Just asking.

Just Zen

Define "lawn mowing".

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Gorgo said..
Define "lawn mowing".

He's doing it wrong

No

Yes. Twin tip lawn mowing was getting boring

Who gives a flying FK what's "cool". Do whatever makes you feel great

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KBGhost said..
Who gives a flying FK what's "cool". Do whatever makes you feel great

The point of the question is that kitesurfing when it was new was "an extreme sport" and therefore "cool". Over time the sport has become more mainstream and lost some of its mystique. Foiling once lived on the edge of kitesurfing. It belonged to racing. It was fast, dangerous and razor-sharp foils could inflict serious injury. Nowadays, just about any kiter with a moderate level of skill can take up foiling and be happy just mowing the lawn at a pedestrian pace. Foiling has become mainstream, at least within the kiting community. Most of us love the Zen, as Rall Inn puts it. Perhaps "cool" is not the right word. It certainly is addictive and small incremental improvements in skill bring us back for more. Non-kiters don't get how hard it is to do and become proficient. Regular kiters who haven't tried don't seem to get it either or are on a different trajectory.

So, to answer my own question. Not cool, but certainly addictive.

I get it now I was looking at it more like you were a wakestyler dropping by to have a stir rather than someone who gets it.

I think it's all progression, to begin with there's so much joy in just achieving the magic carpet ride you don't have to do anything else to feel stoked.

I love a good session mowing the lawn in flat water on the foil but it's more like 300 degrees to play in rather than the traditional TT lawn mowing back & forth. I like racing upwind fast but I live for the carving downwind runs which come after. Plus I still haven't nailed foot switches, having too much fun to stop and workshop them, so that's one of those small goals that looks like nothing to an outsider.

But then I moved into the ocean and that's a major addiction now. Riding a wave or swell with a Foil will never be cool to a surfer or surf kiter (no throwing buckets) but I love the feeling when the foil takes off downhill, so sketchy every time trying to balance and not over run the kite.

Now I'm wanting to start jumping on the foil too..

So yeah after a couple of years I think challenges emerge beyond mowing the lawn. But I'll always remember the joy of just being able to fly the first few times...

KBGhost - I couldn't put it better.

Over 800 hours into foiling and I am not even close to reaching a plateau. Every time I think things are settling I crack something new and that starts a new line of progression.

Speed
Power Carves
Carving tacks
Jumps and loops
Landing jumps on the foil
Wave play
Wave play with multiple turns on the face.
Still working on a vaguely credible re-entry-ish move.
Short lines have opened up all sorts of fun possibilities.

I have just started to foil....and to me mowing the lawn is the coolest thing going

Foiling is not a spectators sport that is for sure. Its not sensational with massive jumps and massive spray.

But who cares. He who grins the most wins.

I did a 15km upwinder/downwinder last week (as the crow flies). It was probably like 60+km by the time I zigged and zagged upwind.
Its the first anyone has done that upwind distance at my local. Simply not possible or more to the point enjoyable on a normal board but much fun on the foil. Foiling opens up adventure kiting so much more than a standard board.

That said I still prefer 25-35 knots some sweet peeling waves and boost and wave ride session on my mutant.