I've been windsurfing for about 3 years and decided to give foiling a shot. I'm a big old guy - 65 yo, 110+ kg on a Levitator 160 and Slingshot i99 with a Sailworks Fly 7.0. I'm in the C position with the rear foil opposite to the forward foil. I also have the mast plate all the way forward. My session hours must be high tide +/- 2 hours due to water depth which greatly limits when I can go. Tides are also a challenge here.

Often wind conditions are too light - under 10 mph. I've used a few of these days anyway to adjust to the board even though I know it's just going to be taxiing. However, we then get days of 14 to 18 mph wind gusts 25 to 35 mph. Generally, when there are gusts much over 20 mph I've skipped attempts at foiling out of fear that I'll just get ejected a lot and I might begin to hate it.

What wind speed range and what wind gusts are acceptable for a big guy trying to learn foiling? On my 4th or 5th try I did foil but it was rather brief. Even though it was brief it was very exciting for me.

Due to COVID, I've been unable to find any instructors within 70 miles or so. Maybe next year I will look into instructors once again.

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Shipmate said..
I've been windsurfing for about 3 years and decided to give foiling a shot. I'm a big old guy - 65 yo, 110+ kg on a Levitator 160 and Slingshot i99 with a Sailworks Fly 7.0. I'm in the C position with the rear foil opposite to the forward foil. I also have the mast plate all the way forward. My session hours must be high tide +/- 2 hours due to water depth which greatly limits when I can go. Tides are also a challenge here.

Often wind conditions are too light - under 10 mph. I've used a few of these days anyway to adjust to the board even though I know it's just going to be taxiing. However, we then get days of 14 to 18 mph wind gusts 25 to 35 mph. Generally, when there are gusts much over 20 mph I've skipped attempts at foiling out of fear that I'll just get ejected a lot and I might begin to hate it.

What wind speed range and what wind gusts are acceptable for a big guy trying to learn foiling? On my 4th or 5th try I did foil but it was rather brief. Even though it was brief it was very exciting for me.

I have the same set-up (2 years younger than your age, similar weight) but I use 8.2 flyer for <10 knots, for 10-14 knots is very good for your set up. Play with the position of the foil mast and sail mast position. I set-up my mast close to the front part of the track and sail is 2-3 inches from the insertion site. Also get into the front strap; if your feet is in front of the straps, the board does not lift up.

STEADY 15 knot breeze.

With the sail all the way to the front, it'll probably be difficult to lift off. If you find you need a lot of pressure on the back of the board to ease of the water, bring the mast base back.

Don't lean back or out, try to stay over the board. If you lean back at the same time you are pressing hard on the back foot to get off the water, once it's out, it'll shoot to the moon.

Aim for 15ish for wind. Try to skip like a stone at first. Don't worry about trying to stay high and it's okay if your take off has a couple of bounces on the way. If you aren't going fast and it seems to stall, put it back on the water. Continuing to point to the sky when you are going slow won't solve anything.

Yes, too much wind is no fun at your stage, especially with a big wing. Since you have something floaty, rig down if the wing picks up so you aren't fighting things. 25 is fair amount of wind for a beginner. At your stage, rig for the gusts not the lulls.

That quiet the first few times is a blast, isn't it? (After more than 3 years, it still is for me)

Thanks for your recommendations.

Besides steady 15 knots, you place the center of area of your front foil directly centered between your straps, which are probably set forward for your weight.
For long fuze, wing is more forward

In absence of steady 15 kts I would settle for peak gusts of 15-17, and not care how low the lulls are. As a beginner you want the gusts to get you up for a minute, and if you then spend 5 minutes pootling then thats fine - gives you time to get your breath and think about what you were just doing.

I think you should be in position "B" on the fuselage and your rear stabilizer should be the 48cm for maximum stability and lift, also facing "down", like the front wing when using the i99. Sail mast in the center of the mast track to start with. For the i99 i place my foil mast plate around 2.5 to 2.75 inches forward of the rearmost setting in the foil tracks. The markings were the suggestion of other guys here to help me learn positioning.

All good info above. I would add that you go as often as is possible and safe. It takes time on the foil to learn so keep cracking and safely pushing your limits.

excav8ter - I wasn't aware that the 48 cm stabilizer foil could be an option for windfoiling. I thought it was for wakefoiling or some other activities. I noticed SS's website shows these are out of stock. I'll have to keep checking from time to time. I'm not worried if it makes turning or jibing difficult. At this early stage, I'll be happy to foil straight, crash and uphaul. I just want to fly.

One thing I want to do is setup some sawhorses and place the board on top at a good height, stand back and have a good look at the geometry of the foil (fore/aft) vs foot straps. I like the idea of adding markings on the board. I'm getting the picture that I'll need to make adjustments along the way.

Since I'm a big guy I'm also wondering about trying to use my Sailworks Retro 9.0. I don't expect it's ideal as a foil specific sail but it might help on those lighter air days (14 knots) that are so common where I do my stuff and once again, at this early stage, I just want TOF (time on foil).

Better to use a 7.5 Retro with little downhaul but saggy loose outhaul than 9.5.
Weight of 9.5 gold nose of board down.

And when you do get up pay attention to how you are ballanced on the board, ideally you want to feel like you are stradeling a seesaw so that toe pressure alone will make the board go down (front toes) or up (rear toes). Longer flights with steady winds help to feel that, and of course you may need to adjust the sail mast base and the foil mast base to get ballanced.

I meant to say < 14 knots.

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excav8ter said..
I think you should be in position "B" on the fuselage and your rear stabilizer should be the 48cm for maximum stability and lift, also facing "down", like the front wing when using the i99. Sail mast in the center of the mast track to start with. For the i99 i place my foil mast plate around 2.5 to 2.75 inches forward of the rearmost setting in the foil tracks. The markings were the suggestion of other guys here to help me learn positioning.

I am not a fan of the large rear stabilizer for windfoiling, but some big guys can get away with it.

The large rear stabilizer is best with short fuse for sup or wing.

I use C position for the 99 and I push it all the way forward in the track. I don't think B would work for me, as I don't think I could get the wrong forward enough. Might work for a bigger guy I guess

Patiently pick your days for when the wind is blowing 12-15 kts. Rig a 6.5 and go out and practice. You will do fine.

i99 + 48 or i76 + 42 will both work with the 6.5. Time on water.

Best advice someone gave me:
"Just go windsurf your foil board". Get it planning before you lift off.

Other advice: Keep your rear leg a bit more locked out. Most beginners bend their knees and that's where all hell breaks loose in the beginning.

Just like with snowboarding, give it 12 hours of time on water (TOW) or time on foil (TOF) before you decide whether you have figured it out or not. You will. We all did.

(I'm still working on my 12 hours of foiling jibes. Since each jibe takes, say, 15 seconds, that's a lot of jibes before I have that figured out.)

Enjoy the journey.