Forums > Wing Foiling General

Jumping with front straps only

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Created by AUS126 > 9 months ago, 28 Oct 2022
AUS126
NSW, 206 posts
28 Oct 2022 8:15PM
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Is it asking for trouble jumping with front straps only when it comes to ankle and knee injuries? I feel like I can kick out of straps a lot easier with just front strap and so much prefer not having a rear strap for everything else.
Thanks

CH3MTR4IL5
WA, 903 posts
28 Oct 2022 6:24PM
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I haven't done a lot but my experience was that with two straps you fall in a logical manner and the board is mostly straight. I was also using a fairly large high volume board so it was a lot of weight hanging off my feet, a sinker would be much better.

unlike kiting the jumping process is not as fast and the foil acts as a counterweight so it is more difficult to get in a weird position, and the wing doesn't keep pulling you, if you crash you stop, the board bends over with your feet, difficult to get in the position where you are loading it after the crash like kiting.

with the counterweight theory in mind, i feel you could screw yourself over more with just the front foot.

mostly supposition, i had a couple of sessions stuffing around with it but found the footstraps annoying. If i was to revisit i'd go a low volume sinker and a larger wing and boost when its cranking, with 2 footstraps.

DavidJohn
VIC, 17569 posts
28 Oct 2022 10:29PM
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Select to expand quote
AUS126 said..
Is it asking for trouble jumping with front straps only when it comes to ankle and knee injuries?


I say yes.. for sure..

I wouldn't risk jumping with only one strap..

kvek
68 posts
28 Oct 2022 7:49PM
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Usually, I ride keeping my foot in front of the back strap and get in the back strap only for a jump or for better pumping when I try to get on the foil. Maybe you can do the same?

stanley71
WA, 223 posts
28 Oct 2022 8:37PM
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Personally, I would not try front strap only jumps, just dun stuff yr foot (front and back) in too tightly if you are trying some new tricks initially unless you are sending it huge and want to make sure your board not get ejected in the air (it's better to land with the board than "pin-drop" from high-up (yr "p" parts will thank you hhh).

Velocicraptor
814 posts
28 Oct 2022 9:23PM
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I agree with most of these responses. Definitely would not try to jump with only a front foot strap unless you are very experienced. Personally, I like my footstraps to be very secure. In almost all crashes the board is under my feet where I want it to be. Its when I accidentally kick a foot out that things get sketchy. I'm sure others will disagree, but I would rather have the board on my feet that out of my control. Ive had a few contorted crashes, but its infrequent and I haven't injured myself (knock on wood). Some people ride with a foot hook in back, but I can't really see that working for anything other than small hops.

I also take my rear foot out of the strap for a lot of my riding. Its pretty much only in the strap when I'm planning to jump. I position the strap slightly farther back than my natural position so that I have room for my foot in front of it.

There are some really experienced prone guys jumping strapless, but these guys are doing airs on shortboards and know how to keep the board on their feet without straps. I think its also different when you have a wing since your descent is more gradual (the wing slows you down) versus the board which would descend faster.

Twimby
WA, 483 posts
28 Oct 2022 10:48PM
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Not jumping, but front strap only. Better having two feet locked in, so board doesn't twist. 18 months or so ago, 10 months out of the water, hurts every day



Surfing Uk
176 posts
29 Oct 2022 1:05AM
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My worse jump crashes have been when my back foot has slipped out the strap , you don't won't the board rotating with one foot in.
I ride with only my front foot in and use Armstrong back strap so I can stand on it or just in front , then put my foot in only for jumps. I'm on quite a big board (same L as kgs ) just to make life easier when landing etc.

Surfing Uk
176 posts
29 Oct 2022 1:05AM
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My worse jump crashes have been when my back foot has slipped out the strap , you don't won't the board rotating with one foot in.
I ride with only my front foot in and use Armstrong back strap so I can stand on it or just in front , then put my foot in only for jumps. I'm on quite a big board (same L as kgs ) just to make life easier when landing etc.

AUS126
NSW, 206 posts
29 Oct 2022 7:05AM
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That's a very strong don't do it then, especially Twimby. I hope you make a full recovery soon mate. I'll move back strap to the back of board and only use it for jumping. Straps are scary and I still like the dream of strapless jumping in the future.

AUS126
NSW, 206 posts
30 Oct 2022 7:44PM
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I tried strapless jumping today. It's definitely an option if you're worried about strap injuries after reading this.

JohnnyTsunami
136 posts
31 Oct 2022 1:45PM
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I jump with front straps only all the time. Usually about 5-10 times per session in the late summer/fall. But I'm not doing cool tricks, I'm jumping straight into the wind pretty slowly just to get the foil out of the water and kick off seaweed. I did a big jump the other day that went fine. If you go straight into the wind you have lots of time to land flat. If you're going to do 360s and things and have the board land funny I would watch out. It just seems easier to have your foot slip and land funny on the board and cause a jackknife and foil in the face situation. But just blasting straight I say go for it.

A guy here jumps with no straps all the time as well but obviously straight into the wind as well.

Oahuwaterwalker
293 posts
3 Nov 2022 12:17AM
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I'm a strong "no" for one foot strap jumping. Unnecessary risk that could be nearly 100% eliminated by using a back strap. I twisted my femur when a back foot came out during an aerial windsurfing. 1 year off the water and 2 years before I was back to my full self.

I ride with straps jam my feet in and go down with the ship if I crash, it keeps me from twisting ankles or other bones and keeps me clear of the foil.

Just my 2 cents.

Shlogger
520 posts
3 Nov 2022 1:20AM
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Definitely 2 straps as you can control the board in the air and the landing which is critical. The two times I've slightly torqued my knee happened when my straps were too loose and a foot came out. It resulted in one foot stuck in the strap and then my knee becoming a fulcrum on the rail of my board as I crashed.
In windsurfing it was usually a rolled ankle in the surf if I ate it, but w winging I've noticed more knee tweaks as the board is elevated by the mast until it comes to a natural stop.
As stated by others, I pull the back foot out just in front of strap for transitions or surfing.

stanley71
WA, 223 posts
3 Nov 2022 7:02PM
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Select to expand quote
Oahuwaterwalker said..
I'm a strong "no" for one foot strap jumping. Unnecessary risk that could be nearly 100% eliminated by using a back strap. I twisted my femur when a back foot came out during an aerial windsurfing. 1 year off the water and 2 years before I was back to my full self.

I ride with straps jam my feet in and go down with the ship if I crash, it keeps me from twisting ankles or other bones and keeps me clear of the foil.

Just my 2 cents.


yr 2-cents worth 2 bucks mate!



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"Jumping with front straps only" started by AUS126