A quick video to discuss a few points before you take the steps to begin kite foiling.

Some good advice.

Yup, he mentioned all the right things....the good, the bad, the ugly.

Good tip on toe pressure. I never thought of it consciously but it makes sense thinking back to observing new foilers having trouble getting to their feet from a waterstart.

Awesome video - I hope to get into foiling soon I am currently riding a strapless surfboard in order to transition - I can change directions on the surfboard both before and after the change of direction - how good do you have to be on the surfboard before giving foiling a go. I have been on the surfboard about 6 months

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Jhana said..
Awesome video - I hope to get into foiling soon I am currently riding a strapless surfboard in order to transition - I can change directions on the surfboard both before and after the change of direction - how good do you have to be on the surfboard before giving foiling a go. I have been on the surfboard about 6 months

Being able to gybe on a surfboard will not help you much on getting up on a foil first time. foiling feels completely different, you need to keep your weight on the front foot, even if you get the foil board level, it tries to pop up out of the water. the transition to foil is much harder than twintip to surfboard

^^^^ All true, but once you get to switching feet on the foil, then your foot switch skills from surfboard will be very helpful.

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djdojo said..
^^^^ All true, but once you get to switching feet on the foil, then your foot switch skills from surfboard will be very helpful.

Didn't help me

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Jhana said..
Awesome video - I hope to get into foiling soon I am currently riding a strapless surfboard in order to transition - I can change directions on the surfboard both before and after the change of direction - how good do you have to be on the surfboard before giving foiling a go. I have been on the surfboard about 6 months

Doesn't matter. If you can fly a kite without thinking about it, board skills are almost irrelevant. Most important skill is to listen to instruction and if you're not taking lessons, evaluate what you're doing wrong and change.

Like the toe pressure thing -- step one is getting on the board and riding it flat, standing up and down. Beginners who haven't followed that advice take longer to get past edging the board like a TT, trying to get right up onto the foil and consequently getting lobbed over and over.

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Peahi said..

... foiling feels completely different, you need to keep your weight on the front foot, ...

Foiling does feel completely different to everything else in kiteboarding, but it's not different at all. It's actually exactly the same.

The problem is that you can't feel the foil so you don't know what's happening. A TT or surfboard pushes back when you load it and you can feel it in your feet and legs. A foil pushes back too, but the feeling is drowned out by the sensations of the board and the water and everything else you're used to. It's made worse because the inputs you put in through your legs are amplified by the mast and foil and you get clobbered for no apparent reason.

It's also made worse because you think it's meant to be extremely different. You think you're meant to do things is a special super foily way because that's what it looks like.

The solution is simple. Progress slowly. Ride lots. You will reach a point where you can easily feel the foil pushing back against your feet and legs and you can adjust the load to suit.

A bigger foil helps. They push back harder and you can get away with too "loud" inputs more easily.

I would have thought an important consideration they missed, is having to tell your dad that you're an absolute pillow biter. Same goes for boogey boarding, SUPing and Ultimate Frisbee.

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wishy said..
I would have thought an important consideration they missed, is having to tell your dad that you're an absolute pillow biter. Same goes for boogey boarding, SUPing and Ultimate Frisbee.

You forgot boosting on a North Rebel, Evo, etc... You know those TT riders with no style (usually putting their ass up when they jump). Just like the one on your profile pic...

Hmmmmm. Do you need lessons? No.
Do you need multi masts.
No.
Is safety gear advised?
Yes.
Is toe pressure important?
No.

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Gorgo said..
A bigger foil helps. They push back harder

Think doggy with fat girl?

^^^ nope. In that case it's too hard to get into the sweet spot. You want a taut springy feel. Not a big fat pillow.

If you have the budget for lessons and a number of different masts then that would be great but if not then just study up on foiling instuctionals and get out there and go for it.

You can get a foil for the same or less than a lightwind kite now and it opens up your water time a ton

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wishy said..
I would have thought an important consideration they missed, is having to tell your dad that you're an absolute pillow biter. Same goes for boogey boarding, SUPing and Ultimate Frisbee.

You can do big air on foils too Wishy. And in less wind. Embrace the change, there's more to it than you think ??


DM

1 do you wear your sisters underwear on the sly
2 do you find yourself looking at men in swimwear
3 do you drink beer with a hint of lemon or lime
4 have you a few thousand $$$$ spare and have shidt wind
5 foilings for you

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ActionSportsWA said..

wishy said..
I would have thought an important consideration they missed, is having to tell your dad that you're an absolute pillow biter. Same goes for boogey boarding, SUPing and Ultimate Frisbee.

You can do big air on foils too Wishy. And in less wind. Embrace the change, there's more to it than you think ??


DM

Didn't know you could go that high, could make 15knots in Sanur a pretty fun place with the big mountain as your kiting backdrop!
Could I still go that high after all you can eat satays for a week straight?

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wishy said..

ActionSportsWA said..

wishy said..
I would have thought an important consideration they missed, is having to tell your dad that you're an absolute pillow biter. Same goes for boogey boarding, SUPing and Ultimate Frisbee.

You can do big air on foils too Wishy. And in less wind. Embrace the change, there's more to it than you think ??


DM

Didn't know you could go that high, could make 15knots in Sanur a pretty fun place with the big mountain as your kiting backdrop!
Could I still go that high after all you can eat satays for a week straight?

I suggest yourd go even higher!

If you like balls to the wall powered then foiling can give you that stupid powered action in light winds!...

But nothing beats boosting of a wave lip on an 8m in 35 knots on the TT or mutant!

Problem is its not always pumping 35 knots!