Foot Straps: When do you recommend installing them?

I'm on my 15th session in this horribly addictive sport and am considering putting footstraps on the board. I have the Quattro Wing Drifter 105ltrs and I love this board.

I'm working on trying to bet my first on foil jybe but am able to pump on foil and have some great flights so far so I'm still a beginner but am progressing.

Any recommendations on if/when I should install footstraps? If so, should I start with just front straps? Any experience/recommendations would be helpful. Thanks!

DC

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DWF said..
After you're ready to boost airs. After you're good and never miss a jibe. After all kook stuff is ancient history.

You don't NEED straps to get good.

Personally I put the straps on when I was still learning to transition from knees to standing in the very early sessions, standing straight into the straps, consistently putting my feet in the same locations every time improved my progression massively, coming from kite foiling I was almost immediately up on the foil for consistent long controlled runs. Does make learning transitions more difficult having to step out of straps, hopefully a windsurfing background will assist with that.

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Smithy said..consistently putting my feet in the same locations every time

I use a front strap for this. Helps sup foil on late drops too.

Got the same board last Sept, but haven't used them. Yesterday was trying a new hand wing and had a pretty bad fall landing on the board rail. Hard punch to the gut. I don't think not using straps hinders development .

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Pasquales said..
Got the same board last Sept, but haven't used them. Yesterday was trying a new hand wing and had a pretty bad fall landing on the board rail. Hard punch to the gut. I don't think not using straps hinders development .

Thanks, Pasquales. I'm debating wearing an impact vest for Wing foiling, think that may make sense!

DC

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foilthegreats said..
Go for it! Straps allow you to ride extremely aggressively and recover in critical situations. NOT only for jumping.

I agree with this now. I used to think that there was no other reason for straps but airs. Looking back at my progression, I am glad that I rode strapless for the first couple of seasons so I could figure out the foot placement and nuances of each foil/track placement/board. Once I got this worked out, I strapped up. At first, I had the rear strap all the way back and only went in for jumping. I rode only front foot in the rest of the time. Then I started doing airs from toeside like the air jibe. This was the point where I knew that I just needed to be in both straps all the time. Then I moved the rear strap up to the proper riding position and committed to being in it always. Now I ride/carve a lot more aggressively. I can do things on the surface that weren't possible without straps. Just don't strap up until you are done with all the kook learning falls.

I too would like to strap up, but I am not sure about the front strap(s) placement: Y vs. angled vs. parallel to stringer?
I ride 75% of the time on my strong side, but like to switch to go back out after taking a wave or rest a bit.
I am considering Y but I feel angled might be best for surfing (which I do most). However I am not sure if I can place my foot in the angled strap riding switch...so I am now considering parallel.

Any thoughts?

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Mokuleia said..
I too would like to strap up, but I am not sure about the front strap(s) placement: Y vs. angled vs. parallel to stringer?
I ride 75% of the time on my strong side, but like to switch to go back out after taking a wave or rest a bit.
I am considering Y but I feel angled might be best for surfing (which I do most). However I am not sure if I can place my foot in the angled strap riding switch...so I am now considering parallel.

Any thoughts?

I have parallel straps and it works. It helps if the front strap is LONGER both to move feet when surfing and get feet in either foot forward.

I have ~ 40 wing sessions, 500 foil surf sessions. My favorite board is a 6' 105 liter board. I set the straps up parallel because I surf the board more than I wing it, but it takes too long to switch out the straps. I used NSI strap mounts and added one extra mount.

For surfing there is no comparison on control. In big waves you can takeoff in whitewater, getting nearly blown up. I have fallen with my back on the water and recovered like with a short board by tucking my feet under my body and then standing back up. Impossible without straps. Front foot always in the right place. And when sailing switch foot I use my back foot to control the roll of the board. My back foot being my stronger side FRONT foot.

Here is a shot taking off on 1 foot "lake" waves. The front strap is ~ parallel.

I use front straps only in a Y position like windsurfing. Both straps at maximum width covering as much space as possible to allow me to move my front foot either more forward or back depending on conditions and for how much lift or lack thereof I have to adjust. In the attached video you will see from where this idea came -- Alan Cadiz! Take a look at the length of his straps and at his different foot positions at different times during the video -- when he's getting up on foil (forward) and when he's on foil (further back).

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Lago said..

dejavu said..
I use front straps only in a Y position like windsurfing. Both straps at maximum width covering as much space as possible to allow me to move my front foot either more forward or back depending on conditions and for how much lift or lack thereof I have to adjust. In the attached video you will see from where this idea came -- Alan Cadiz! Take a look at the length of his straps and at his different foot positions at different times during the video -- when he's getting up on foil (forward) and when he's on foil (further back).

Can you still jump, are the straps not to loose?

You would need a back strap for jumping (maybe some of the pros don't but I would). Too many injuries at this point in my life to be jumping (same I believe for Alan Cadiz) so I don't have an answer for you -- you'll have to find out for yourself -- good luck!