Absolute newbie question-
"How does the mast position in the board's tracks affect the performance or riding of the board?"
where should a beginner put it?

Start in the middle! If you'd tell us what foil / board we could be more helpful.

Generally, forward gives more lift (moves power towards the front), back gives less lift (moves power towards the back). Forward also makes the board feel slightly smaller because you'll have less swingweight at the nose. Having the power further forward also makes foot changes easier. Pumping (from a piece of chop once you're already up) works better with equal pressure across the feet in my opinion. In my opinion theres pretty much no reason to ride with power more towards the back (more power under the backfoot), as that decreases stability in gusts, upwind power, ease of footswitching etc, but I dont really have big waves, that might change the matter.

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WhiteofHeart said..
Start in the middle! If you'd tell us what foil / board we could be more helpful.

Generally, forward gives more lift (moves power towards the front), back gives less lift (moves power towards the back). Forward also makes the board feel slightly smaller because you'll have less swingweight at the nose. Having the power further forward also makes foot changes easier. Pumping (from a piece of chop once you're already up) works better with equal pressure across the feet in my opinion. In my opinion theres pretty much no reason to ride with power more towards the back (more power under the backfoot), as that decreases stability in gusts, upwind power, ease of footswitching etc, but I dont really have big waves, that might change the matter.

My weight-74kg
Board- Naish Hover Wing Foil 110
Foil- Fanatic Aero3; 1750/300, 78 fuse
Wing- Duotone 6m Slick

I'm heavier at 85kgs. I ride the same board on a AK 2000 foil. when I was learning I had it right at the back, now I have it right at the front. I spent a lot of sessions with it too far back with no chance of it lifting on to foil. my feet are roughly where foot straps are as well.
With my limited skills, I would try it all the way forward and see what happens, if can't stop the nose from breaching move feet forward or foil back.

Start at middle, then put your hands under the foil wing 2/3rds from the trailing edge of the wing and lift the board. Keep adjusting the foil until the board lifts level to the ground.

DC

Tnx all. Looks like I need to experiment. Cheers.

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mikey100 said..
Tnx all. Looks like I need to experiment. Cheers.

I think the Fanatic foil has the power quite far forward compared to naish foils, so I expect a little further back than average is where you'll end up, but I've never tried the setup ofcourse.

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Dcharlton said..
Start at middle, then put your hands under the foil wing 2/3rds from the trailing edge of the wing and lift the board. Keep adjusting the foil until the board lifts level to the ground.

DC

This is golden advice.
With pics:
www.blueplanetsurf.com/blogs/news/foil-board-setup-tips-board-foil-foil-placement-fo/

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Dcharlton said..
Start at middle, then put your hands under the foil wing 2/3rds from the trailing edge of the wing and lift the board. Keep adjusting the foil until the board lifts level to the ground.

DC

Assuming you can find level ground... This is always the problem I have.

I found this video really helpful... he suggests starting with the foil at the back and shuffling your feet back until the board rises. That becomes the balance point for that foil on that board (e.g. if you move the mast forward then your feet will also move forward).

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kiwiupover said..
I found this video really helpful... he suggests starting with the foil at the back and shuffling your feet back until the board rises. That becomes the balance point for that foil on that board (e.g. if you move the mast forward then your feet will also move forward).

You know, that is my logic too- it's all about your centre of gravity in relation to the centre of lift of the foil. Or so I guess.

Think of it when we use to fly gliders we had to have the weight on the nose just right the foil is your wing and needs to be in the right spot but it's more about you weighting the nose down on lift off. I have found the sweet spot of my foil possie or maybe I have just got use to where I have it

Yea. Am trying to thing about 'riding the foil' and not riding the board.