Forums > Wing Foiling General

Wind Virgin Diaries

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Created by theSeb > 9 months ago, 4 Jul 2022
theSeb
247 posts
4 Jul 2022 5:01PM
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I finally bit the bullet and bought a wing at the beginning of June. For the first session I went out on my paddle board. It turns out that everyone who told me that you needed something to stop drifting was right, but I still had a good time. I am quite decent on a paddle board, so standing up and then getting going with the wing was great fun. I managed to ride in one direction and then the other a few times. Top speed was 16 km/h.

I watched quite a few videos on how to turn and gybe (jibe?), but the hands and arms didn't understand what they were supposed to do and my attempts ended in comedy, so I ended up turning around manually. The second wind session was a bit of a total disaster. My top speed was only 11 km/h and I struggled. There was much less wind and I was reminded of some sage advice from this forum - "the wind is your friend".

At this point I realised that I needed more practise with the wing and the wind on the land. So I went and bought myself a land board and waited for the wind to come back. It turned out to be a great idea. I had figured out how to jibe by the end of the first session. My top speed was 22 km/h and I was turning around and zipping back and forth. Going back in with the wing behind me on my heel side still felt awkward, but getting more used to it. I went out on the land board again the next morning. Wind was about the same and I felt even better. I was getting very comfortable and managed a top speed of 23 km/h with much longer runs and turning into the wind etc.

I felt ready to jump back into the water and I ended up having a pretty good session with the paddle board. I was still drifting a bit, but I was turning around and zooming back and forth. I even managed to ride upwind a bit at times, thanks to a very heavy back foot, and avoided the walk of shame, since I was actually able to ride back to where I started.

I felt that it was time to try this foiling business. My board and foil arrived last week and Saturday was around 14 knots with the occasional over 20 knots gusts. I got a Starboard 5'7" Takeoff and a 2000 foil. I was confident once I had figured out how to put it all together. Staying on the board on my knees to try a variation of the stink bug start was difficult for the first 20 minutes. The board behaved like a bucking bronco in the wind swells, but I managed to get up and ride. I tried pumping a few times too, but I never managed to lift off unfortunately. My tracker app tells me I only achieved a top speed of 10 km/h and that ties up with the fact that once I got up I felt like I was not really in tune with the wind and the wing and would lose speed.

Perhaps I was focussing too much on the board, or perhaps the wind just wasn't consistent enough. It's probably a combination of column A and column B.

Clearly more water and wind time is necessary. This morning I was back sup surfing the gentle offshore tiny waves. I have no idea how I could ever sup foil the Takeoff though.

Grantmac
1953 posts
5 Jul 2022 3:57AM
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If you can get some time being towed behind a boat with your foil board that would probably help a whole lot.

Dcharlton
307 posts
5 Jul 2022 9:07AM
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The 2000 mile journey begins with the first step. The Takeoff is an amazing board, it'll take time to get acclimated. The 5' 7" should have some good volume but depending on your previous experience with windfoiling or kite foiling you're going to need some time. You want steady winds at between 15 to 20 knots. Get used to getting on the board, standing up and keeping up wind. You'll then get a feel for pumping the board and wing. Give yourself some time in steady conditions. It will click before you know it. But you should definitely take a lesson if available, it's worth it!

DC

Dcharlton
307 posts
5 Jul 2022 9:07AM
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The 2000 mile journey begins with the first step. The Takeoff is an amazing board, it'll take time to get acclimated. The 5' 7" should have some good volume but depending on your previous experience with windfoiling or kite foiling you're going to need some time. You want steady winds at between 15 to 20 knots. Get used to getting on the board, standing up and keeping up wind. You'll then get a feel for pumping the board and wing. Give yourself some time in steady conditions. It will click before you know it. But you should definitely take a lesson if available, it's worth it!

DC

theSeb
247 posts
5 Jul 2022 5:06PM
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Thanks chaps. Getting behind a boat is not going to be simple, but there is a shop on the beach that has electric foils for hire and they offer lessons. It may be a good idea to go visit them and spend a few hours on one.

Goofcat
239 posts
8 Jul 2022 6:41AM
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Welcome to this sick addiction! If you are riding a foil board and starting to get up I would recommend purchasing some protection! Helmet and impact vest are relatively cheap as compared to broken ribs and a concussion. Booties also help when your feet meet the sharp thingy hanging out beneath your board.

During the initial stages of getting on foil try to keep flights short and controlled. It's better to have a 5 second flight that you are able to bring back to the surface then a 10 second flight that ends in a spectacular crash (although the crash is more entertaining for those watching).



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"Wind Virgin Diaries" started by theSeb