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How to get out with full on-shore winds

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Onda
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Re: How to get out with full on-shore winds

Postby Onda » Thu May 27, 2021 10:34 am

I´m not very experienced or particularly good at draging out in significant breaking waves yet.
But what I observe regularly: People don´t wait until a set of waves has passed and a short window of opportunity opens up. This will give you some minutes of relatively calm water to get out and going.
You have to be patient, study the sea conditions, understand the rhythm of the sets and also search for potential channels. Then it can be much easier.
But anyway, it is hard, and I have the biggest respect for Foil to go out in such brutal conditions. I´ve been at Cornish beaches a lot and know how it feels :P

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Re: How to get out with full on-shore winds

Postby plummet » Thu May 27, 2021 6:55 pm

Peter_Frank wrote:
Mon May 24, 2021 10:15 pm
No problem getting out, no matter which kite you got.

Take some more time to learn this basic skill.

Many ways to do it - but I always have my board to windward of me, or my body a bit over the board.

8) Peter
Try head high plus shore break and then let me know if you have no problem getting out in a direct onshore........

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Jugglajon
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Re: How to get out with full on-shore winds

Postby Jugglajon » Fri May 28, 2021 3:44 pm

As stated by the others, practice upwind bodydrag with the board on its side and foil downwind of the board.

Practice this when conditions are easy like side on or even side shore conditions. Then when faced with onshore conditions your skills will be sharper/

The next tip is to bodydrag a good distance further upwind than the minimum distance. This will reduce potential damage to your wings and allow you a couple of tries to get started. (Most people facing onshore conditions for the first time seem to body drag only to the minimum necessary distance and then there is only one chance to get up before having to bodydrag again. )

@plummet yeah head high shore break is next level... dont think the OP mentioned that though.

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Re: How to get out with full on-shore winds

Postby OzBungy » Sat May 29, 2021 8:26 am

I cheat.

Our local beach has a series of rock groynes. Onshore winds are usually just slightly cross to the end of the groyne making a sheltered spot next to the groyne. Sand builds up on the lee side of the groyne and the waves are slightly deflected. There is a tiny channel out from the groyne.

I walk out in the shelter of the groyne until I get to deeper water then drag across into the channel. I do a quick water start and either ride out, or ride crosswind and out depending on the size of the waves.

This method has proved so reliable that the surf kiters are now doing it too.

Plan B is I grab my wing foiling gear and launch inside the boat harbour. I can sneak out from there and ride over to the bigger stuff without getting smashed in the shore break.

Another alternative is the highly powered water start. Keep the board banked over at 45 degrees and avoid coming up on top of the foil too soon. Do a hard powered kite stroke and blast out of the water on the angle and stay that way until you're fully established on the foil. I often do that to toeside. There's a natural bank and rotate action that gets me up and away. Only try this with a sandy bottom.

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Re: How to get out with full on-shore winds

Postby Surfkiternew » Sat May 29, 2021 11:48 am

Super short mast....in onshore

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Re: How to get out with full on-shore winds

Postby elguapo » Sun May 30, 2021 2:42 pm

i think i rely on rips..without really thinking about

i go charge out.. trying to duck under the bigger waves... but simply accepting the beat downs knowing all that water helps put push you out before the next one comes
eventually you're past the break point.

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Re: How to get out with full on-shore winds

Postby BraCuru » Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:44 pm



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