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Forums > Kitesurfing Foiling

West Coast - struggling to start and foil towards the beach on SW wind

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Created by Swavek > 9 months ago, 24 Dec 2018
Swavek
WA, 393 posts
24 Dec 2018 7:43PM
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Why is it so much harder for me to start and foil towards the beach? I am on Moses Onda pump foil with 91 cm mast. Presume it is going with the waves and swell makes the kite pull less. Technically it is a surf foil wing but many kitesurfers use it (633 wing).

What is the technique to deal with it?

Not much issue on light wind days when there are hardly any waves

Cheers
Swavek

Plummet
4862 posts
25 Dec 2018 1:02AM
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You are probably natural foot and your riding your bad side. Also when coming into the beach your have the push of the swell and chop hitting you from behind. Because you can't see it as easily you are not a ready for what might happen. You need to flow more coming in. Be relaxed and ready to adjust. Also it's easy to vent the rear wing coming in. Ride the foil a bit deeper.

Also. Speed is your friend. The fast you go then less the swell and chop will affect you. The slower you go the more you will feel the push. Of the swell.

Swavek
WA, 393 posts
25 Dec 2018 5:09AM
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Thanks Plummet, I am actually goofy - this is why it was so annoying, normally my strong side.
Riding faster with the foil deeper must be the answer. When I think about it the swell takes me towards the kite and reduces the pull from the kite. Being on a surf foil this action must be more pronaunced compared to a smaller wing...

bigtone667
NSW, 1523 posts
25 Dec 2018 9:55AM
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You will get a lot of lift and generally speed. Just remember keep your board parallel with the water, ie pointing downwards as you go down a wave, slowly easing off as you get to the bottom.

RAL INN
SA, 2890 posts
25 Dec 2018 5:30PM
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Assuming the wind is onshore you will get assistance from swell that will take you towards your kite which adds to the difficulty of kite control.
Also many of us find that the easy side for foiling is opposite to what is easy on SB.
it will click

emmafoils
307 posts
25 Dec 2018 8:43PM
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Not familiar with location or OP's experience level but riding downwind with waves/swell creates unique challenges (and rewards) and will get better with experience. You didn't describe the specific problem you are having. Breaching of foil? Kite control while on wave? Definitely ride deeper until you get hang of it. If a bigger swell catches you from behind (you find yourself looking downhill), you have to get ready for the acceleration (shift weight forward and bend knees). With the acceleration, your lines may go slack. Here it helps to have started with kite high and of course, a kite that drifts well helps. You have the right foil for this.

Swavek
WA, 393 posts
25 Dec 2018 9:10PM
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Thank you all for your comments. Love this forum - went out this afternoon and did just as doctor prescribed: foil deep, go downwind to get more speed at start, only then point upwind, don't let the speed drop too much.

BINGO!!!! Had marvelous session in conditions I found too challenging in the past
I also used my first build board which is much shorter than previous one for the second time only. All came together!!! So stoked!!!






Swavek
WA, 393 posts
25 Dec 2018 9:29PM
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Select to expand quote
emmafoils said..
Not familiar with location or OP's experience level but riding downwind with waves/swell creates unique challenges (and rewards) and will get better with experience. You didn't describe the specific problem you are having. Breaching of foil? Kite control while on wave? Definitely ride deeper until you get hang of it. If a bigger swell catches you from behind (you find yourself looking downhill), you have to get ready for the acceleration (shift weight forward and bend knees). With the acceleration, your lines may go slack. Here it helps to have started with kite high and of course, a kite that drifts well helps. You have the right foil for this.



Now that it is (mostly) solved, my problem was not going with the swell to gain speed before trying to go against the swell. My speed would drop and the foil would loose lift.

snalberski
WA, 858 posts
31 Dec 2018 9:34AM
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Your possibly reading a little too much in to it. I think it's not unusual to be stronger on one side over the other. It certainly was for me, pretty much exactly as you describe. Learning to foilboard requires some specific muscle memory which is developed with session time.

Swavek
WA, 393 posts
31 Dec 2018 10:03PM
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Select to expand quote
snalberski said..
Your possibly reading a little too much in to it. I think it's not unusual to be stronger on one side over the other. It certainly was for me, pretty much exactly as you describe. Learning to foilboard requires some specific muscle memory which is developed with session time.


One side stronger is common, however going fro 10% foiling per session to 90% foiling on the next session clearly demonstrates the tip has worked. Progression can happen slowly and painfully discovering on your own or a lot of pain can be saved by 'custom tips' specific to problem on hand.



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"West Coast - struggling to start and foil towards the beach on SW wind" started by Swavek