Straps and Hooks

[diogoveb]

Hi,

As shown in this video ( straps can help beginners pump the board. Can I use foot hooks instead?

Besides, How exactly should I waterstart with straps or hooks on a high volume board? Thank you.

[Peter_Frank]

You dont.... (waterstart on a big volume board)

You climb on the board, and use the wing to support you to stand up, and then get into the straps.

Meaning, not much sense using hooks IMO, as the wing does not catapult you like a kite can.

Peter

[fluidity]

Hi,
As shown in this video straps can help beginners pump the board. Can I use foot hooks instead?
Besides, How exactly should I waterstart with straps or hooks on a high volume board? Thank you.

You'd need a back hook too but there's not much point. Two straps give a more reliable connection to the board. A strap can be soft but a hook has to be hard. Better to have freedom over your exact foot placement.
Windsurfing waterstart uses the leverage of the long mast to lift you with the boom. There is no leverage like this from a wing.
Don't 100% believe that guy in the video. Many board/foil combinations require the mast to be at a minimum all the way at the back of the box. Also you can pump up on foil without straps, you just can't put up-force into it.

[windmaker]

Don't 100% believe that guy in the video. Many board/foil combinations require the mast to be at a minimum all the way at the back of the box. Also you can pump up on foil without straps, you just can't put up-force into it.

Placement of the mast on the board depends on your weight and size of front wing you are using. Typically the less your weight the more back you move the mast and the bigger your front wing the more forward you place the mast.

Footstraps on bigger boards are unnecessary, they just get in the way and you don't get a true feel for the board. As for them being easier for pumping it's true but pumping a 100l + board sucks anyway...

[Dontsink]

As a beginner you are better off without footstraps.
Robby Naish talks about footstraps for wingfoiling in an recent article.To sum up:

-You do not need them at all unless you are going to jump or surf really hard turns.
-You have to know where your feet go to feel balanced on foil,with lots of precision.If you place the straps just a bit wrong you will be miserable.
-Safety: foils have lots of leverage and as a beginner you will fall many times and very unexpectedly ,chances of ankle injury are big.