Kia ora guys
decided to kick off my sup foiling journey by retro fitting my 7'8 minion with a tuttle box and go foil with Iwa wing.
Had my first session behind a ski ,,a humbling experience to say the least...went back the next day for my second try behind the ski and with a little adjustment of feet ( back foot over the back screw and front foot more forward of the handle ) had some success with flying and some airtime but also some mean face plants ...by breaching the foil i think.
Question? as i dont have foot straps whats everyone doing to locate correct foot positions accurately each time. Im thinking of putting a traction kick pad at the back and an arch at the front so i dont have to look down and can feel im in the right place. Di need need to shave off esisting diamond pattern if i do this ..or stick it straight on? Any adice e great.
Here some photo and quick vid behind ski..

Nice SM, looked pretty solid to me... some great flying there!
board looks sweet with the foil mounted

Thanks Rick
Going to try in waves tomorrow..lots of getting wet I suspect lol but enjoying the stoke

You can stick a tail pad right on top of the deck pad for your back foot placement.

Chur BPS..thanks for that. Sorted

Love the background music. Is it a local band?

Hey mate,
I'm still learning myself but getting more air time now than swimming. Best thing I worked out was wear a GoPro on your head and on every wave when your trying to get the foil up look down and record where your feet are.
Their placement is crucial and one wave will feel perfectly balanced and come easy as and trim right.
Look at your footage for that one and then mark your feet positions. I made a rear kicker pad for my back foot by sticking 2 layers of deck grip together and then stuck it to the deck. Cheap as and hasn't moved yet. Don't forget to mark your front foot placement too.
That way you put your feet in the right spot straight away and away you go.
Worked for me anyway mate.
Good luck.

Yeah just take a visual marker when you are up to where your feet are . Maybe put some niko pen lines on your grip to see where your feet are. You don't need straps but they can help to locate your feet when learning , plus use the KAI behind the boat the IWA has too much lift. More importantly that ski needs a service & don't use low octane fuel , that engine is hunting and sounds fuel starved.

A helmet might be a good idea !

Thanks for the good advice

Looks like that orange strip on your deck grip is right over the foil mast. Maybe enough to line up your back foot at least?

Actually, maybe ball of your back foot....? From other photo it looks like the orange strip is a tiny bit forward of the central point of the mast...

Thanks Steve..ending up putting on a kick pad for rear foot and a little arch for the front
Chur