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Front foot issues

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Created by elmo > 9 months ago, 2 Apr 2012
elmo
WA, 8868 posts
2 Apr 2012 7:44AM
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I've been having issues with my front foot coming out on one particular board when using 2 out of the 4 sails I normally use with this board.

I've tried all the usual things to remedy, lower boom, tighten / loosen / move footstrap, move harness lines but to no avail, yesterday I tried something different in an act of desperation.

I swapped over my standard front footstrap for a set of adjustable Cabrinha kite board straps, the big wide arzed looking things.

Straight of the bat this was a winner, my foot felt secure without feeling trapped, the strap was SUPER comfortable and still allowed for easy trim of the board.

During the rest of the session there was no further front foot issues, I even started raising the boom again with no problems.

Hope this can help someone else

redsurfbus
304 posts
2 Apr 2012 8:13AM
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I had the same problem, I think its the sail board footstrap position combination and not rider (most of the time). On my new Exocets my front foot kept coming out when using my Tushy X15 7.6m, then I used a simmer 7.0 Scr and it didnt as much, now I am on Hot Sails GPS and it doesnt come out at all.

In the past I had the problem and didnt understand as much as I do now, I swapped the straps for dakine core contours and it fixed the problem straight away, also the dakine lightweight ones fixed it.....but they fell apart after only a few months use

jsnfok
WA, 899 posts
2 Apr 2012 6:30PM
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i have found it only a problem when im only a little powered up, when im fully powered up it seems to be all good again

S018
SA, 338 posts
2 Apr 2012 9:23PM
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Good Tip !
will keep it in mind
how much did it cost ??

Spotty
VIC, 1619 posts
2 Apr 2012 10:12PM
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Don't worry, the solution is simple for any Muppet with this problem.
With you front leg extended you should have the ball of your heel pushing on the deck/rail and extending along the outside edge of your foot so it's kind of rolled over a bit too. Your toes at the same time need to be hooking upwards off the deck of the board. This should stop those paws coming out.

elmo
WA, 8868 posts
2 Apr 2012 8:32PM
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yep Spotty and I even hook my toes, as well as run through all the other normal solutions.

Yesterday I had my front foot come out over 4 times in a nautical mile run, lots of fun and excitement when dealing with chop.

Unfortunately it only happens with the my 6.2 and 7.0 I don't have any problems with my 5.8 and 7.8 and it's only on the one board.

The kite straps are more formed and larger than the Dakine contours (I believe Dakine do a similar kite strap). The ones I used were S/hand as I did not want to lash out lots of brass on a hunch.



paddymac
WA, 938 posts
2 Apr 2012 9:54PM
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Elmo - I'm curious. Are the sails all the same brand/type?

elmo
WA, 8868 posts
2 Apr 2012 10:26PM
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NP RSR's
5.8 E I
6.2 E II
7.0 E III
7.8 E III
All rigged on right masts

As I said it's only 2 sails affecting the one board (JP slalom VI 65cm). The same sails on the JP speed I don't have an issue.

I am a muppet, there is no cure

ejmack
VIC, 1308 posts
3 Apr 2012 8:52AM
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Ok, so it's not me over exaggerating. I have been having the same issue for about 2 years now sailing my futura111 and 7m Ezzy freeride. I also tried all the usual things after asking on these and other forums but without any luck. Got to the the point where I decided it was the way it was. Curling the front toes up keeps the front foot in but there is always a constant pull for the front foot to come out. It's a real worry though when your flying through (or bouncing across) chop and the front foot wants to pull out. If you relax at the wrong time.....I have had a few close calls. I only recently changed to a cambered ezzy and have noticed it isn't as extreme but each session I've been mostly under to mediumly powered up. It tends to be more prominent when well powered. Thanks for posting Elmo. I will try the same.

I also only experience this on the one board - 2009 Futura111 upgraded to 2011 Futura111 in last year.

redsurfbus
304 posts
3 Apr 2012 7:15AM
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Its a common thing, something to do with the combination of foot strap position and centre of effort from the sail I think....Like I said earlier same board different sail and it stopped happening to me.

www.speedsurfingblog.com/2012/01/close-footstrap-position-best-read-this.html

elmo
WA, 8868 posts
3 Apr 2012 8:10AM
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Yep, mine fell into the "Sh1t happens" category on this combo having tried all the other solutions.

The footstrap change seems to work where all else has failed so I'm pretty happy about that

Roo
876 posts
3 Apr 2012 8:38AM
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It's those tiny little Muppet feet you have Elmo. Grow some big ones and you'll never have any problem with them coming out. Failing that try different downhaul settings on the sail, not your feet.

Roo

sausage
QLD, 4873 posts
3 Apr 2012 10:38AM
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elmo said...

I've tried all the usual things to remedy, lower boom, tighten / loosen / move footstrap, move harness lines but to no avail, yesterday I tried something different in an act of desperation.



Elmo,
Did you try moving the mast track back. I've found once in the past on my iS122 and big sail (8.8) when getting overpowered and the front foot wanted to come out, moving the track back immediately remedied the problem.

As Spotty mentioned, keeping that front leg as straight as possible does improve the board trim also.

vando
QLD, 3418 posts
3 Apr 2012 11:48AM
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Yep Mast track back, straps forward, narrower stance and what roo said are all things you can try .

elmo
WA, 8868 posts
3 Apr 2012 10:24AM
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Here's the rub,

I have actually tried all of the above, all of which hadn't worked for these 2 sails on this one board.

But when all else fails you try something different.

Thanks for all the advise though, it is appreciated, it'll probably help someone else by giving them a process of elimination to rectify their problems

Sorry Roo, can't do anything about the muppet feet (or the rest of the muppet for that matter)

tobhed
SA, 12 posts
3 Apr 2012 6:53PM
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I had the same problem a couple of years ago. After doing about 200 different adjustments I found out that the problem for me was my new wider boom, so I changed back to a more narrow boom and the front foot issue was gone.

I had one of those aeron (wide) booms and apparently that didn't do magic to my stance which in the end caused the front foot to pop-out.

stroppo
WA, 747 posts
3 Apr 2012 8:35PM
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Hey elmo do muppets have any feet or are they only 4 show haha!

elmo
WA, 8868 posts
3 Apr 2012 8:49PM
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stroppo said...

Hey elmo do muppets have any feet or are they only 4 show haha!


Be carefull or I'll show you where the hand goes

stroppo
WA, 747 posts
3 Apr 2012 9:17PM
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I thought i mite get a muppet bite and i only used a small amount of bait 2 there on the bite !

AUS4
NSW, 1287 posts
8 Apr 2012 7:00PM
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The problem is the JP footstrap, it rolls on your foot as you sail. I use Dakine Primo for my front straps and leave the JP ones on the back.

choco
SA, 4175 posts
8 Apr 2012 9:49PM
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steel cap boots will fix the problem

shinobi
157 posts
8 Apr 2012 11:36PM
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Another setting which could do the trick is to tighten your rear footstrap.
I tried it yesterday with a 6.5 on the iS107 and iS87 and it gave me much more confidence.
Finally you could also shave your muppet feets and hope to get more friction ;-)

Windxtasy
WA, 4017 posts
10 Apr 2012 11:43AM
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I always sail with the toes on my front foot hooked upwards. It doesn't feel comfortable/safe to sail any other way although it doesn't feel like my foot will slip out, and I have rarely had that problem. My foot straps are as close together as they can be. Should I change my set up so I can point my toes on that front foot?
Boom lower?

evets
WA, 685 posts
12 Apr 2012 11:13PM
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Elmo you should try wearing shoes, that may fix it

elmo
WA, 8868 posts
12 Apr 2012 11:17PM
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evets said...

Elmo you should try wearing shoes, that may fix it


I'll cut my f'ken feet of before I wear those clown shoes again

mike nelson
NSW, 105 posts
17 Apr 2012 4:51PM
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opinions are like......

anyway - my 2 bob's worth - its a balance thing rectified by moving mast track forward (shock horror) or more downhaul (which is probably been tried)



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"Front foot issues" started by elmo