After much delay- my venture into winging finally began!!!

I am 2 sessions in. I am 90 kg on a 6'x27" 108L SUP, 6.0 Wasp. The first day was a pretty tough setup to learn. 20 kts direct onshore in a shallow, tight cove, very tight, steep bumps. I couldn't point high enough to clear the point on either side, so- lots of short slogs off foil and paddling upwind dragging a wing. I did get my knee start on my good side somewhat sorted. Knee starts on my switch side I burried the tip most times. Progress though.

Second day.
My buddy 2 months into winging drops me solo on the bay and heads to the surf side of our location. Not an ideal setup, but a bit easier to learn on: gusty 15-25kts slightly side/off-shore winds. Calm water. First go- I knee started on strong side, slogged along a bit- reached wind-line, pointed downwind, pumped board/wing... teased with getting on foil but... no. Starting to get blown offshore- I aborted- long paddle back to shore. Rest.
Second go: Decent knee start, slogged along off foil, hit wind-line, pointed downwind pumped, pumped, pumped.... up on foil!!! So stoked! Could now pinch into wind- did so a bit, got inside- lost wind, off foil... did a low plodding "jibe" to topside. could at best beam reach to slightly downwind off foil on toes side. Couldn't get on foil. One near miss on a good gust. After being blown offshore too far- another long paddle back in. I repeated the same pattern into exhaustion. My knee starts switch stance are pathetic. Once up switch stance- not close to getting on foil. Or... off foil jibes to toe-side keep leave me unable to get on foil. No on-foil jibes yet.

I suspect a more stable board would help me out learning on my bad side. As would downwind runs rather than short runs followed by tiring paddles. Other than progressing my strong side to the point I can jibe strong heel side to toes side- how on earth do I get on foil/work on sailing on foil on my weak side? Are most of you pumping up to foil switch stance, pumping up heel-side, getting up strong side, jibing to toes side? I know more than anything repetition, taking my lumps is the answer, but any suggestion on approach would be appreciated.

You are doing great after only two sessions. Keep on doing what you are doing and it will come.

That's great progress. Up on the foil straight away really 2 sessions in average conditions. How big is your foil? It needs to be massive I think.

I would measure progress by 10 sessions. So 10 comfortably riding on your good side and pointing upwind a bit (lots of paddling)

At 20 sessions getting up on the foil on your bad side with lots of paddling.

30 sessions making jibes lots of stacks lots of paddling.

40 sessions feeling pretty good mixed in with some humbling stacks.

A lot people on here are crazy quick at picking it up though.

Thanks both- that helps. I guess pulling off consistent on foil jibes will be the key to unlocking my toe-side. And I suppose I'll have to gut out- keep hammering away at getting up on foil switch-foot or toe-side. Are most switching stance to pump up, or able to pump up to foil toe-side?

As for my foil-wing- I am on the Axis 1150. Very wide high aspect wing. Doesn't have crazy initial lift, but heaps of glide- sustains pretty slow speeds once up. Hoping that will help get me through jibes! The 1020 would probably be more ideal to learn on I reckon- but I wanted to buy something I'd want to keep a while.

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Holoholo said..
Thanks both- that helps. I guess pulling off consistent on foil jibes will be the key to unlocking my toe-side.

Yup. Your back foot will be in the sweet spot. Also good conditions.

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Holoholo said..
Are most switching stance to pump up, or able to pump up to foil toe-side?

I have a tendency to always start healside and I will switch to toeside just before I gybe. Starting toeside requires some serious wind because pumping the board is difficult, whereas pumping the board healside is easier.

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bigtone667 said..

Holoholo said..
Are most switching stance to pump up, or able to pump up to foil toe-side?

I have a tendency to always start healside and I will switch to toeside just before I gybe. Starting toeside requires some serious wind because pumping the board is difficult, whereas pumping the board healside is easier.

Makes total sense. I know there are quite a few wingers who never switch stance- and wonder how they pull this off? Do they always get on foil on thier heel-side and immediately jibe? I definitely want to get good at toe-side as downwind and surfing are what are calling me to the wing, but it seems being capable at switch would sure help out. My local is West/SW facing with NW prevailing wind, so entry/sailing out will be toe-side/switch for a regular footer like myself.

Early stages for me, haven't even tried switch stance yet. Too worried on just trying to stay upwind so I don't have to do a walk/paddle of shame at the end of my session. Toe side I can get up on foil, but it is definitely tougher, and I point much more downwind than I do getting up heel side.

Yesterday I did a downwinder with a buddy in hopes of being able to practice trying switch foot, but the wind didn't cooperate and it ended up being a slog fest. Though I did get up toe side and had my longest ride to date, all the way to the beach.

The first couple times I tried toe side, I found it easier to start with my feet in more of a parallel, beachboy, stance. Then as I started to pick up board speed, move my back foot back/front foot forward into my surf stance, then try to pump on foil.

Appreciate the response bigmtn-
I know mostly I need to keep plugging- put in the time. Just want to be sure I am doing it in a sensible way. I rather wish I had a bigger board to do this w/ but can't find a suitable loaner and not going to spend money on a board I'll only use a short time so.... gut it out it is. All the feedback helps min knowing where to put my effort.

Wind has gone calm anywhere remotely near me- forecast looks poor all week so on hold. Fortunately the surf foiling was super fun- head=high and glassy today and more of the same the next few days.
Damn foiling is fun.

Get a skateboard, electric even better. Start real slow on your bad side, gets easier the more you do. Netball courts are great, smooth and very few rocks and sticks to jam the wheels

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Relapse said..
Get a skateboard, electric even better. Start real slow on your bad side, gets easier the more you do. Netball courts are great, smooth and very few rocks and sticks to jam the wheels

Awesome idea. I am going to do this to practice tacks which I am useless at. Thanks for sharing

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Get a skateboard, electric even better. Start real slow on your bad side, gets easier the more you do. Netball courts are great, smooth and very few rocks and sticks to jam the wheels

That is really a good idea. Definitely- my pump trying to get on foil switch stance is pretty pathetic and uncoordinated. Was having big issues knee starting switch as well with catching the wingtip on my 6.0 way more than on my good side. I can definitely see how dry land switch on a skateboard switch could help get me sorted. Am also thinking practicing switch knee starts on the beach is a good idea to get some kind of coordinated muscle memory going. No wind right now so in spite of being obsessed..... dry land drills is all I've got with the wing.

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Relapse said..
Get a skateboard, electric even better. Start real slow on your bad side, gets easier the more you do. Netball courts are great, smooth and very few rocks and sticks to jam the wheels

Just tried it on electric skatey. Very shakey at the start, really worried about falling backwards and cracking my head.

half an hour later, fully carving. Really shocked how quickly you progress.

See how much this helps my switch stance on the foil.

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Holoholo said..

bigtone667 said..

Holoholo said..
Are most switching stance to pump up, or able to pump up to foil toe-side?

I have a tendency to always start healside and I will switch to toeside just before I gybe. Starting toeside requires some serious wind because pumping the board is difficult, whereas pumping the board healside is easier.

Makes total sense. I know there are quite a few wingers who never switch stance- and wonder how they pull this off? Do they always get on foil on thier heel-side and immediately jibe? I definitely want to get good at toe-side as downwind and surfing are what are calling me to the wing, but it seems being capable at switch would sure help out. My local is West/SW facing with NW prevailing wind, so entry/sailing out will be toe-side/switch for a regular footer like myself.

I never switch stance. Goofy or bust. I can beat up wind just as good on my toeside. I don't see the point. I am always surfing the foil no matter what tack I am on. Once I figured out a proper relaxed body position/stance for toeside, there was no reason to ever change. I can switch but its so retarded feeling that I feel like if I let just one bump go by, it was not worth it. Its full on powder skiing all the time, both ways. How many of you switch stance when you are surfing? I get it if you are into fancy foot switch jibing etc, or if you are having a long upwind reach on your offside then it could make sense, but its not for me at this point.

Coming from a windsurfing background where you have to switch it just seemed the thing to do but quite a few coming from windsurfing dont. You gotta wave sail switch too a lot of the time too. Wave riding on foil switch feels very weird indeed but like AndyShwartz said it starts feeling normal pretty quick. Good fun trying when it's flat but I don't know if I'd try it in decent waves, was sketchy enough in 1 foot.

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I never switch stance. Goofy or bust. I can beat up wind just as good on my toeside. I don't see the point. I am always surfing the foil no matter what tack I am on. Once I figured out a proper relaxed body position/stance for toeside, there was no reason to ever change. I can switch but its so retarded feeling that I feel like if I let just one bump go by, it was not worth it. Its full on powder skiing all the time, both ways. How many of you switch stance when you are surfing? I get it if you are into fancy foot switch jibing etc, or if you are having a long upwind reach on your offside then it could make sense, but its not for me at this point.

Hey broVan. Thanks. I know there are many- especially from surf background doing the same. I assume once I get this wired I'll be regular foot most of the time as downwind and surf is my motivation for winging. Wind where I live is most often pretty marginal 15 kts on "good days". I can drive 45 minutes to a spot that blows 20 many days. My initial question stems from visions of me at home in our prevailing marginal conditions that would put me toe-side leaving the beach. I see myself caught inside the surf line getting pummeled trying to get on foil on my toe-side. As well- the setup on my closest downwind run requires a long upwind run on what would be my topside to best setup the run.

So I gather from your post that once you get it wired- water/knee starts/pumping up to foil toe-side becomes much less an issue? How light of air can you pull off a toe-side start?

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AndyShwartz said..

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Get a skateboard, electric even better. Start real slow on your bad side, gets easier the more you do. Netball courts are great, smooth and very few rocks and sticks to jam the wheels

Just tried it on electric skatey. Very shakey at the start, really worried about falling backwards and cracking my head.

half an hour later, fully carving. Really shocked how quickly you progress.

See how much this helps my switch stance on the foil.

Ended up doing 2 hours behind a jetski switch foot as I'm impatient. Best way to learn probably.