The Wing Forum

DISCUSSIONS => WINGFOIL => Topic started by: Jethrow on December 27, 2020, 09:01:04 pm

Title: Things I've learnt as a newbie
Post by: Jethrow on December 27, 2020, 09:01:04 pm

Hi all, maybe other newbies can add their stuff here too.  ;D

Title: Re: Things I've learnt as a newbie
Post by: Jethrow on December 27, 2020, 09:10:34 pm

So far I'm three proper sessions into wingfoiling, not counting the ones where the wind was too light.

The biggest thing I've learned so far is that I need what is proportionally a large movement backwards from what is my "Board in the water" stance to my foiling stance. When I want to pop up onto the foil I need to step back a good 200mm from what feels comfortable and balanced with the board just planning. If I try to get the board up without the step back it just doesn't happen. It also means that I need to time my pop up because I can't plane for long standing in the rear position.

I'm on a Fanatic 6'10" Sky surf and F-one 2200 gravity with the mast all the way forward in the track.

I have also learned that I need to place my feet where I want them to stay while flying as at the moment, any attempt to move my feet results in a big splash  ;D

Title: Re: Things I've learnt as a newbie
Post by: Tangogeoff on January 01, 2021, 06:37:23 pm

Great idea! Here’s mine!

Hire an e-foil, it's the easiest way to learn to foil. Towing behind a boat was really difficult compared to an efoil because of the wake from other boats and the pull of the rope being constantly varying.

If you're coming from a windsurfing background it's a reflex to sheet-out in gusts which leads to a powered up back hand and back foot, and a foil that launches to the sky.
Constantly remind yourself to sheet UP to depower, not sheet out (horizontal-ish).

Stand over the board at all times and resist the urge to sheet in  horizontally to get under way. Focus on getting power in the wing over your head, not out to the side.

Title: Re: Things I've learnt as a newbie
Post by: Jethrow on January 08, 2021, 11:10:14 pm

Yeah Tangogeoff, I think I got more out of my session on the eBoard than I got from the towing, but I also have friends that swear by the towing.

I definitely think it's a personal thing and I'd say to people that didn't get to grips with one method, then for sure try the other.

Good point about the windsurf muscle memory. I'm half a dozen session in now but I still revert to my old windsurfing habits when I'm not concentrating  ;)