I was recently riding some very fun conditions with sizeable but short period waves (waist / chest high sets) with a lot of disorganized chop in mid/lighter wind conditions (10-14 knots, on/side-on direction). When I was up and riding, it was incredible, but getting up was very challenging. I'd like to hear any tips in riding these conditions (which I find to be somewhat common). Cleaner conditions or stronger wind would have made it a lot easier. These conditions would be terrible for surfing, but they can be a ton of fun on foil. Below are some of my findings.

1. Absolutely critical to time my launch with the waves. Needed the power from the face of the wave to help lift the foil. No way for me to pump up on the back or trough of the wave. This was challenging with the wind direction, which was working better with a sideshore launch.
2. Had to be super quick. Time the launch with the wave and get up in one shot. If that didn't work had to reset.
3. Needed to be powered. In clean conditions I could have gotten away with a 5m, but I needed my 5.7 and would have been better off with a bigger sail.
4. When I was on the waves, I had to maintain my direction. Couldn't roundhouse or do full cutbacks without outflying my flagged sail / backwinding. Really curious how people are managing larger sails in onshore wave riding.


Riding a 60L, 4'9" board (-20 liters), 5.7 sail, 1050 foil.


Love to hear any more tips.

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Velocicraptor said..
I was recently riding some very fun conditions with sizeable but short period waves (waist / chest high sets) with a lot of disorganized chop in mid/lighter wind conditions (10-14 knots, on/side-on direction). When I was up and riding, it was incredible, but getting up was very challenging. I'd like to hear any tips in riding these conditions (which I find to be somewhat common). Cleaner conditions or stronger wind would have made it a lot easier. These conditions would be terrible for surfing, but they can be a ton of fun on foil. Below are some of my findings.

1. Absolutely critical to time my launch with the waves. Needed the wave power to help lift the foil. No way for me to pump up on the back or trough of the wave. This was challenging with the wind direction, which was working better with a sideshore launch.
2. Had to be super quick. Time the launch with the wave and get up in one shot. If that didn't work had to reset.
3. Needed to be powered. In clean conditions I could have gotten away with a 5m, but I needed my 5.7 and would have been better off with a bigger sail.
4. When I was on the waves, I had to maintain my direction. Couldn't roundhouse or do full cutbacks without outflying my flagged sail / backwinding. Really curious how people are managing larger sails in onshore wave riding.


Riding a 60L, 4'9" board (-20 liters), 5.7 sail, 1050 foil.


Love to hear any more tips.

a longer board with similar or 5-10 liters more will help get going in the slop, I went from at 5'0" 80L (-15) to a 5'10 80L and it's way better at getting going in sloppy chaotic chop.
Something I've been working on that has helped getting a full cutback when it's light or onshore is to hold the wing as low as possible and get it to go behind you. that way if you outrun the wind, it just skips along. I was on Maui a week ago and Kaa was pretty onshore, this technique was the only way to get a good topturn to roundhouse. This video of James Casey shows what I'm talking about although he's in DW conditions instead of surf: www.instagram.com/reel/C3hHwj3PlEN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In those condition I would opt for a bigger board, since the wind is only 10-14kn. Me 75kg would take my takoon 6'6,90l, cloud 9 FS850/or 700 foil and sail 5m or even 4-4.5. the getting up with this board is so much easier and I have the reassurance to always start again and once flying is so much fun with the small foils. In fact I have done this in Sardinia in similar conditions with nice swell and it was so much fun. There was not much shore break to go out so no problem.

I think a +10 board may have helped, but I was travelling and only had one board with me. I have another +0 board, but I think it would have also been very tricky in these conditions as I find it doesn't like surface chop.

That James Casey clip is helpful. He basically drags the wingtip to get the wing to where he wants it to be. I will have to play around with that. His conditions look smaller and lighter than mine there but the technique could still be helpful. Thanks.

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Velocicraptor said..
I think a +10 board may have helped, but I was travelling and only had one board with me. I have another +0 board, but I think it would have also been very tricky in these conditions as I find it doesn't like surface chop.

That James Casey clip is helpful. He basically drags the wingtip to get the wing to where he wants it to be. I will have to play around with that. His conditions look smaller and lighter than mine there but the technique could still be helpful. Thanks.

I have used that technique on bigger days (10'+) and works well, the trick is getting the wing down low, a lot of times the apparent wind will come up the face of the wave and the wing wants to lift, but if you keep your hand below your waist, it will usually come around behind you. In Maui I was able to do it even on a 3.0, but the waves are really soft and the wind direction made it easier vs where I usually ride

My current go to setup in these type of conditions is a KT 7' 19" 100L with AFS Silk 1050 and Unit Dlab 3.5m. I find I can get up in the lightest puff going with the swell. A smaller DW board is able to be ridden aggressively. Using a small wing makes wing handling much more pleasant. Before I would ride my 4'9" 60L with same foil size but a 7m wing! I usually try and keep my hand on the front hard handle to actively fly the wing at all times as you surf back and forth. It's definitely a skill that can be worked on as you basically dance with the wing. Usually as the wind is not always directly on shore shooting down the line left or right will allow to flag the wing directly behind you. I have read of people putting weight at the back of the strut to better drag the wing behind them but haven't tried it myself. Another options is to try and ride the waves powered, this can also be lots of fun and is another great skill to work on.