Kook Sup foil wave rider looking for advise

I brought a naish hover 7.6 and foil with extra big wing ,65 mast .
it didn't start well as I ended arse over tit carrying it down to the beach and covered in mud ..

i put the big front wing on .

first wave ,went ok for a bit then tried to go along the wave ,so being a surfer but foot on the rail and over I go .splash
2nd wave ,went for a while then it turned left and kept going ,without me .
3 rd wave ,went for 3 secound thought this is ok .A Big off shore gust blow me up and the board ,over the back I go
4 th wave went for a bit then the big wing took over off the back I go ..

to make it easier ,shall I use the small wing ,
a mate has offered to tow me on his jet ski .
any help ..HELP . I think I might kill myself on this thing .

Definitely tow behind a ski in flat water. Go slow. Learn how to bring the foil out of the water yourself. Don't just go full speed and get launched out of the water. Don't lean over your tail to turn like a surfboard. Subtle movements.

No need quads for foiling. Impact vest and helmet are a good idea for first 50 sessions.

Select to expand quote

goggo said..
No need quads for foiling. Impact vest and helmet are a good idea for first 50 sessions.

+1

full length wettie and if you can handle them booties,foil edges are bloody sharp.My legs at the start looked like 10 rounds with a combine harvester, no matter how many times you fall and get back on the board,it takes about 10 sessions before you stop kicking the bloody foil,you forget it's under there.wettie and booties give some protection.

A vest,I came off,went sideways and have a cut deep cut across my chest bled like anything .Not good in the bull shark white pointer capital of the world.Now I wear a vest all the time.

As a certain member will tell you,in no uncertain terms,move the foil further back,I thought the further forward more lift,that works for winging.Put the foil in the middle,better balance and more time to get set before lifting.You see guys that are good the foil is at the back of the tracks.

Good luck ,hope you have deep pockets,it's addictive and expensive.

Welcome to the foil club Tardy!
In my view the concept of surf foiling is simple. You can make it very difficult & dangerous for yourself if you expect results straight away.
What the guys have said earlier is correct.
Sorry that this is a bit long winded.

In my experience I found I didn't need a jetski or a boat to learn although it would help. I didn't like the tugging of the rope which put some of my concentration off. Also trying to correct the turning of the foil against the boat wake whilst holding onto a rope was annoying especially when the foilboard would not respond & go its own way!
Like you said offshore winds don't help either. Onshore is better or very little wind.
The next thing is good waves & water depth for as long a run as possible.
The best waves in my view are the ones that just break & start to reform over deeper water but with whitewash continuing so that you can ride your foilboard without hitting bottom if not up in flight.
Now this is what I keep in mind when learning:-
Foot positioning is critical over stringer centreline. Back foot must be over mast.
It definitely helps to have some sort of pad or kickpad to feel this.

Catch a wave as you normally do on a SUP but keep weight forward to prevent any lift of the foil & go in a straight line with the whitewash.

When moving & in total balance & control only then lift your weight up a little to make the nose of your board go up a little to make your board start to float up on the foil. Don't sky rocket it!

As soon as you feel your board going up LEVEL out immediately with weight down forwards.Or point the nose down again & repeat the process to get the feel and try to float it for longer periods. Foils always want to skyrocket. Or point the nose down again & repeat the process to get the feel and try to float it for longer periods. No need to be up too high off water. And no leaning or tilting left or right.

Don't do any turns. This will come naturally later with experience. Although I did surf some waves as normal with the foil down which you can do as long as you have weight forward.

So basically it's ride the wave straight. Flick the nose up a bit, level off & float on air until board hits water again, repeat process.

Things that change after learning:-
Feet don't necessarily need to be over stringer centreline but evenly balanced either side.

Head & body curved more forward or squating down more to stop getting thrown off back and helps putting weight forward on front foot.

Front toes can point more forward for better feel.

Back foot can adjust either forward or aft the mast whilst in flight.
Front foot can adjust a little in flight also.

Keeping board level with surface of water when going into water troughs or hollows formed by side swells. When I see a hollow in front of me or another swell that I have to drop down when doing a ton of speed, all I do is either squat down hard which helps with weight down forward & balance to prevent the foil from breaching.

Always keep board level with water surface whilst in flight! Otherwise enjoy your head over handlebars flight and face splat and a potential bump in your back or back of head by your foil after landing.

+1 with Seajuice and surfcowboy

I will add that you can keep the quads, the rears especially, as it helps mastering the row effect, and removing any distraction is good. Plus it allows putting all your paddle energy into forward thrust and not waste some percentage countering the row, even for me with years of sub-7' SUPing.

Great to hear Tardy. You'll get it in no time. You've got the right gear for it too.
I use the large wing in small tame surf. But when it gets a bit big the medium wing is great.
Like Colas said. It's ok to keep Fins on if you want. I took mine off around the time I got the hang of it. Don't use them anymore on my 7ft board.
Oh! And put the foil all the way back when learning! Just make sure the bolts don't fall out of their entry slots.