beginner foiling

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1726 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

If you are intrigued with the concept of foiling, I say give it a try. this summer it's probably much easier to demo a foil than ever before. joe the kiter has a demo setup that is a pretty easy ride. the "yellow mast" setup can be found at event site or stevenson.
I have some demo trainers but they get loaned out a bit. I'll have one this weekend for riders to check out. these setups are not the fastest or nimble of foils. I tend to slow them down a little by adding a softer edge to the wings (this helps with not getting cut too!)
check with the local hood river shops Second Wind Sports, Windance, and Big Winds. They all carry foils. There's the LP, SS, Bellacera, LF, Cab, Lift, etc.
anyhow I would give it a go

Pepi · Tue May 24, 16 9:48 am

We have the Liquid Force/Stringy modified "Short Bus" available for demo at 2nd Wind Sports.
FYI - We do charge a demo fee (applicable towards any foil purchase) and a credit card deposit (ie - you break it, you bought it. No other way to go about it).

Best thing I think for getting into foiling really is investing in a set up, have it properly tuned for you by the seller/salesperson and then put your time in on the water.
Absolutely no other way.

The Short Bus is a great way to "try it out" but the short mast is really just a set of training wheels for you that, in the long run, ends up handicapping your skill levels.
Same goes with shoving your mast all the way back on the tracks, if you have them. It develops bad habits and does not allow you the ability to properly work on your balance and skills, which again, just takes time.
I liken picking up foiling to about the exact same as learning to kiteboard at the beginning, challenging, confounding and insanely addictive all at once.

user124 · Since 02 Aug 2012 390 Posts Portland Obsessed

I've never foiled so I have no idea, but it seems like the main advantage of the short mast would be to minimize the pain of the inevitable frequent crashes when you are first getting the feel for the foil. Once you aren't crashing every 5 feet then you switch to a longer mast, right? The short mast appeals to me because one of the main things that has kept me from trying foiling are rumors of painful crashes and risk of injury. But maybe these risks are overblown?

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1726 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

Singlemalt · Since 21 Jun 2015 460 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Anybody tried, or have an opinion on towing the foil with a boat or jet ski? Take the kite out of the equation and just focus on getting the hang of the foil?

I figure the biggest problem will be trading a sure thing session on familiar gear for a beginner beating with the foil. On the other hand, once you are foiling, you get more time on the water in lighter wind conditions.

With a tow, you might be able to work out some of the foiling bugs on a no wind day.

I think waiting for the water to warm up a bit before taking my beating is a solid idea.

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1726 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

Matt V · Wed May 25, 16 6:56 am

So I have to admit, that the hockey helmet was not really my original idea. It came from a guy that almost lost his eye while trying to learn his kitehydrofoil behind a jetski. And I have heard of two, and witnessed one other incident leading me to this line of thought. From second hand experience, I am thinking you need the hockey helmet behind a jetski more so than with a kite.

It seems that the horizontal pull of the jet ski has more of a chance to power the foil in a mutual direction with a falling rider.

Don't think I know everything on this subject. Just a warning.

lawnmower · Since 14 Dec 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Started fingering some foils on the beach. Hats off to the designers. They truly are works of engineering, manufacturing art.

hshim · Since 20 Apr 2016 11 Posts UAE

I'm not sure about the short mast thing and it's not just because I learned the hard way....

First off no rank beginner should start kiting on a foil period.

Only people who have done the TT and hopefully the directional board thing should attempt foiling as having a really good feel for the kite is essential to foilboard riding.

So getting back to my initial point, if you're a proficient kiteboarder with lots of miles on a TT and or surfboard just learn with a standard mast.

All of us who started without the advent of these short masts learned by riding the board on the water without the foil engaged (centre of gravity forward of the lift point). As you get the feel for this you slowly creep your way back on the board till the foil starts to lift you.

Yes you will crash. Yes you will feel like a total beginner again but knowing how to get up on a directional and not having to worry about kite control, you're most of the way there. Again, I think most should try to learn on a less floaty board WITHOUT STRAPS as I think this is the reason for most of the foiling injuries; hence the advent of the half straps. Just ditch them all together and learn to foil without straps from the outset. Might take a tad longer to get going but you are way less likely to injure yourself. IMHO.....

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 308 Posts Obsessed

Matt V · Wed May 25, 16 7:27 pm

That pretty much settles it for me on the boat/jetski thing. Seems to be regarded as much more likely to end in a blood bath than with a kite.

Definetly get a hockey helmet if you go down the jetski path.

Singlemalt · Since 21 Jun 2015 460 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Thanks everybody! No boats or jet skis. I can see the problems with that idea.

Pepi · Thu May 26, 16 7:47 am

Excellent post with spot on advice!!

juandesooka · Since 21 Jan 2014 98 Posts

Singlemalt · Since 21 Jun 2015 460 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Thanks for that. Searching for learning to foil videos, I found lots of foilers being towed. It looked like a good way to spend a windless day and entertain the crew.
Low and slow seems to be the key.

It looks like there will be a swarm of new foilers this year.

Matt V · Sun May 29, 16 6:56 am

juandesooka,

I like what you said. Maybe the problem is not that behind a boat is dangerous, but rather that we perceive it to be easier and thus go too fast at the beginning.

From now on, I think that I will give the folloowing warning when questioned about it:

"Behind a boat can work but is dangerous if you immediately start out trying to get up on the foil. Keep it under 10knots and keep the board on the water for your first hour or session. Then slowly try to get the board up onto the foil at over 10knots of boat speed. A hockey helmet cannot hurt."