Here is an idea to help with foot placement on the board when using a foil board without footstraps. I started foiling without footstraps and put them back after learning the basics of how to fly the board. I'm currently at the advanced mediocre stage of foiling. I'm working on perfecting flying foil jibes and crashing a good amount. I've managed to get minor sprains of both knees and ankles even though I was running my footstraps extremely loose and not wearing booties. I really don't want a serious knee injury. I've found out that crashing on a foil board is not like crashing on a windsurf board. I've decided to take the front footstraps back off but have become dependent on them for foot positioning.

Here is an idea that borrows from Casey Treichler who puts "braille" foot markers on his strapless WWF boards to help with foot placement and also from Jesper (Sail Repair WA) who put squash balls cut in half in the rear footstrap position on his Wizard 125. In this application neoprene rubber strips 1/4 inch thick and 1 inch wide are placed in the footstrap position and a squash ball cut in half is attached to the outer screw down point. Rubber washers are used with stainless screws to attach everything. I can wear booties and feel exactly where my feet need to be without looking down. When I'm overpowered or going downwind I can stand in front of "the straps". This setup has worked out better than I expected. I still have the rear straps on to help carry the board and for rear foot position but I never get in them. I may put my front straps on again once I really have my flying jibes sorted out, but I really like this set up now.

Cool info thanks

I use Starboard rubber fin washers for that. I have seen somewhere on internet - some company are making soft rubber blocks for same purpose.

I set my straps slalom tight so I get out easily.

strange, If I was to choose I'd remove the rear strap and keep the front ones

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seanhogan said..
strange, If I was to choose I'd remove the rear strap and keep the front ones

Maybe you should try with the front footstraps off and write a report here.

Scary looking eyes between the rear foot straps..

Is there any possible permanent marker to use rather than putting screws that may hurt when you step on it? I use half straps in the back straps that will be easier to release foot if you fall.

I don't understand people not using footstraps when foiling. In my experience they have the following benefits:

1) They provide a reference point for where to put your feet so that you can get the balance just right by adjusting your foil, mast foot and foot strap positions.

2) Without straps there are times where either the heel or toe of your front foot would lift off while you try to carve the board.

3) You can pump the sail more and handle more power at take off if your feet can push against a strap

4) You can jump or at least have more chance of recovering from breaches

5) When you fall you can make the board fall in your direction and prevent a 'taco' where the foil ends up heading towards you

Nobody sails a shortboard windsurfer without footstraps so I'm puzzled why you would on a foil. The worse foiling injury I've had was bruised ribs while SUP foiling without footstraps. I ended up with a taco where I landed rib first on the rail of my board with my head narrowly missing the foil. Since then I have always SUP foiled with a front strap.

I can just about go with the idea of removing a rear strap on a race board.
Being able to fine tune the lift from a race foil, by only moving your rear foot forward or back a little ..if it's ok for Nico Goyard, it's ok for me.
But when it's choppy... I want both feet in the straps

I don't understand not wanting straps either. I've tried both ways and only on a very wide board in completely flat water was strapless a decent option.

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simonp123 said..
I don't understand people not using footstraps when foiling.

The OP mentioned that he had strained both knees and ankles while foiling with straps. Seems like a darn good reason to me.
When I tried foiling the first time on gear that a brand rep brought to the beach, his girlfriend had just recovered from a major knee injury that kept her off the water for months. She had injured her knee in a bad crash while learning to windfoil.

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simonp123 said..
Nobody sails a shortboard windsurfer without footstraps so I'm puzzled why you would on a foil.

Puzzled? Really? Don't foilers now call shortboards "slappers" for a very good reason?
I actually had to remove one front strap from my shortboard during a windsurf trip to Brazil after tweaking my knee in a one-footed jump landing. With the strap, there was too much pain, while there was very little pain without. But it required windsurfing a bit more carefully. I was glad when I was able to put the straps back on after a few days.

Unless you want to jump a foil, or you are racing or going for maximum speed, I think foot straps are the functional equivalent of training wheels on a bike. They are not needed for chop since you're flying above it. You have to figure out where to put the feet, but that's really not harder than learning to keep the balance on the bike.

I specifically don't buy the argument of "having more chance to recover from breaches". We have to use short masts (60-75 cm) where I am foiling right now due to shallow water, which leads to more breaches. I see much better foilers catapult on a regular basis on breaches even when going in a straight line. That includes an expert who does foiling duck jibes and duck tacks as well as 360s, both upwind and downwind. They use straps, and they crash hard. I don't use straps, and have maybe one breach a session, which typically either leads to a recovery or to a slow-motion crash, but almost never to a catapult. My longer board (Stingray 140) certainly helps, but so does not being stuck in foot straps, and being used to move the feet around while flying.

I have tried all configurations. When the smoke finally cleared, here is what works for me:

Front straps to locate feet for balance. Way way wide open. Does not lock my feet down if I crash. No injuries. No close calls.

Back straps mounted, but rarely used. Back foot is usually just forward of the straps and near the middle of the board. Moveable feet back there is nice for varying conditions.

If you are still trying to figure things out, just ride strapless until you get a comfortable foot position most of the time. Then mount your straps there. I will be doing exactly this on a new (to me) board next month.

Good work ccflyer!
I have been enjoying winDfoiling strapless on a slingshot shred sled. The sled has a centerline ridge for the back foot as well as a foam tail kick. These are awesome tools! There is a ridge on center for the front foot as well but in windfoil mode my front foot is always out board and aft of this positon. I am looking for a way to have a marker for the outboard front foot that I could also use as a hand hold when I want to carry the kit over my head. If I add two sets of inserts then do your idea I should be all set. Maybe I might try a nylon strap.
I am still learning about this style and setup. Still drinking from the fire hose really. Here is some footage from a recent day that was to windy for me in the ocean so I am back in a tidal creek.
Kdog, reconize the sail? Thanks mate, this was my first time ever on a sail in the 3's!

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simonp123 said..
I don't understand people not using footstraps when foiling. In my experience they have the following benefits:

1) They provide a reference point for where to put your feet so that you can get the balance just right by adjusting your foil, mast foot and foot strap positions.

2) Without straps there are times where either the heel or toe of your front foot would lift off while you try to carve the board.

3) You can pump the sail more and handle more power at take off if your feet can push against a strap

4) You can jump or at least have more chance of recovering from breaches

5) When you fall you can make the board fall in your direction and prevent a 'taco' where the foil ends up heading towards you

Nobody sails a shortboard windsurfer without footstraps so I'm puzzled why you would on a foil. The worse foiling injury I've had was bruised ribs while SUP foiling without footstraps. I ended up with a taco where I landed rib first on the rail of my board with my head narrowly missing the foil. Since then I have always SUP foiled with a front strap.

6) straps allow better transference of lateral pressure (port-starboard) on the board which is needed at times

7) feet in two straps teaches people to shift their body weight to control angle of lift versus shifting their feet around, but in some set ups lighter riders may need to move back foot forward to control an powered up foil

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7) feet in two straps teaches people to shift their body weight to control angle of lift versus shifting their feet around

That's a good point. I think you can put more pressure on your front foot if your back foot is in the strap as you don't have to worry about over balancing and falling forwards.

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simonp123 said..

7) feet in two straps teaches people to shift their body weight to control angle of lift versus shifting their feet around

That's a good point. I think you can put more pressure on your front foot if your back foot is in the strap as you don't have to worry about over balancing and falling forwards.

Agreed, and not to mention being able to lift up on the front strap will pumping to get up on the foil.

On a side note:

Most freeride windfoil boards need to be bounced onto the foil to get up early, this is where have a front strap really helps. For race gear it might be more hitting a certain velocity to get the gear to lift, which will happen on freeride gear too but after you could have bounced onto the foil.

On a board like the shredsled or fanatic skysup with a chined tail I don't bounce it onto the foil I just build up some speed and weight my back foot and the board rises up onto the foil. This kind of board is too maneuverable (shorter sail to foil mast distance and fully chinned rails) to tolerate the aggressive pumping/bouncing that a wizard or levitator will tolerate, at least for me. Therefore, I can get up earlier on the levi versus the shredsled, but the Levi will not handle windier/wavier conditions as well....

Yes, straps can be super helpful overall and I will likely put them back on my board once I can consistently execute flying jibes. Having come from a surfing background before windsurfing I see the beauty and appeal of strapless WWF. I find it a bit more spooky to be in the harness when foiling without the front straps. So now I'm rarely in the harness and a side benefit is that my fitness level has definitely improved after doing hour long sessions and never getting in the harness.

I find Casey's video inspirational for strapless WWF:

from vimeo.com/user12873532 on vimeo.com.

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ccflyer said..
Yes, straps can be super helpful overall and I will likely put them back on my board once I can consistently execute flying jibes. Having come from a surfing background before windsurfing I see the beauty and appeal of strapless WWF. I find it a bit more spooky to be in the harness when foiling without the front straps. So now I'm rarely in the harness and a side benefit is that my fitness level has definitely improved after doing hour long sessions and never getting in the harness.

I find Casey's video inspirational for strapless WWF:

from vimeo.com/user12873532 on vimeo.com.

Dope. who would have thought the great lakes would have been a swell riding foiling mecca

I need my front foot to slide up and back depending on sail power.
I like my back foot set in place like my foil mast is set in one place.
As usual, the opposite of what you want.

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ccflyer said..
Yes, straps can be super helpful overall and I will likely put them back on my board once I can consistently execute flying jibes. Having come from a surfing background before windsurfing I see the beauty and appeal of strapless WWF. I find it a bit more spooky to be in the harness when foiling without the front straps. So now I'm rarely in the harness and a side benefit is that my fitness level has definitely improved after doing hour long sessions and never getting in the harness.

I find Casey's video inspirational for strapless WWF:

from vimeo.com/user12873532 on vimeo.com.

ccflyer I have foiled both in and out of the straps and I believe there are advantages to both. You have received a lot a good advice on this topic based on Foilers respective experiences. So from my experience I suggest continuing on your path of learning strapless, as I just found it easier.

I started with straps but took them off because they rarely seemed to be in spot where I felt balanced (more or less in an athletic stance not overly weighted on one foot or the other). Your idea of a marker on the board to find your spot sounds like it works for you and I suggest if your front foot is close to the right spot you might not need a rear marker as your natural stance should get you close.

Regarding advancement I now almost always Foil strapless and I enjoy the Swell Riding and Carving side of foiling even in high winds. I am able to be aggressive without straps. Although straps can help with pumping I have adjusted my pumping style to where i hop back while pushing the board forward and it seems to get me on the foil as fast as folks with straps.


Here is an old Video some friends talked me into making. Hopefully you get a laugh and some tips on jibing strapless. I forgot to mention that leaning the mast/sail to the outside of the jibe helps with back winding and sail rotation

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LeeD said..
I need my front foot to slide up and back depending on sail power.
I like my back foot set in place like my foil mast is set in one place.
As usual, the opposite of what you want.

lol

To each their own

My feet position change continually (back and front) depending on the wind, what foil I have on and how big the swell is.and this in itself changes depends on when and if I open the speed tap up. That includes both gross and fine adjustments
There is no "one position". Hence I don't use foot straps. Never will.

the only need for foot straps are if you want to jump.

It ends there. The other advantageous reasons given are highly debatable at best.

each to their own.

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eppo said..the only need for foot straps are if you want to jump.
It ends there. The other advantageous reasons given are highly debatable at best.

You seem very certain

I disagree - I don't find any need to move my feet, even carving 2m+ windswells downwind in 30 knot winds.
Just transfer my weight between my front and rear straps (offset from the centerline). Works ok for me

Having said that I'm going to experiment with no straps and half-straps soon as an alternative.

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azymuth said..

I disagree - I don't find any need to move my feet, even carving 2m+ windswells downwind in 30 knot winds.
Just transfer my weight between my front and rear straps (offset from the centerline). Works ok for me

Your weight transfer in the straps is legendary!

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azymuth said..

eppo said..the only need for foot straps are if you want to jump.
It ends there. The other advantageous reasons given are highly debatable at best.

You seem very certain

I disagree - I don't find any need to move my feet, even carving 2m+ windswells downwind in 30 knot winds.
Just transfer my weight between my front and rear straps (offset from the centerline). Works ok for me

Having said that I'm going to experiment with no straps and half-straps soon as an alternative.

With azymuth on this one. Nico Goyard took off his back straps on his formula foil board but still retains his front straps which many of us do. If there were no benefit, he'd have ditched the front as well. I doubt he spends much time jumping that board.

From what I hear and read, he's pretty good at this foil thing. You can say this is debatable but that's a pretty good data point in my opinion.

Using a Slalom Board for Foiling, I've had difficulties getting into my backstrap, especially with booties in winter. More practise or a foil dedicated board may be the best soultion, but for the time being I've mounted the slingshot halfstraps and love them. I can easily slide backwards into them.
I've tried them in the front position as well, but didn't feel comfortable.
Each to their own of course, but I can highly recommend this to anyone who hasn't found their ideal setup.

The argument of having to move around on the board and consequently footstraps being useless, is no novelty, by the way. My father claimed it for quite a while around 1982. The so-called funboard revolution challenged a few beloved concepts then as foiling does now.

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ZeeGerman said..
The argument of having to move around on the board and consequently footstraps being useless, is no novelty, by the way. My father claimed it for quite a while around 1982.

That's when boards had 2 or 3 backfoot straps on each side. You needed to move your foot around, whether you used straps or not!

Just for reference this is how big my straps are. The slingshot kite surf strap is humongous and the grey windsurf straps are just short of as large as they can go.

I have used every variation of straps and no straps. My conclusions are 1) front straps are definitely a positive (most of the benefits listed above apply mainly to front straps), 2) back straps are rarely a positive, and I suspect (with exception of jumping), the few positives arent big ones (as Nico shows...).

To expand: Back straps are pointless for beginners, just make it harder to get into them at the point when everything is happening, makes crashing scarier, and if you arent certain of how well trimmed your board and foil are then you dont know enough to make the necessary adjustments (whereas with no strap you just do whatever feels good). If learning gybes, back straps add an unnecessary opportunity to lose your trim on initiation. If well powered you can just wrap your back foot around the rail and push as much as you like. When going deep downwind well powered its nice to have the back foot in the middle - but its really scary to take it out of a strap and move it, whereas udging it along is fine

No back strap also helps you olly the board to take off as you can stuff you foot really further back and get leverage. I feel with my boards that if the back foot is in the right place for balanced flight then it is a bit too far forward for optimising light wind takeoff (without pumping like a lunatic with a big sail as Im not fit enough for that).

But I will be trying some variant on the foot positioning bobbles - so thanks - great idea. Whilst its OK to just do it all by feel for the back strap, I suspect that having some reference point that I dont need to look down for would help.

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Smidgeuk said..
... I suspect that having some reference point that I dont need to look down for would help.

That is the point of the "marker".