Session #6.

Got to the beach and it was clearly too windy for my 5m, but damn it, I was going out.

Trick today was foot positioning I think, got them feeling comfortable, and kept my knees bent. Rather than pumping the wing, which I didn't need to, I practiced giving the board a little pump. In reality, it didn't need much, a bit of a tap with the front foot, and hey presto, we're flying.

A little uncontrolled for the first few runs, then some nice long controlled flight. Was even able to sail high up into the wind. No walk of shame today.

I'm hooked.

I think we all remember "That Day" that hooked us...
Congrats!

Niiiice - "too windy" is usually just right when you're trying to get that first long flight.

I agree.
Maybe steady 15 knots is perfect, but more wind is better than less after your 1st day.

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crashflow said..
Niiiice - "too windy" is usually just right when you're trying to get that first long flight.

Yup the industry has shot itself in the foot by fooling people in to thinking it's a lightwind sport. It sure is fun in high winds though, then again so are all wind sports. I just eyeroll when I see BS from manufacturers stating things like 6mph is a reasonable minimum to get going on a 5.5. As a kiter there's a real sense of deja vue.

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Windbot said.Yup the industry has shot itself in the foot by fooling people in to thinking it's a lightwind sport. It sure is fun in high winds though, then again so are all wind sports. I just eyeroll when I see BS from manufacturers stating things like 6mph is a reasonable minimum to get going on a 5.5. As a kiter there's a real sense of deja vue.

Not so sure I agree totally, yes it is easier in 15 knots plus. However, the better you get the less wind you need. With a 6m I can get out in 10 to 12 knots when no kites or windsurfers are out. How much fun is it? With a few bumps to ride awesome. Flat water not so much for me but some people love the freestyle side of the sport.
Sputnik keep up the hours and it gets more and more rewarding. Great to see the stoke

I'm still pretty inefficient so I still need +12kts with a 6m. However compared to windfoiling with a big foil/small sail it seems like I can get through deeper lulls.
I also think I'll be far more willing to try jumping with the wing compared to windfoiling, it looks to need much less commitment and speed.

Honestly nothing foils in 6kts. That's just marketing.

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Grantmac:

Honestly nothing foils in 6kts. That's just marketing.

Exactly! Tell that to Armstrong who advertise their A-wing as being suitable for an advanced 80kg rider in 5 knots. Give me a break, even the ram air kitefoilers are leaving their gear in their cars at that windspeed. I will take a solid 15knots for my 6m wing to be fun, sure I could go lower but it would be lame, I would rather windfoil when it's marginal.

Yep. As a newbe. 15 knots plus with a 6m V2 Cabrinha wing with XL Neil Pryde foil with 6mm wedge attached to a JP 6ft 8" 26 wide board on flatwater. There is a very fine line between getting up on foil or not. I thought it was just me until the day another wing foiler weighing less than my 80kgs had problems getting up.
But on those days the wind wasn't constant.
I got close in getting up on foil in a constant wind which was probably a little less than 15 knots.
Practice, practice as often as possible to get it. But most like me isn't possible.
Still doing heaps of walks of shame after having some nice long runs. Haa!

15 is great for me at 75kg with 4.6, 5.2, or 6.0.
It's the lulls when the wing drops to 45 degrees when holding the chicken strap that kills me. That might be 5 knot breeze.
Add me drifting downwind at 1.5 knots equals no fun.

Fitted the front footsraps for today's session. Worked well, I think I'll leave the back ones off for a few more sessions. Best session yet today, great wind direction at Parkdale. A few mates out on windsurfers, I was able to smoke them given the wind wasn't quite there for them.

Oh, and the highlight . . . . dolphins swimming under me!