Some inspiration

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weebitbreezy said..

Plummet said..

weebitbreezy said..
I'm starting to see why this foiling isn't a beginner experience. I am comfortable starting and riding the foil but most of my rides are ending as I run out of power and slowly drop in height as I slow down. Although no where near as experienced as many on the forum, I'm somewhat past being a total beginner but I'm feeling like I'm really going to have to sharpen up my kite skills if I'm going to progress.

Still, I'm starting to 'get' the board part of it so I'll hopefully soon be able to put a few more percent of my concentration back into what the kite is doing.

So you water start, and start foiling. Then you loose power and slowly drop in height? that's a weird one. My foil will hold you up until you reach stall point then it just drops you onto the water.

I'm trying to understand how this would happen.

1) you are significantly underpowered. Say 8m sub 10 knots. but you would have lots of trouble water starting and getting on the foil.
2) you are riding at the kite broad reach.
3) you have the kite in the complete wrong place.
4) trying to crank upwind too high?

What size kite are you running and what is the wind?
What angle are you going in respect to the wind?
Do you have to work the **** out the kite to water start and start foiling.

Yep. Waterstart, ride up to speed. Start foiling for say 50-100m and start sinking down. Touch down. Dive kite to pick up speed and go for another glide. Travelling more like beam reach in direction. Don't think I'm going to close to the wind.

I'm riding a 12m in circa 12-15knots so I should have the power. I suspect its because I'm just parking the kite as I'm concentrating on the board. I seem to remember this being something that happens when learning on a twin tip too. I'm taking the positive that I'm starting to get the muscle memory to balance. Then hopefully I can sort out my kite control again.

Weebitbreezy how are you getting on riding upwind - I mean hard upwind like 20 degrees or closer ?

a bit higher angle might help create more apparent wind and speed which should keep you flying.

(Or you are pointing too high and losing speed as a result. One of the two).

I know now that feeling of slowing down despite having sufficient kite area. Normally we shouldn't need to work the kite at all when foiling upwind

I suspect its got to do with your angles ...

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jamesperth said..

weebitbreezy said..

Plummet said..

weebitbreezy said..
I'm starting to see why this foiling isn't a beginner experience. I am comfortable starting and riding the foil but most of my rides are ending as I run out of power and slowly drop in height as I slow down. Although no where near as experienced as many on the forum, I'm somewhat past being a total beginner but I'm feeling like I'm really going to have to sharpen up my kite skills if I'm going to progress.

Still, I'm starting to 'get' the board part of it so I'll hopefully soon be able to put a few more percent of my concentration back into what the kite is doing.

So you water start, and start foiling. Then you loose power and slowly drop in height? that's a weird one. My foil will hold you up until you reach stall point then it just drops you onto the water.

I'm trying to understand how this would happen.

1) you are significantly underpowered. Say 8m sub 10 knots. but you would have lots of trouble water starting and getting on the foil.
2) you are riding at the kite broad reach.
3) you have the kite in the complete wrong place.
4) trying to crank upwind too high?

What size kite are you running and what is the wind?
What angle are you going in respect to the wind?
Do you have to work the **** out the kite to water start and start foiling.

Yep. Waterstart, ride up to speed. Start foiling for say 50-100m and start sinking down. Touch down. Dive kite to pick up speed and go for another glide. Travelling more like beam reach in direction. Don't think I'm going to close to the wind.

I'm riding a 12m in circa 12-15knots so I should have the power. I suspect its because I'm just parking the kite as I'm concentrating on the board. I seem to remember this being something that happens when learning on a twin tip too. I'm taking the positive that I'm starting to get the muscle memory to balance. Then hopefully I can sort out my kite control again.

Weebitbreezy how are you getting on riding upwind - I mean hard upwind like 20 degrees or closer ?

a bit higher angle might help create more apparent wind and speed which should keep you flying.

(Or you are pointing too high and losing speed as a result. One of the two).

I know now that feeling of slowing down despite having sufficient kite area. Normally we shouldn't need to work the kite at all when foiling upwind

I suspect its got to do with your angles ...

I think James is right. Crank more upwind and the speed and power will crank up real fast. You should be a crank a close reach powered to all hell on a 12m in 15 knots

I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff - I've seen guys break bones (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisfranc_injury) from getting trapped in footstraps crashing at high speed.

(In fact one guy did one foot last summer, and the other foot just a month ago. At least he's even now.)

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jamesperth said..
I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff

Thats because as the apparent wind speed builds the wind window shifts back. The faster you go the further downwind you can run. To a point where the kite is 90 deg to you. Then you can't go any faster. So... the highest pointing kite ultimately will go fastest downwind.

I've manages some good broad reach speed runs on the hydrofoil in flattish water. most often the swell is too lumpy for high speed broad reach!

But i'm all over silly downwind speed runs on the kitebuggy hit 88kph last year. 47.5 knots in your language.

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jamesperth said..
I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff

Thats because as the apparent wind speed builds the wind window shifts back. The faster you go the further downwind you can run. To a point where the kite is 90 deg to you. Then you can't go any faster. So... the highest pointing kite ultimately will go fastest downwind.

I've manages some good broad reach speed runs on the hydrofoil in flattish water. most often the swell is too lumpy for high speed broad reach!

But i'm all over silly downwind speed runs on the kitebuggy hit 88kph last year. 47.5 knots in your language.

Select to expand quote

jamesperth said..
I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff

Thats because as the apparent wind speed builds the wind window shifts back. The faster you go the further downwind you can run. To a point where the kite is 90 deg to you. Then you can't go any faster. So... the highest pointing kite ultimately will go fastest downwind.

I've manages some good broad reach speed runs on the hydrofoil in flattish water. most often the swell is too lumpy for high speed broad reach!

But i'm all over silly downwind speed runs on the kitebuggy hit 88kph last year. 47.5 knots in your language.

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Plummet said..

jamesperth said..

weebitbreezy said..

Plummet said..

weebitbreezy said..
I'm starting to see why this foiling isn't a beginner experience. I am comfortable starting and riding the foil but most of my rides are ending as I run out of power and slowly drop in height as I slow down. Although no where near as experienced as many on the forum, I'm somewhat past being a total beginner but I'm feeling like I'm really going to have to sharpen up my kite skills if I'm going to progress.

Still, I'm starting to 'get' the board part of it so I'll hopefully soon be able to put a few more percent of my concentration back into what the kite is doing.

So you water start, and start foiling. Then you loose power and slowly drop in height? that's a weird one. My foil will hold you up until you reach stall point then it just drops you onto the water.

I'm trying to understand how this would happen.

1) you are significantly underpowered. Say 8m sub 10 knots. but you would have lots of trouble water starting and getting on the foil.
2) you are riding at the kite broad reach.
3) you have the kite in the complete wrong place.
4) trying to crank upwind too high?

What size kite are you running and what is the wind?
What angle are you going in respect to the wind?
Do you have to work the **** out the kite to water start and start foiling.

Yep. Waterstart, ride up to speed. Start foiling for say 50-100m and start sinking down. Touch down. Dive kite to pick up speed and go for another glide. Travelling more like beam reach in direction. Don't think I'm going to close to the wind.

I'm riding a 12m in circa 12-15knots so I should have the power. I suspect its because I'm just parking the kite as I'm concentrating on the board. I seem to remember this being something that happens when learning on a twin tip too. I'm taking the positive that I'm starting to get the muscle memory to balance. Then hopefully I can sort out my kite control again.

Weebitbreezy how are you getting on riding upwind - I mean hard upwind like 20 degrees or closer ?

a bit higher angle might help create more apparent wind and speed which should keep you flying.

(Or you are pointing too high and losing speed as a result. One of the two).

I know now that feeling of slowing down despite having sufficient kite area. Normally we shouldn't need to work the kite at all when foiling upwind

I suspect its got to do with your angles ...

I think James is right. Crank more upwind and the speed and power will crank up real fast. You should be a crank a close reach powered to all hell on a 12m in 15 knots

That would make sense. I'm heading upwind more at a typical twin tip angle than anything. Maybe half way between beam and close reach.

I had assumed that part of the reason why steering upwind helped to pop you up on the foil was because the action of turning loaded your back foot a bit more (the other part being loading the lines). I'm still a proper noob in the turning/steering of the foil - my mind says 'Lets do this' but the body says 'Are you having a laugh. You can barely balance this as it is. Stick with what you are doing'

Thanks for the suggestions from the both of you.

yeah i know what you are saying. im at that pl

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weebitbreezy said..

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I'm still a proper noob in the turning/steering of the foil - my mind says 'Lets do this' but the body says 'Are you having a laugh. You can barely balance this as it is. Stick with what you are doing'

Thanks for the suggestions from the both of you.

Yeah i know the feeling well. What helped me was concentrating on relaxing, sounds weird. But to start with i tried to fight the foil and man handle it into position using my legs, didnt work at all. i needed to chillax and steer into using my upper body c of g. progression came thick and fast once I managed that.

Now im trying to ace basic surface jybes and im back to the mind says do this body does that scenario! Grrr.

Foiling is freaken fun. But i certainly dont enjoy the length of time it takes to learn the next step. I seem to struggle away at the next progression phase. After what seems a freaken long time i finally crack that thing to then be stalled on the next phase after that.

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jamesperth said..
I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff - I've seen guys break bones (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisfranc_injury) from getting trapped in footstraps crashing at high speed.

(In fact one guy did one foot last summer, and the other foot just a month ago. At least he's even now.)

Broad reach is epic when you get to that stage, especially when you have little wind swells to chase. This is where i can reach my fastest speed. I only open it up in light winds 8 to 14 knots, but I can max out my foil in those winds. I have gone beyond the capacity of my foil and have crashed pretty hard many times, but without straps it's only been a spanking and not a beating. I have learned to wash off speed by carving directly downwind and bringing the kite over to the other side of the window and back a few times. It is less hairy then trying to turn up wind and point hard in order to slow down.
I still can't imagine how fast you could go on a race foil, but Coxy goes past me on his at a pretty good pace. He is only using the front straps on his setup. He also has his tacks down pretty solid with the mast out. So impressed by what some people can do.

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dafish said..

jamesperth said..
I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff - I've seen guys break bones (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisfranc_injury) from getting trapped in footstraps crashing at high speed.

(In fact one guy did one foot last summer, and the other foot just a month ago. At least he's even now.)

Broad reach is epic when you get to that stage, especially when you have little wind swells to chase. This is where i can reach my fastest speed. I only open it up in light winds 8 to 14 knots, but I can max out my foil in those winds. I have gone beyond the capacity of my foil and have crashed pretty hard many times, but without straps it's only been a spanking and not a beating. I have learned to wash off speed by carving directly downwind and bringing the kite over to the other side of the window and back a few times. It is less hairy then trying to turn up wind and point hard in order to slow down.
I still can't imagine how fast you could go on a race foil, but Coxy goes past me on his at a pretty good pace. He is only using the front straps on his setup. He also has his tacks down pretty solid with the mast out. So impressed by what some people can do.

The other way to slow down is put your board back on the water.....

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bigtone667 said..

dafish said..

jamesperth said..
I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff - I've seen guys break bones (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisfranc_injury) from getting trapped in footstraps crashing at high speed.

(In fact one guy did one foot last summer, and the other foot just a month ago. At least he's even now.)

Broad reach is epic when you get to that stage, especially when you have little wind swells to chase. This is where i can reach my fastest speed. I only open it up in light winds 8 to 14 knots, but I can max out my foil in those winds. I have gone beyond the capacity of my foil and have crashed pretty hard many times, but without straps it's only been a spanking and not a beating. I have learned to wash off speed by carving directly downwind and bringing the kite over to the other side of the window and back a few times. It is less hairy then trying to turn up wind and point hard in order to slow down.
I still can't imagine how fast you could go on a race foil, but Coxy goes past me on his at a pretty good pace. He is only using the front straps on his setup. He also has his tacks down pretty solid with the mast out. So impressed by what some people can do.

The other way to slow down is put your board back on the water.....

Hahaha, not mine, this little ironing board has no rocker is is about 19mm thick at it's deepest point. At speed this would be instant face plant. It has me looking at shaping another but laminating the timber so I can get some decent rocker...

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dafish said..

bigtone667 said..

dafish said..

jamesperth said..
I can't properly ride a Broad Reach or Run on this chart - not properly powered up anyways. Ive seen the guys I race against push so deep you'd swear the wind is coming from a different direction for them. They have the kite low, full power and board angled as if they are riding upwind close hauled. That's how they reach (pun ahha) those insane speeds into high 30 / early 40 knots. super scary stuff - I've seen guys break bones (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisfranc_injury) from getting trapped in footstraps crashing at high speed.

(In fact one guy did one foot last summer, and the other foot just a month ago. At least he's even now.)

Broad reach is epic when you get to that stage, especially when you have little wind swells to chase. This is where i can reach my fastest speed. I only open it up in light winds 8 to 14 knots, but I can max out my foil in those winds. I have gone beyond the capacity of my foil and have crashed pretty hard many times, but without straps it's only been a spanking and not a beating. I have learned to wash off speed by carving directly downwind and bringing the kite over to the other side of the window and back a few times. It is less hairy then trying to turn up wind and point hard in order to slow down.
I still can't imagine how fast you could go on a race foil, but Coxy goes past me on his at a pretty good pace. He is only using the front straps on his setup. He also has his tacks down pretty solid with the mast out. So impressed by what some people can do.

The other way to slow down is put your board back on the water.....

Hahaha, not mine, this little ironing board has no rocker is is about 19mm thick at it's deepest point. At speed this would be instant face plant. It has me looking at shaping another but laminating the timber so I can get some decent rocker...

I have full appreciation ..... I often do downwinders on a crazyfly door if the swell is 2 foot or less. I have had some spectacular crashes coming straight down the waves face and spearing the water.

Great thread. I've really enjoyed reading about everyone's learning experiences.

I've recently picked up a Slingshot Hover Glide for a good price second hand and want to get some feedback on board choices. I intend to ride strapless as ride a strapless SB. I'm 50 and don't want to race, just enjoy foiling for the sake of it. I like the idea of a Paipo / Shinnster style board as the Greg Drexler style of riding is what drew me to learn foiling in the first place. I also like the idea having the option of using this type of board without the foil as well. However, given the HG weighs 5.2kg, will a thin board like the Shinnster float this heavy foil or do I need the extra volume of one of the dedicated Slingshot foil boards? I weigh around 80kg.

Also, if there are any Perth foilers who have the 24" Hover Glide foil academy mast that they want to sell, or let me borrow for a month (for beer of course), please message me.

Good choice.
As you can see from my post above I have the 4 sizes of masts with Alien Air board.
I would expect each mast length would accelerate the learning curve with less injuries as it did for me.

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warwickl said..
Good choice.
As you can see from my post above I have the 4 sizes of masts with Alien Air board.
I would expect each mast length would accelerate the learning curve with less injuries as it did for me.

Thanks, I hope it's a good choice. My first option was a Zeeko alloy which I'll probably still get down the track but the price of the 2nd hand Hover Glide was $500 cheaper (in new condition) and the shorter mast options it has, swayed me to start on this one. Now to get a board for it.

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DukeSilver said..
Great thread. I've really enjoyed reading about everyone's learning experiences.

I've recently picked up a Slingshot Hover Glide for a good price second hand and want to get some feedback on board choices. I intend to ride strapless as ride a strapless SB. I'm 50 and don't want to race, just enjoy foiling for the sake of it. I like the idea of a Paipo / Shinnster style board as the Greg Drexler style of riding is what drew me to learn foiling in the first place. I also like the idea having the option of using this type of board without the foil as well. However, given the HG weighs 5.2kg, will a thin board like the Shinnster float this heavy foil or do I need the extra volume of one of the dedicated Slingshot foil boards? I weigh around 80kg.

Also, if there are any Perth foilers who have the 24" Hover Glide foil academy mast that they want to sell, or let me borrow for a month (for beer of course), please message me.

I attached the hoverglide to a BRM Paipo and it only just floats, ie you will see the tip of the front of the board pointing out of the water. The shinnster version includes a carbon fibre wrapped piece of wood, and this helps.

I attached the hoverglide to a LF Rocket Fish. Worked a treat.

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pmk said..
yep upstrokes downstrokes foot movement etc all while board spins and rolls in waves and current, it just doesnt like being sideways... maybe they could make the foil more buoyant, maybe air pocket inside, to assist it floating on side for dragging and starts, without affecting ride performance?

Not sure if mentioned but make sure your arm is perpendicular to board so you're pulling rail up with hand and pushing other side near rail down with your elbow. This should help get the leverage to get the foil up. Get it right up high then feet on and go as it rolls down. That's the theory anyway

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kiteboy dave said..

Not sure if mentioned but make sure your arm is perpendicular to board so you're pulling rail up with hand and pushing other side near rail down with your elbow. This should help get the leverage to get the foil up. Get it right up high then feet on and go as it rolls down. That's the theory anyway

That is exactly how I do it when I the foil is attached to a floaty board :)

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bigtone667 said..

DukeSilver said..
Great thread. I've really enjoyed reading about everyone's learning experiences.

I've recently picked up a Slingshot Hover Glide for a good price second hand and want to get some feedback on board choices. I intend to ride strapless as ride a strapless SB. I'm 50 and don't want to race, just enjoy foiling for the sake of it. I like the idea of a Paipo / Shinnster style board as the Greg Drexler style of riding is what drew me to learn foiling in the first place. I also like the idea having the option of using this type of board without the foil as well. However, given the HG weighs 5.2kg, will a thin board like the Shinnster float this heavy foil or do I need the extra volume of one of the dedicated Slingshot foil boards? I weigh around 80kg.

Also, if there are any Perth foilers who have the 24" Hover Glide foil academy mast that they want to sell, or let me borrow for a month (for beer of course), please message me.

I attached the hoverglide to a BRM Paipo and it only just floats, ie you will see the tip of the front of the board pointing out of the water. The shinnster version includes a carbon fibre wrapped piece of wood, and this helps.

I attached the hoverglide to a LF Rocket Fish. Worked a treat.

Thanks for the advice re. the Paipo & the Rocket Fish. Have you been happy with the Hover Glide so far? Do you still use it?

This thread has been great - so thought I might add my two cents of lessons as far

Just had first 4 sessions . Had a few small runs on the last one , so feeling i have learnt something rather than being chucked off violently every time !
Seeing the flash of the foil sailing through the air near your head is a life changing moment !

On reflection Things learnt ;

- very difficult to get a clear run in light directly onshore conditions . Depth in Darwin is a problem for me - struggled to body drag out - combination of light wind and onshore made it hard to learn anything much

- set up a kite which is enough for the conditions - don't under do it . You need that initial pop out of the water to be easy , then bar out , adjust . I am guessing that the smaller kites will come out later when I am more able .
I think there is an advantage using a kite which is easily switched off in the early stages to control speed and power .Eg wave kite , long throw might help too .

- lots of talk here about front foot pressure - add to that " front foot pressure through a forward body position relative to CoG " - that is , not just front pressure

- focus on water starting in forward body position - seemed to work for me - I found the board mostly was sitting square on the water when I got up on it - rather than rising to foil straight away .

- keep as square - perpendicular - to board and mast as possible - slightly out of square - bucked off again in various directions .

- Turning the board - upwind , downwind - seems to be twisting motion with your feet ??? Rather than leaning

Not much comment on that here - maybe someone can tell us noobs more ?

Cheers

Eddie

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eddiemorgs said..
This thread has been great - so thought I might add my two cents of lessons as far

Just had first 4 sessions . Had a few small runs on the last one , so feeling i have learnt something rather than being chucked off violently every time !
Seeing the flash of the foil sailing through the air near your head is a life changing moment !

On reflection Things learnt ;

- very difficult to get a clear run in light directly onshore conditions . Depth in Darwin is a problem for me - struggled to body drag out - combination of light wind and onshore made it hard to learn anything much

- set up a kite which is enough for the conditions - don't under do it . You need that initial pop out of the water to be easy , then bar out , adjust . I am guessing that the smaller kites will come out later when I am more able .
I think there is an advantage using a kite which is easily switched off in the early stages to control speed and power .Eg wave kite , long throw might help too .

- lots of talk here about front foot pressure - add to that " front foot pressure through a forward body position relative to CoG " - that is , not just front pressure

- focus on water starting in forward body position - seemed to work for me - I found the board mostly was sitting square on the water when I got up on it - rather than rising to foil straight away .

- keep as square - perpendicular - to board and mast as possible - slightly out of square - bucked off again in various directions .

- Turning the board - upwind , downwind - seems to be twisting motion with your feet ??? Rather than leaning

Not much comment on that here - maybe someone can tell us noobs more ?

Cheers

Eddie

You're a quick study...nothing to add there!

I am not super experienced but for me no, downwind/upwind is not induced by foot movements. It is the head/upper body movement which leads to any change in direction. Just like snowboarding. My feet are mostly in the same position at all times though strapless allows me small corrections. It is the COG repositioning by leaning and by turning (all very gradually) which does the job.

Adam Withingtons first experience was a good one ^

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eddiemorgs said..
...
Not much comment on that here - maybe someone can tell us noobs more ?

Cheers

Eddie

If shallow water is a problem for you then J Shapes have a 70cm mast that might help. www.jshapes.com/collections/foils/products/70cm-mast

My general principle is that more practice is better than buying more gear, but if it works for you then go for it.

Here is a little video i made a while back to help everybody to learn how to foil tack.The foil tack is the 1st manoeuvre you should learn. Then the foil gybe- will make an Instructional video about that soon.. make sure your foil/board is trimmed good. Having equal pressure on both feet a good starting point. Stance should be between 50-60cm ( measured closest strap screws)

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Gorgo said..

eddiemorgs said..
...
Not much comment on that here - maybe someone can tell us noobs more ?

Cheers

Eddie

If shallow water is a problem for you then J Shapes have a 70cm mast that might help. www.jshapes.com/collections/foils/products/70cm-mast

My general principle is that more practice is better than buying more gear, but if it works for you then go for it.

Agreed Gorgo. Just more practice I reckon. Had more cross yesterday and it helped heaps. Was able to body drag to depth easily rather than wasting energy finding deeper water.
Cheers

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RussKraut said..
I am not super experienced but for me no, downwind/upwind is not induced by foot movements. It is the head/upper body movement which leads to any change in direction. Just like snowboarding. My feet are mostly in the same position at all times though strapless allows me small corrections. It is the COG repositioning by leaning and by turning (all very gradually) which does the job.

No worries , will keep that in mind. Makes sense.

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INTHELOOP said..
Here is a little video i made a while back to help everybody to learn how to foil tack.The foil tack is the 1st manoeuvre you should learn. Then the foil gybe- will make an Instructional video about that soon..

make sure your foil/board is trimmed good. Having equal pressure on both feet a good starting point. Stance should be between 50-60cm ( measured closest strap screws)

Why learn the tack first? all other advice I've been given is learn the gybe first.

Care to share why you suggest the tack should be used first.

thx to all for replies, pi, jp, kk, pl et al, battled ocean downwind swell 2day, good wind, got up twice and foiled away, still tempted for noob front strap but dont want to, found waxing both rails helped a lot for start up grip cheers guys