Foiling progression.

How's this for progressing. Wind was super light today so I gave the foil to a 15yo I kite with. First go on the foil he was up and away, second attempt and did a jibe.
How ridiculous is that. First time on a foil haha

Learning on the Slingshot with the different mast sizes. I'm up to the 3'rd size, the Solo (out of 4).
4 sessions so far on the solo mast and my progression isn't progressing enough.... I do the odd long run but even in flat waters it doesn't last long.

I still bomb out all the time, despite putting so much pressure on the front foot and even leaning over it, at some stage it bombs out then pitch pole... I come from strapless kiting so not putting much on the back foot.

What tips can one give ? Sandout the rough wings finer ?

I'm riding without straps which makes water starts a LOT harder. I often make the mistake of being too aggressive with diving the kite and the foils starts going downwind and I have no idea how to bring it back upwind.... It's a hip thing I get it but it seems too late by that stage

I'm no expert but maybe more you mast further back. It will require less front pressure.

Hey guys,

i was was wondering if anyone had tried learning to foil at Melbourne cable park?

I thought this would be a great way to learn to foil, but a quick message to the park they don't recommend it as they're not setup for it?

Ral Inn I think you have raised my problem I need to keep my mast in deeper.
Any advice on how to keep it in at half mast?

I took out my little phatty the other day 4'6 - boy did I struggle. Managed to even lose two fins. Thinking I'm doomed for the foil... But wanted to get board control down - hence the cable seemed like a better option. Deep, flat water to get a feel for mast height ect. The WA park guys run intro to foiling at their park. Hence thought it might be a good option.

I was struggling with this in beginning too. Everyone said to lift my eyes, look a bit forward it's easier to get a sense of the altitude not looking down. Plus it was said that I needed more hours. 10 hours in i was pounding myself with breaches. 20 hours in it was less a problem. 30 hours it was automatic and rarely breaching except in really choppy waves and strong wind or trying to gybe.
Stick to the longer mast, do more up and down to surface at speed. Learn to land before you learn to fly. Up, Down, repeat.

I know that foiling seems impossibly difficult when you're learning. There were times after learning when I was almost in tears. You think you've got it then, bam!!!!!!! You take successive hits. They all hurt.

Now, it's the easiest thing in the world and we wonder what the fuss is about.

Rule 1. Just do it.
Rule 2. More riding. Less thinking.
Rule 3. Just do it some more.

My two cents? All the learning aids in the world might save you some beatings and pain in the first couple of hours. They're all a waste of time in the long run. The learning doesn't really begin until you're up and foiling and riding around every day. Embrace it. Get on with it.

Totally agree with the above.

We overthink the whole thing and buying stopgaps to cover our perceived weaknesses (which we don't understand because we haven't yet done it ) , don't really cut out the problems.

My approach is .... if someone else can do it , then I can too, but I know I will have to put in the time

I chose intermediate gear knowing I would end up on it , my choice.... I knew it would make it harder.
I tailored to my own learning curve and there are only a few of things I would now advise a learner to do.
Whatever gear you choose , Be powered on the kite , choose a suitable cross shore location, keep the board on the water at the beginning by adopting a forward weighted stance and from those things you start the learning curve.
I didn't bother with the "add ons " ... short masts , towed learning, etc.

It's perseverence and time on the water , bit by bit becoming familiar with the multitude of different sensations and adjustments you must make and choose as you go down the path.

Eventually , all of that comes together. Some quicker than others . I still have lots to learn but have busted through now and it's been worth it.

I don't jump .... I like to ride waves and sea swell and cruise about , so my focus has been on doing clean gybes with air transition , heel to toe side , smooth riding our chop ... I can do all those pretty well now from being a complete clutz a few months ago. ??
Never thought I could master an air gybe , but now I seem to be doing it !
Im no spring chicken ....56 yo.

Lots of time on the water though. No getting pissed off , just bloody perseverence knowing I would win it over.

I have absolutely loved the learning curve of foiling and now the results , but on some days have felt like I was back breaking horses when I was 20 years old and that is a joy

cheers.

"Foiling is essentially flying a tiny aeroplane with your feet" Josh van Brederode

Just do it is good advice ... there really is no shortcut to learning the muscle memory here. It is so weird and different, the only want to learn is by feel, reading about isn't going to do much.

However, I do think back to that first few sessions, endless wipeouts over and over, with out of control lift shooting me in every direction. The scary part was going too slow (trying to be safer) and falling sideways, forcing the wings up, so you land on the wings ... I call it "the switchblade", ouch. Turns out a little speed is your friend, much like trying to ride a bike too slow.

Some learning aids may help. I have friends who used the 18/24/36" mast progression and were up and foiling in the first 30 seconds of trying. They experienced zero of what I did in that first week. Which is a lot less frustrating, but also lessens chance of injury. I'd recommend that to a beginner, at least for initial orientation stage.

The other thing is large wings. I was on an original carafino, about as low aspect as foils got. I can't imagine learning on one of these twitchy set ups even for intermediates. I have a Takuma sup foil, we were learning it behind the boat, and my friend who has never been on a foil was able to make it work on his first try. On a normal kite foil, he for sure would not have got it as quick. So that's another beginner option -- I know some of the kitefoil instructors out there are using these for that reason.

But back to JUST DO IT: even with some learning aids, there's no substitute for building that muscle memory other than practice.