Well, I am not. Can't get going on Spotz2 even though a seasoned foiler said it is a good foil to learn on. Someone let me try Cabrinha Double Agent and at least I could get on the board and had first 10m rides within half hour.

If you live in Perth and want to try my intermediate foil while I try your beginner foil, I would be happy to swap for a while. Don't want to swap permanently or sell my foil, just need a stepping stone :-)

Hi Swavek,

i have 2 foils you can borrow and practice with. Both are much easier than your Spotz. As we spoke at MWWF - the Spotz is a good 2015/2016 race foil but a terrible beginner foil. I guess you realise this after successfully riding the Double Agent after only 30 min.

I have a Zeeko and failing that, a SUP foil you can ride.

I bought a double agent to start. After a few quick wtf over the handlebar falls. I was up and riding within 5 minutes behind a boat. Couldn't believe how high an 85cm mast felt. Keahi was telling me there are attributes of this foil he still enjoys even at his level. He suggested single front centre strap. Had a lesson next day on a Naish foil, big board and short mast. Could do long runs on that. It's worked so far for me for a quick learning curve. I'm yet to kite a foil

Thats not a Spotz 2.

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Slyde said..
Thats not a Spotz 2.

that is def not a Spotz 2 i second that

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Scanno said..

Slyde said..
Thats not a Spotz 2.

that is def not a Spotz 2 i second that

its a copy of one i believe, made by one of our WA local garage builders.

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jamesperth said..

Scanno said..

Slyde said..
Thats not a Spotz 2.

that is def not a Spotz 2 i second that

its a copy of one i believe, made by one of our WA local garage builders.

Yep i built it.
It was my 3rd carbon foil
In its design it had NOTHING to do with spotz.
Every time i built another foil i would go slightly more efficient on the mast n fuse n wings.
It was my fastest foil so far reaching 56.6kph.
Easy to ride.
Swavik i think you need to be powered up more, choose the same kite you would when on a tt.

Cheers.
Scuba

Nice build - I wish I had the skills to do that!!

Well, there you go, it looks similar to Spotz2 and I thought it was mentioned by Scuba when I bought it, but I obviously did not understand it right.

Might be easy for someone who knows what they are doing - it is impossible to ride for me. Forget foiling, even keeping the foil down, can't go even 5m, throws me off like rodeo bull

If your getting "thrown of like a rodeo bull" I would guess your back foot/centre of gravity is too far back. This will cause what you describe. Initially you need to have your centre of gravity well forward to keep the foil from rising. Forget front foot / back foot pressure... keep that pretty consistent but ensure your entire balanced/upright body weight is in the right spot in relation to the mast/foil.

The pic of the board shows a foot strap behind the mast. Lose the back strap and put the front straps as far forward as they will go whilst learning. Your back foot should be over the mast or even toward the front of the mast. Over time and with progression move them back to start engaging the foil more.

Visually the foil looks very well made with a medium aspect, which should be good for learning and beyond. The board also looks a nice shape that will help learning.

I use back straps to get in possition only, put the back foot over or slightly in front of mast. Sounds like nobody is too keen to temporarily swap - will have to keep on trying

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Swavek said..
I use back straps to get in possition only, put the back foot over or slightly in front of mast. Sounds like nobody is too keen to temporarily swap - will have to keep on trying

Can you move the front straps forward?

Hay Swavek

I think you need to leave only the front straps on in the furthest forward hole
Be powered up, in 12 knots 13mtr for me
The best conditions are 10 knots big slow kite 12/13m.
Point the board off on a beam or broard reach.
And be really heavy on your front foot no weight on the back foot
Back foot over foil mounting bolts.
Keep the foil board on the water until you want to fly.
To fly you need to be traveling 6kph and lighten the wieght on the front foot or a little press with the back foot. Like doing an ollie on a skate board.
Once flying try control the hight with the front foot not the back foot.
hope this helps.

Scuba

6kph is barely 3knots?

Will do as prescribed by the doctor
Will leave the back straps - they don't interfere with the recommended back foot position but make it much easier to get ready for water start..

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RAL INN said..
6kph is barely 3knots?

As airspeed for a kite that would be nothing. As ground speed for a foil it's quite a lot, a brisk walk. My Cruzer foil would do that easily. The Freeride would be smacking down a bit.

Foothooks

Anyone had experience with Kite Foil Australia in particulair the fish foil?

I don't know if my comment is totally relevant now that we have established that swavek is not on a spots 2 foil but I have been learning on one that was leant to me by a friend who is away travelling and whilst it's not the best learning foil it is do able and the fact I got many months of free usage means it is the best option for me.

I can certainly sympathize with the feeling of being bucked off like a wild Rodeo, the first time I rode the foil I could not even get going, I would get thrown Off immediately but I kept at it and just put all my focus into keeping my weigh forward and eventually I got going. Once up on the board I tried everything to keep the weight forward including some kooky leaning over forward techniques. What really helped in the end was shifting my hips over my front foot so that the front leg is slightly bent and the back leg is straightened out. Then I would ride along with just one hand on the bar and when I needed to I would extend my front arm out in front of me to get the maximum weight forward.

Foiling is certainly an excercise in body awareness!!

Keep at it swavek, it's not easy but it is do able!!

One thing I like on the spots 2 foil is that when you go fast it feels locked in and stable!! Obviously I have nothing to compare it to but the difference in stability between going slow and when your going fast is very noticeable. Once I finally got the guts to really put the foot down then the fun really started! I have gone faster on the foil than I have on any non engine powered water craft before!!

Just a point about carbon foils. Every kind of foil requires maintenance. Aluminium masts have to be broken down and rinsed and Tef-Gel put on the stainless screws.

The foils on alloy are usually some kind of solid glass composite. You can generally sand out chips and dings. Everything is heavy so walking with it can be a pain. It can hurt when that extra weight hits you.

Carbon gets scratches and chips and nicks. You have to sand them out. Sometimes you have to fill the chips and stuff. My gear is painted so I give them a fresh coat a couple of times a year. The paint protects the carbon from UV and gives you a sacrificial surface to sand so you're not rubbing your carbon away. High performance carbon foils can be stupidly sharp. That can be very dangerous, and a pain to maintain.

My choice is lightweight carbon, mid-aspect. It's easy to ride, easy to own, easy to use. Repairs are generally very easy. Some epoxy resin or epoxy paste, fibreglass or carbon. A bit of wet and dry and you're good to go.

any metal foil will corrode sooner or later.The problem on the Spotz foil is that due to the rear wind connection the angle changes all the time which makes the foil performance different. I recommend finding the right rear angle and glue it in.