Twintip straight to foil...

[richy-c]

Practice on a north nugget directional surfboard helped me lots.You will have a big advantage on the foil as you will already know how to jibe or tack following learning on a directional board. Waterstarts on my slingshot Alienair foil board feel very similar to waterstart on my nugget as both have a fair bit of buoyancy. Just from the angle of learning to jibe first on a surfboard i think is invaluable.

[grigorib]

Directional is not a necessary step.
If you can ride toeside you won’t have to do footswitches. Riding your strong foot is just fine

Imagine Aladdin is offering you to learn to fly his magic carpet but you debate if you want to practice riding supermarket cart in the parking lot first

[cglazier]

Surfboard experience certainly helps when learning to foil. You can learn to jibe and tack and switch your feet on a surfboard. Those with surfboard experience find these moves similar on a hydrofoil. I see some foilers who never switch their feet and maybe some surfboard experience would have helped them overcome this limitation.
But as others have said it is not essential and you can start foiling with only twin tip experience.

CG

[matth]

I think SB experience helps without question. Besides the jibing and footwork that others have mention, it's the water starts that help the most IMO. When water starting on a SB you need front foot pressure similar to a foil.

[oregonkiter]

Directional would help when ready to Jibe/Tack your foil. Other than that not needed at all. If you're ready to try foiling I'd say dive in. I am also a fan of the SS system. So many options. Start with the Alien Air board and a big wing

[richy-c]

I think SB experience helps without question. Besides the jibing and footwork that others have mention, it's the water starts that help the most IMO. When water starting on a SB you need front foot pressure similar to a foil.

Spot on mate

[elguapo]

I think SB experience helps without question. Besides the jibing and footwork that others have mention, it's the water starts that help the most IMO. When water starting on a SB you need front foot pressure similar to a foil.

true.
but why not just go straight to foil?


why waste time and energy to learn to jibe and waterstart a direction.. when you can better utilize your time/energy learning on a foil (which is the original objective)

if someone already had above avg board riding skills (ie came from a surf background) and was interested in foiling...i'd advise them to just go straigh to learning to foil.
(skip twin tips and directional riding)

[richy-c]

https://www.progression.me/blog/learnin ... surfboard/

As posted earlier these guys know there stuff.

[slowboat]

SB is much closer to foil than TT is so will help in that respect but foil is closer to foil so no reason for that intermediate step.

[purdyd]

I'd skip the surfboard. I think it has hindered me as much as it has helped.

Unless of course you want to ride a directional board.