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Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

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Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby SMJ » Thu Dec 02, 2021 7:05 pm

I've seen a couple guys riding their foil board with the hydrofoil side up in order to clear the shallow water. Looks like a super nifty time saver!

Any tips / tricks?

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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby edt » Thu Dec 02, 2021 7:17 pm

stay relaxed. there's a place on every foil board where it's easy to ride that way. if you are feeling like you are forcing it, shift it around a little. depends on the shape of the board and mast and wing as to exactly how you ride it upside down, but it should feel easy and comfortable
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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby knyfe » Fri Dec 03, 2021 3:15 am

Any videos of that. Would like to see that on a short board ;-)

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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby vakiter » Fri Dec 03, 2021 4:06 am

Wow never heard of that . That might make me take my strap off

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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby Herman » Fri Dec 03, 2021 1:50 pm

Wear a box? Might help you stay more relaxed?

Wax the bottom?
Last edited by Herman on Fri Dec 03, 2021 10:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby norcom » Fri Dec 03, 2021 7:13 pm

Have seen the video and/or pictures of someone doing it but can't find them now. Tried it a few times and the straps and shape of my boards make it almost impossible. Perhaps if I was WAY overpowered but it was just easier and safer to walk out until I could start.

I think if the board was just a flat plank it would work. Or if I had more skills and less fear of getting hurt. :D

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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby norcom » Fri Dec 03, 2021 7:35 pm

norcom wrote:
Fri Dec 03, 2021 7:13 pm
Have seen the video and/or pictures of someone doing it but can't find them now. Tried it a few times and the straps and shape of my boards make it almost impossible. Perhaps if I was WAY overpowered but it was just easier and safer to walk out until I could start.

I think if the board was just a flat plank it would work. Or if I had more skills and less fear of getting hurt. :D
edit:
Found this one, yeah, I think I just suck at doing this. :D
https://blog.slingshotsports.com/wp-con ... stakes.jpg
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mistakes.jpg
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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby Flyboy » Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:50 am

I've got to admit that looks pretty cool ... but it looks like a pretty big, chunky board & he's riding it in flat, deep water, so it looks more like a "trick" than a technique for getting past shallow water. The biggest problem is trying to get out through breaking waves in shallow water. I can't imagine being able to ride the board upside down in that situation.
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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby alpaia » Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:04 am

I have seen a guy once doing this to get out of the breaking waves / whitewater in carro, france - that looked super impressive and dangerous.
He had a kind of very flat strapless board (like a wide enough pocket board) if I recall correctly. far beyond my level anyway. the "what if you slip" is scary.

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Re: Tips for riding kite foil board upside down to get out of the shallows

Postby Flyboy » Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:21 pm

In my experience, the most critical factor is the wind direction. If the wind is too onshore it can be impossible to get out past shallow water even without big waves. With a bit of side shore angle you can make it with persistence & good/lucky timing. I've had a few failed sessions where I simply couldn't make enough upwind progress to get into deep enough water to get on the foil. I can''t see how riding the board upside is going to help that at all. :-?


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