Recently started using a 5'10" board and loving it.
Got used to it and wanted to use foot straps but found that foil was too far forward to use a rear foot strap.
Had some good sessions with just the front straps but still wanted to use the rear foot straps to help pumping and control.
I had to change the foil set up (Infinity 99 now in the A position) which means that I have the back strap on but the front straps are now 5 inches further back. This does now feel that the board is riding quite nose up when slogging. Had a few runs and it felt good but very twitchy.
Whats your take on back straps? Do you feel they are needed? Do you prefer to be able to move your back foot around for different conditions? Would you only ride with a back strap?
Does the back strap really help with pumping etc?
I have a double front footstrap and a Blue Planet surf foot hook instead of a rear footstrap. I like having my front foot planted in the same place but move my back foot around too much to have it locked in a footstrap. I've heard that many good wingers only really use the rear footstrap for jumping so it might be more a personal preference thing, than a performance thing.
One thing to get your head clear on is when things go wrong. I like to be both feet strapped or none. I have once had an incident kiteboarding where one foot came out in a back stack and I dislocated my hip (yes, ouch). When everything is going well, I see no issue with just one strapped foot, but a quick un-expected breech and twist stack and you could be in for some pain and a very long recovery that is always there.
Yes, kiting I had both feet strapped, and yes it can happen with two feet strapped, but it is obviously more likely with only one foot strapped.
Ride safe,
JB
Ive gone back to the original foil position as it seems to ride better for me. That means I can't have the back strap on. I take your advice on the straps being potential injury mechanisms, Its never fully safe and I will just have to see where things go. I like having the front straps to allow immediate proper foot placement and ability to lift the nose while pumping. I think the free floating back foot will be a better option for finding the balance upwind and downwind.
The I99 and I84 are only designed to ride in the B position. I tried the same thing and the front foot pressure was redonk. I have gone back and forth with the strap dilemma. I keep taking them off. I move both of my feet a lot. I can't just park my front foot in a strap without feeling restrained throughout a session. I don't switch feet so spend half the time riding toeside which requires moving both feet. The only reason I can see to have straps is for airs. I don't have a small/light enough setup to worry about that yet. I have almost broken both ankles in the same "taco" fall stuck in straps. I had some bad ones kitefoiling as well.
I used to think that a front strap would help in pumping up to foil. I have reworked my pumping up technique after watching the French guy in lightwind video. I did what he did which is pushing the board down repeatidly into the water instead of trying to pump it up. Works like a charm! Anywho, one less reason for straps.
One more thing about the Infinity wings- I love using the smaller 42 stab with the bigger wings. This really speeds things up and makes them way more turny.
Select to expand quotebroVan said..
The I99 and I84 are only designed to ride in the B position. I tried the same thing and the front foot pressure was redonk. I have gone back and forth with the strap dilemma. I keep taking them off. I move both of my feet a lot. I can't just park my front foot in a strap without feeling restrained throughout a session. I don't switch feet so spend half the time riding toeside which requires moving both feet. The only reason I can see to have straps is for airs. I don't have a small/light enough setup to worry about that yet. I have almost broken both ankles in the same "taco" fall stuck in straps. I had some bad ones kitefoiling as well.
I used to think that a front strap would help in pumping up to foil. I have reworked my pumping up technique after watching the French guy in lightwind video. I did what he did which is pushing the board down repeatidly into the water instead of trying to pump it up. Works like a charm! Anywho, one less reason for straps.
One more thing about the Infinity wings- I love using the smaller 42 stab with the bigger wings. This really speeds things up and makes them way more turny.
That video is so great IMHO, all those struggling with pumping up on foil like i was should watch it...
Select to expand quotebroVan said..
The I99 and I84 are only designed to ride in the B position. I tried the same thing and the front foot pressure was redonk. I have gone back and forth with the strap dilemma. I keep taking them off. I move both of my feet a lot. I can't just park my front foot in a strap without feeling restrained throughout a session. I don't switch feet so spend half the time riding toeside which requires moving both feet. The only reason I can see to have straps is for airs. I don't have a small/light enough setup to worry about that yet. I have almost broken both ankles in the same "taco" fall stuck in straps. I had some bad ones kitefoiling as well.
I used to think that a front strap would help in pumping up to foil. I have reworked my pumping up technique after watching the French guy in lightwind video. I did what he did which is pushing the board down repeatidly into the water instead of trying to pump it up. Works like a charm! Anywho, one less reason for straps.
One more thing about the Infinity wings- I love using the smaller 42 stab with the bigger wings. This really speeds things up and makes them way more turny.
Thats a really interesting video. Im liking how that looks. Use the weight to push down. I can do that.
Ive gone back to the 42cm rear stab for now as its quite windy. I will use the 48 in super light winds on my Naish 142 as I will be in very flat water using that and turns will be long and slow.
I beg to differ on the 99 and 84 ONLY working in the B position. Ive used both in the A position and they worked fine. The inly issue it gave me was that the balance point became too far back for my skill at this time and I found the board very unstable as i was getting up on the foil. Once up it was responsive but worked ok.
Ive gone back to the B position because I prefer how the board rides with my feet further forward on the board and its easier too change foils in the B as opposed to the A,
Had a great session yesterday with the 84 and the 42 stab on a 5.0 wing. Great fun and nice and stable. Got to figure the Gybes in chop now
Select to expand quoteHeliboy999 said..broVan said..
The I99 and I84 are only designed to ride in the B position. I tried the same thing and the front foot pressure was redonk. I have gone back and forth with the strap dilemma. I keep taking them off. I move both of my feet a lot. I can't just park my front foot in a strap without feeling restrained throughout a session. I don't switch feet so spend half the time riding toeside which requires moving both feet. The only reason I can see to have straps is for airs. I don't have a small/light enough setup to worry about that yet. I have almost broken both ankles in the same "taco" fall stuck in straps. I had some bad ones kitefoiling as well.
I used to think that a front strap would help in pumping up to foil. I have reworked my pumping up technique after watching the French guy in lightwind video. I did what he did which is pushing the board down repeatidly into the water instead of trying to pump it up. Works like a charm! Anywho, one less reason for straps.
One more thing about the Infinity wings- I love using the smaller 42 stab with the bigger wings. This really speeds things up and makes them way more turny.
Thats a really interesting video. Im liking how that looks. Use the weight to push down. I can do that.
Ive gone back to the 42cm rear stab for now as its quite windy. I will use the 48 in super light winds on my Naish 142 as I will be in very flat water using that and turns will be long and slow.
I beg to differ on the 99 and 84 ONLY working in the B position. Ive used both in the A position and they worked fine. The inly issue it gave me was that the balance point became too far back for my skill at this time and I found the board very unstable as i was getting up on the foil. Once up it was responsive but worked ok.
Ive gone back to the B position because I prefer how the board rides with my feet further forward on the board and its easier too change foils in the B as opposed to the A,
Had a great session yesterday with the 84 and the 42 stab on a 5.0 wing. Great fun and nice and stable. Got to figure the Gybes in chop now
The 84 and 99 are fine in the A position for winging, you just need to compensate by moving the mast forward in the tracks. If you don't have tracks and have a fixed tuttle box, then maybe you are stuck with the B position
