Just started wingfoiling (after 3 years of windfoiling). I'm using RRD Pocket Rocket 180 with Slingshot I84 x 48 foil mounted in middle of twin tracks. No footstraps. Duotone Echo V1 5.0 wing. Sailing on 15-17 mph wind. I'm 5'10", 185 lbs men.
Here is the question: I'm constantly going upwind. I have to really straggle to keep board on broad reach or going downwind. When I keep on broad reach my back leg getting tired because I'm standing on bent back leg with almost straight front leg. What I'm doing wrong? ... or something wrong with my set up?

Sheet out, flatten the board...don't heel...move foil forward 1".

Heading off the wind is always harder than going up wind to start with.. especially for those with a windsurfing background.. but in time it gets easier.

Bend both legs, heels flat and what he said above especially moving foil forward as it sounds like you are having to use your back leg to keep foil up - even if subtle this eventually works your back leg


You want equalish pressure through both front and back legs.

try after getting some speed upwind, sheeting out by holding wing horizontal above head and just riding on the foil downwind - even with a few slight pumps. Just for a bit. Then re engage to get the feel. Then try it with the wind slightly sheeted out.
turn through the hips/ torso not your legs/feet. Which the prior are all lead by the head anyhow.

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motogon said..
Just started wingfoiling (after 3 years of windfoiling). I'm using RRD Pocket Rocket 180 with Slingshot I84 x 48 foil mounted in middle of twin tracks. No footstraps. Duotone Echo V1 5.0 wing. Sailing on 15-17 mph wind. I'm 5'10", 185 lbs men.
Here is the question: I'm constantly going upwind. I have to really straggle to keep board on broad reach or going downwind. When I keep on broad reach my back leg getting tired because I'm standing on bent back leg with almost straight front leg. What I'm doing wrong? ... or something wrong with my set up?

Could be set-up related - if your board rides nose down you will get back-leg burn - use shimmy to correct. if you foil is too far back weight of board is not balanced and you are having to compensate by pushing too much with back leg - move mast forward. Could also be your tail wing is too "neutral" - give set up more lift by shimmying the trailing edge up towards board. The rest is technique and practice...good luck!

It could be related to your stance. Try to keep your weight over the board instead of "loading the fin" with your back foot and leaning out to counter the pull of the wing. A surfing stance rather than a windsurfing one.

If your back leg is getting tired, move your rear foot back until both legs get equally tired. If moving it widens your stance too much, move your front foot back also (but less than back foot).

It sounds to me like you are standing on the windward edge of the board as you do when wind foiling. Get your back foot over on the other side of the deck. I had the same issue when I first transitioned to winging.

Move.
Mast.
Forward.

Move your feet back a few inches, get your Blackfoot on the leeward side of the board. Even with a boom on your wing: It is not a windsurf-sail! Move the wing forward, turn your hips leeward.

Just my two cents. General principles. Move your feet. Doesn't matter where. Just move them. Explore the deck and the feel of your foil. You can't just plonk your feet in one place and expect things to work.

The good news is that you do that enough and your muscle memory clicks over and you can feel the foil. You feel the pushing against your feet and you can feel the pressure same as pushing a pedal. Once you can do that you can do whatever you want. It becomes easy. Toeside, swapping feet, gybing. All easy if you can feel the foil and trim on the fly. All virtually impossible if you can't.

You can also adjust the trim of the foil by moving your hips or head and shoulders back and forward. Moving your feet is a bit more positive and easier to feel. You need to learn to do all of them intuitively.

Specifics. If your back foot is carrying too much load, move your front foot back. An inch or two should be plenty.

You can move the mast or mess around with shims if you want. It makes more sense to move your feet, work out how things end up, then adjust your board settings to suit. If you haven't done the work with your body first then you'll be stabbing in the dark and hoping for the best.

I'm struggling with the same problem and at least I didn't catch everything from the first reply. Reading the others replies really helped me understand the problem better.

Last two sessions was better. Less stress on back leg. I guess I'm getting better with winging.
I forgot to mention: I'm using long SS fuse. Should I use short fuse? Does it make much difference? I have no problem to pump foil.