Tips for beginners

[Kykeon]

What tips would you give to somebody experienced in LEI but new to foils?

There are some nice tutorials online from Ozone & Flysurfer.
I had my first experience recently.

Launching is quite tricky and unfortunately a second person can't help a lot...
Tried 45deg to the wind in relatively light wind and have the impression that a downwind launch although more dangerous would be easier, especially in light wind. I think that next time I will try a downwind launch while I'm in deep water (for safety).

Landing at the edge of the window with a well briefed assistant was quite straightforward.

My tip/finding as a beginner (to a beginner) is that foils get more stable with increased back lines tension. i.e. don't trim too much and if you feel the kite is about to collapse, pull in the bar.

[jakemoore]

Sheet out the bar and let it fly fast if you want power.

[FLandOBX]

My approach to a 45 degree launch is to raise the downwind tip of the kite slowly to inflate it quite a bit before it begins to slide. I don't like for my foil to slide along the beach (too many shells and sticks). So I inflate as much as possible with one tip up and the other still held with sand on the beach. Once it starts to slide, I bring it up quickly and continue to inflate overhead. With practice, you'll begin to get really comfortable with a 45 degree launch.

[Rufusz]

Inflate the cells by holding the intakes against the wind. Then fold one wingtip by 50cm, put some sand/kitebag/etc on it and start launching the kite at the side of the wind window.

The other wingtip will start to raise if you got the angle right.

Helpers while launching is usually a bad idea except if space is really limited... much easier to do it alone.

https://vimeo.com/183056677

[Blackrat]

In light wind I always launch hot ... So easy

Pre-fill as much as possible ( not always much in light wind). As the kite launches up I release all bar pressure untill kite approaches zenith and then I start to apply bar pressure to puff the kite out

[socommk23]

In light Wind, hot launch. No need for pre inflation just keep the bar in.....hover it in a close to stall position. Let it climb gently as it fills.

Never leave it at 12 o'clock for too long to avoid possible collapses.

Either keep it moving when your static or keep some pressure in the rear lines via the landing line.

Pulling the bar in will increase the power....as will letting the bar out to increase flying speed.

Apparent wind is amazing......youll get going in nothing and it'll be blowing a gale as your moving. You'll stop and wonder where the wind has gone.

[windrider1]

Some of the things I try to tell lei fliers new to foil kites are ,No1 go ease up on the bar, don't ham fist it, most foil kites have low bar pressure and feel very light in the sky . 2nd the bridles attached to the trailing edge make the kite sensitive to back line pressure. trim or adjust your kite so that when u pull in the bar you have full power but the kite does not back down out of the sky or start to stall. In light winds depower the kite a little bit. and lastly but most importantly push the bar out on the upstroke especially when under load like waterstarting.

[Kykeon]

Thanks a lot guys!
That's pure gold for first time foilers with LEI experience!