How to foil *with* footstraps?

[tkaraszewski]

I took my footstraps off shortly after learning to ride on foil and have had them off ever since. This means I’ve learned all my maneuvers strapless.

This weekend, I put them back on to try something different, and it’s hard! Switching feet with straps seems much harder than without. I keep stubbing my toe on my front strap or tripping over my back strap.

I have a three strap setup, because I wanted to practice race-style tracks and gybes.

Anyone got any good tips for getting your feet in and out of the straps without missing them or tripping over them? Also, how tight do you keep your straps? Mine are pretty loose right now to give me more space to fit my foot in.

[Peter_Frank]

Do exactly like on waveboards.

Rear strap so rear, that you stand balanced when foot in front of the strap.

And slide your front foot a tad out of the strap first, then it is easy and loads of freedom

Actually easier to switch feet then.

Very rare I use straps, but on occasion or if trying someone's board.

Peter

[noellco]

Leave them loose until you don't crash your transitions anymore, I learned with straps (race oriented) and twisted my ankle a couple times, nothing too bad tho.. yet better to be safe than sorry when foiling.

When learning I would always get my rear foot out and just in front of the strap. I would also with the help of my toes push my front foot out of the strap a tiny bit and once feeling ready, go for the transition. Keeping the kite high and lifting when going in and out from the back strap is way easier than doing it with the kite low and powered.

After a while you will nail them from strap to strap. I think it's mostly about getting used to the travel your feet needs to complete in order to go straight into the strap again.

Hope this helps,

Noel.

[Foil]

just to add to strap use and how to avoid being trapped in them when crashing out.
I found that many straps in combination with some types of deck pad will hold on tight to your feet when you crash, this is not safe at all.

I have found that the straps that have lots of thickness and require you to push your feet in to get comfy are the ones I have to avoid,
these type (like the Moses straps for example) can, and do sometimes hold on to your feet when you fall, leaving them loose works better but then if your boosting this is no good as feet then can then fall free from straps just as you take off(extremely scary)

I now make a point of never using them type of straps after a few scary moments of trapped feet and flying free with just my front foot trapped in the strap whilst boosting with my back foot flapping around in the air looking for the back strap.
Try straps like the updated "soft" black Groove straps, they fit most boards and are used by many as the answer to easy feet removal even when rammed in tight,
just a twist left or right with your foot lets you feet slide free, and no wiggling in to get tight and secure, its just not needed to feel secure, the edges of the straps feel more elastic and offer the right amount of slide to feet which are booted or not,
some riders on race boards who use these straps advise you to look at the deck pads as well, and if these are the grippy diamond pattern type with raised edges, smooth these edges flat with grit paper wrapped around a wood block to get the right amount of foot slide in and out of the strap.

Some call these type of straps, race straps, they do not absorb water like the softer more common type with the wrap over adjuster straps and lots of soft padding.
they need the best straps on the market, as no one needs the perfect type of strap more than those guys do, constantly switching feet in double fast time, and very fast high speed wipe outs with long boards with high swing forces.

[cglazier]

I almost always use three footstraps. Only in my very early days did I ever have any situations where I felt my foot might get stuck. Simply use loose footstraps that you can easily come out of.

I do often ride with my back foot in front of my back footstrap but I always have my front foot in a footstrap.

Here's some things you can do better with footstraps:
- jumps, backrolls etc
- tacks are easier
- 360s are easier
- going really fast

I do appreciate the freedom that strapless provides and I occasionally ride that way, it's just personal preference.

CG

[Peter_Frank]

Very true Chris

I think those riding waves a lot, or simply enjoying the ride and freedom, are mostly strapless.

Those who like to jump or go fast, straps.

And then many like both styles, or all styles, and personal if they change strapless/straps, or choose one or another no matter for which style.

Sorry, a bit off topic...

Peter

[Regis-de-giens]

Foot switch is harder indeed. What I do is taking the rear foot out of the rear strap before foot switch.
Then foot change without rear strap engaged ..then to put the new rear foot in the rear strap again, I send the kite rapidly to the zenith like for a small jump. Sheet-in a bit, then main ou your weight is lifted up and you can ride on front foot only for longuer time, and have plenty of time to find the entry of the strap with your foot.

[tkaraszewski]

I might try and get some “race-style” straps but I think what I really need is just to spend more time practicing if I want to have smooth foot switches in straps.

[tkaraszewski]

After two days I'm already much better at this. Just need to get used to it. Putting my back foot in thew strap with my left foot is the worst, though.