Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

[coupdevill]

Great thoughts, thank you!

Re: my comments on Foiling, the average age of foilers in the Gorge is...dead

[K-Roy]

"Foiling is fast becoming an old mans sport, mark my words "old mans sport", when I am old I'll foil!"

but first, you gona ask us how...

[grigorib]

One thing to remember: you’re about to waste your time on bumpity bump riding instead of going straight to foiling. Foiling the waves feels amazing.

Technically, no straps feels good, certainly a front one can keep board on in funny conditions. Front foot always in the sweet spot, back foot moves around depending on conditions. Don’t do the leash.

Foiling is fast becoming an old mans sport, mark my words "old mans sport", when I am old I'll foil!

But most beautiful and elegant and clean, like afterlife for all the formula boards, the ramps, the doors, the huge LEIs, all the fancy surfboard shapes. Like a Fenix, it’s a rebirth for the sport.
What a time to get old but enjoy it before getting old

[coupdevill]

"Foiling is fast becoming an old mans sport, mark my words "old mans sport", when I am old I'll foil!"

but first, you gona ask us how...

Touche'

[NorCalNomad]

One thing to remember: you’re about to waste your time on bumpity bump riding instead of going straight to foiling. Foiling the waves feels amazing.

Completely different feeling of smacking a lip on a surfboard vs flowing with a mellow swell.

Close out beach break = blast on surfboard
Close out beach break = lame on a foil

Rolling wind "swell" = perfect ramps for jumping on a surfboard
Rolling wind "swell" = fun on foil

But really using a surfboard and using a foil are two different sports essentially. Don't get me wrong I own a TT, surfboards, and a foil, enjoying them all. But if the dude is asking about a surfboard...STFU about *stuck up voice* foiling is the only way to ride if you don't want to waste time. Also there are plenty of skills learned on a surfboard that help foiling.

[or6]

@coupdevil:

Don't think too much. Get any board, 5' 2" to 5' 3" for a noseless, 5' 8" to 5' 10", get on it, ride away. It's not as hard as you think.

As for straps...don't bother getting into that discussion. I find they're in the way, took them off when I was learning, but that's just me. If you ask ten people on this forum, there will be 11 opinions, and most of them are right . Get a board you can put straps on, make up your own mind.

Have fun, that's all there is to it.

[piccio]

drive ,park,unload,inflate and go!
no secrets to know ....when you drive back and had fun it's your goal .
strap or no straps .....depending what you find...15 knots ...35 knots ...up to you!
sometime when is 35 and 5 meter I do not look for secrets,do not think going out strapped or not...I watch!

[badgb21]

Two things I noticed when I first got on one:
a. It sails off into the distance when you fall off - compared to a TT. Your body dragging will improve!
b. They can be a b*****d to turn, without falling in. No straps in the way will help.

Other than that, riding it is fairly instinctive.

Good luck!

I noticed while searching a bunch of posts that the level of experience and understanding of the academics of kiteboarding was/is pretty amazing, and thought I would ask the experts.

Put another way, "what is the one thing that you want a new surfboard owner to know about riding a surfboard"

Specifically:

Straps or no straps
Stance (how do I keep the nose down, upwind riding etc.)

What else?

I ride the Gorge, 5'9" 195lbs

coup

[OzBungy]

Absolute number one mistake people make on directionals is to have too much weight too far back. They ride along with the nose of the board flapping up and down and waste half their power.

The solution is simple. Get your weight forward. Move your head and shoulders forward. If the wind is light then move your back foot forward towards the middle of the board. You shouldn't have to move your front foot unless you're a total klutz and have it in the wrong place to start with.

You can go strapless if you want, but it's not something I would recommend. It makes sense in clean surf. It makes much less sense in choppy slop. Even worse, incompetent strapless riders in a crowded break are a menace. They constantly fall off and dick around in the middle of everything and get in the way.

An expert strapless rider is awesome. But if you're expert then you wouldn't be asking these questions.

Even if you ride straps, you need the skill and confidence to move your feet around on the board and do whatever it takes to have a great session. Quickly and smoothly swapping stance are essential skills.

[grigorib]

Completely different feeling of smacking a lip on a surfboard vs flowing with a mellow swell.

Close out beach break = blast on surfboard
Close out beach break = lame on a foil

Rolling wind "swell" = perfect ramps for jumping on a surfboard
Rolling wind "swell" = fun on foil
...

True. I’m not getting any of “nice day, huge waves” conditions. Big waves around where I ride mean near-deadly storm when coast guard will probably not risk their lives for you that’s how my judgement is different from those riding elsewhere in paradise conditions