of surf stance. This will get you to go down wind more also. The smaller the board, the faster it'll want to turn up wind thus having the wing pull you off the board as it wants to go down wind to power up. If you start off by going down wind, you'll end up going up wind. Just like kiting.
The bigger board gives me more stability so I'm not knocked off so quickly in waves coming to me at my side and I can stand, pull the wing in and go. Especially helpful when a wave is about to crash on ya. All your kite foil skills will kick in once you're to your feet and on foil. I always ask my students if this was easier to learn than kite boarding, kite foiling, windsurfing and they always say yes. Equipment will make or break the learning curve. This is the first equipment specific sport I've done when gear can hold back the talents of the rider. I hope after the virus to make more videos, so anything you're trying to learn, let me know and I'll do my best to explain it. Once the quarantine is lifted, I'll be back to filming.
If you kite foil, on the next session, get out in some swell and let the kite go to 12, let go and pump that foil. Get used to the pump of the foil, it'll help a bunch for the wing'ing. if you're just pumping the wing or the foil, you're getting half the power and performance that you can get from pumping both. It's all a speed game, the difference of being on foil or not, is a mph. learn to ride the board back and forth and up wind not on foil. It's boring but you'll learn a lot on the how the wing works and it'll help get you back up wind when you need it.