Help a winger improve knee starts in rough

[oregonkiter]

6’3” 178 pounds. The Stinkbug was a great help to me knee starting. But, it’s a tough go for me in choppy swell.

I’m going to continue to work hard at it but wondering if there are some tricks other tall wingers found useful. I’m really happy on a 75L board and would rather not go to a full sinker yet, though I’m often told those are much easier to start in windy choppy water—The Gorge

Thanks,
Eric

[irwe]

I also find it a challenge geting up on a small WingFoil board (Kg = L)



I found these exercises helpful

Once I have got on my knees I try and point the board downwind so I am only dealing with 'pitch' to balance. Once I have two handles of the Wing then I have the support to start steering the board slightly into the wind and then go to One knee to Stand-up

In rough seas it's always a challenge

[consumer]

Yes I think you should stick with the stink bug method but be sure to point the board and your body downwind and with the direction of the swell. If your board and body are perpendicular to the swell it is next to impossible to keep your balance.

[oregonkiter]

Okay that’s really helpful. I think in swell I’m trying to get perpendicular before I’m to my knees.

Eric

[jakemoore]

Great tips so far. I would add to try a friends slightly smaller board and also to make sure you have power.

It’s easier to get to knees on a smaller board but easier to get the board to the surface on a larger board.

In chop I much prefer weight 75-85% volume/weight which is not quite a full sinker board.

Lift from the hand wing makes a huge difference in having the balance to get to standing and foiling. You definitely do not want to wait underpowered for a gust. Wind is the key ingredient.

[Peter_Frank]

oregonkiter, I am not sure if you know there is a wingfoil specific forum here?

viewforum.php?f=201

Just if you didnt know

Peter

[oregonkiter]

Now I do!

Thank you

Eric

[joekitetime]

One small trick that has helped me is this:
Regardless of board size (25L to 125L) I do about the same sequence (and the stinkbug start works great too, but this isn't the stinkbug).

Sit on board like you are surfing in the lineup waiting for a set...
Untangle leashes and flip wing right side up...
Get on your knees in the lowest position possible with both hands holding the nose of the board (one hand is also holding the flag out handle on the wing)...
***now the crux...
count 1,2,3 and basically lung with the movement of taking the wing out of the water and getting it to catch wind which creates immediate force you can then lean against...
...after I get in that crunch position on my knees, I just lunge to get the wing overhead and powered...
...at first when I did this I was about 50/50 on either an immediate fall or immediate catch...
... but now I am about 90/10 with the catch.
***tip - don't wait till your perfectly balanced - just do the lunge and you make it or you don't.

Pretty soon you will get fast at it.

Nowaday if I fall I can usually be back up and riding in 10 seconds unless I need to rest!

[JakeFarley]

count 1,2,3 and basically lung with the movement of taking the wing out of the water and getting it to catch wind which creates immediate force you can then lean against...
...after I get in that crunch position on my knees, I just lunge to get the wing overhead and powered...

This is what really helped me - being quick. In chop, the key is speed in getting on the board quickly and getting the wing up in the air as fast as possible. It takes some practice knowing the balance point on the board so you can get up on it in a balanced position without having to shift your weight around (moving your knees). Easier on the knees also.

At my location if there is chop, there is good wind. Once I get the wing positioned, I can get up on the board and be up on my feet very quickly (5 seconds or less). I am 92 kg with a 110 l board.

[juandesooka]

What helped me is moving from my 75L to a 90L. I am 75kg ish. That extra 15L is the difference for me for easy confident 99% successful knee starts in all conditions, rough as it gets. The 75L board was fine if powered and if relatively calm, but underpowered or very choppy, and it might be a dozen times in a row falling off, temper tantrums, and general hate. Personally I see zero performance difference for the slightly sized up board vs massive improvement in fun having a dependable all-rounder.

Riders I know have had success with stinkbug start ... though I still see them too often scrambling around on the water for extended periods while I zip past.

Sinker seems great if you have lots of steady wind. But holey gusty conditions means lots of waiting and paddling.