My first windfoil board was a narrow tail design with four straps and it took me a long time(2 years) to get in and out of the aft strap comfortably and consistently without touching down. In the process I learned a cool trick, when sailing in swell I move my back foot when cresting a wave using that weightless moment at the top to get the back foot in or out of the strap. It works silky smooth without touching down.
I am now learning to ride a wide tail board on more sheltered waters and I am struggling all over again with getting in and out of the back foot strap. Any of you race board folks have any tips for learning the wide tail dance? Thanks in advance!
I find it best to get both feet into the straps before getting up on the foil. This is particularly useful when you are having to pump the sail and foil to get it up. Downwind i tend not to have my back foot in the strap as its too powerful and i can't keep the nose down.
This is with a formula board, starboard race foil and normally 9m sail
The technique is simply a little push with the backfoot to get the board into going up and then move the foot in the strap. Getting out is the same. Important is that your board is going up as you unweight your backfoot, because that will give you more time to move. Getting in and out of the straps is easiest when going upwind, so practice that first and do downwind later. Especially getting back in the strap going downwind can be challanging / scary, but both feet in the straps is fastest (although the difference is minimal unless you have really good technique, the only one I've really seen going a lot faster downwind with 2 feet in the straps is Kiran Badloe, and he's one of the best in the world).
Tbh it also depends on what sailsize you are using together with your board, same as with normal windsurfing. Quite a lot of people use small sails on formulaboards when they start foiling. If you use a board with an 80+ ofo like a formula or PWA91cm board you need like a 7.0 (8.0 is better) minimum to be in the straps comfortably.
Then there's also trim, I dont know what board/foil you use, but when using a PWA racing foil like my Lokefoil Race or the 2020 starboard race +, the backstraps of a regular foilboard like the JP135 are so far backward compared to the front wing, getting in them is quite uncomfortable (personal experience).
Thank you for posting this thread, I've struggled with the same thing.
Gear: SB foil 177 (wide) with a race foil set on there. I didn't have as much issues with the Foil 147 (rear straps are further inward)
My issue is when I get into the back strap early, the board rounds up into the wind. So when I'm in the pumping stage, I usually have my rear foot with my foot inboard, with my heel against the back strap. It just seems to work better with the wider tails.
Once up, I still find I don't need the rear strap... but feel like I should. So, with my newness to the sport (windsurfing and foiling in general), I'm still trying to get the motor memory to get in the back strap without all hell breaking loose. Once I do, I find that I'm usually going upwind at an extreme angle. For any other sailing angle, I'm inboard.
My solution: I bought the Slingshot half-straps. I found it was easier to learn the feel of the board once my rear foot was in the rear strap position by slowly scooting it back. The half straps provide enough cover for your foot and work well; perhaps not as well as a full strap, but for me it's a start. But again, I found I'm only using the straps when going at extreme upwind angles.
If its the physical action of putting your foot in the strap that you're struggling with, practice first on the board on the shore and than on the board while keeping it on the water. Being able to move your feet without moving your weight is key. Maybe watch some "normal" getting in the straps instruction video too, the technique for extra wide boards is much the same, just more extremely executed.
@Indecent, keep your weight on your toes to counter the board from turning towindward. You are also having trouble moving your feet without moving your weight, thats why you have to keep your foot on your board. The problem you're having should already be very noticable with a normal board. Wonder how you've survived that foiling all this time lol.
An additional exercise for being able to put your feet in the strap is sailing around slogging or even foiling standing tiptoed with your backfoot. If you can tiptoe (and i mean tiptoe) your backfoot, even for a short time, you should also be able to lift it and put it down somewhere else without changing the balance.
Select to expand quoteWhiteofHeart said..
If its the physical action of putting your foot in the strap that you're struggling with, practice first on the board on the shore and than on the board while keeping it on the water. Being able to move your feet without moving your weight is key. Maybe watch some "normal" getting in the straps instruction video too, the technique for extra wide boards is much the same, just more extremely executed.
@Indecent, keep your weight on your toes to counter the board from turning towindward. You are also having trouble moving your feet without moving your weight, thats why you have to keep your foot on your board. The problem you're having should already be very noticable with a normal board. Wonder how you've survived that foiling all this time lol.
An additional exercise for being able to put your feet in the strap is sailing around slogging or even foiling standing tiptoed with your backfoot. If you can tiptoe (and i mean tiptoe) your backfoot, even for a short time, you should also be able to lift it and put it down somewhere else without changing the balance.
Thanks! any advice helps!
