So I've been foiling for about 6 months and am at an intermediate level and loving it, working on foot switches at the moment.

I have an issue where the arches of my feet become really sore after about 20 minutes, almost like a cramp or muscle fatigue.

I've tried moving my feet around and different stances etc but nothing seems to help much.

Has anyone come across this before?

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manlykiter said..
So I've been foiling for about 6 months and am at an intermediate level and loving it, working on foot switches at the moment.

I have an issue where the arches of my feet become really sore after about 20 minutes, almost like a cramp or muscle fatigue.

I've tried moving my feet around and different stances etc but nothing seems to help much.

Has anyone come across this before?

Me and Eppo (if I may speak on his behalf) both had issues. Planar fasciitis maybe

Once I got proficient enough to not fall over every minute, I started noticing it.
Then it gradually went away (I thought strap less riding cured it) but comes back randomly, usually when I've been riding in one position endlessly. Changing feet helps (ie. not just riding toe side) or stopping for a float and a break for a couple of minutes.

My opinion is that it comes from carrying load on your toes, trimming the board.

With my wider board, I can move my feet away from the center line and just lean on my heels. With the Surf Carrot I have to keep my feet more centered and trim with my weight on my toes, and I get the pain again. Especially on long tacks...

Yep had similar experience when I first started kite foiling usually after more than an hour.It seems to have gone away completely now , and I put it down too getting more relaxed and not being so tense all the time.
I also think having your setup as balanced as you can so you don't have too much front or back foot pressure helps.
If it is plantar fasciitis, there are exercises that will fix it, physic or podiatrist will help with that.
good luck

I get it on the twintip.
Podiatrist said do twenty heel raises on the beach before I go out, works pretty well.
Another kiter said when at rest sit on your toes and knees to stretch it all , if that makes sense. I don't do that much, kind of unpleasant.

Try a wider footstance. Maybe you need to move the foil further forward if the back food is getting close to the back of the board.
Take note if your unconsciously tensing your feet when you don't have too.

I found that's what I was doing the early days. Well tensing my whole body too trying to fight/manhandle the foil into position.

The moment I relaxed and went with the flow was the moment everything became a lot less painful.

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kobo said..
Yep had similar experience when I first started kite foiling usually after more than an hour.It seems to have gone away completely now , and I put it down too getting more relaxed and not being so tense all the time.
I also think having your setup as balanced as you can so you don't have too much front or back foot pressure helps.
If it is plantar fasciitis, there are exercises that will fix it, physic or podiatrist will help with that.
good luck

Kami, kobo and plum are on it. Mine was excruciating a times. I have sh1thouse ankles and feet though from way too many footy injuries and surgeries. I would need to actually lay in the water for ages multiple times in a session
but no pain now, none. You relax more, move about more and need less micro adjustments. Finding the Balance pressure between front and back wing (Which changes all the time, is also key).
also just basic muscle memory and development of those over time.
as I said to my wife, you'll get used to it eventually

Thanks for the insights guys, makes sense! Hopefully when i can relax fully and switch stance it will help

Tight calf's....... stretch when they get sore and it should go away.

The board makes a difference. I've never had foot pain, even while learning. But just sold my bigger board and have moved to a smaller one and I now have problems . My new board also has a convex deck, so don't know if that is exacerbating the problem

Had pain last night, for the first time in ages. The difference was riding a smaller wing that needed more roll control than I'm used to... All those fine motor inputs to keep it going.

Would've stopped to stretch, but the wind died.