Foiling at St Kilda, getting better but still learning

Session 498. Another go at kitesurf foiling, still very much learning. I got going on the port tack and was able to keep the board either on the water or up on the foil with any major problems. I was focusing on controlling the board and not going too fast. 

It was more difficult on the starboard tack, as I recall this was the case fourteen years ago when learning to kitesurf. 

I edging the board which caused it to keep carving in, eventually my feet came out and my shins hit the defined edge of the Double Agent board (similar to a twin tip edge).  Ouch!  Some bruising was evident later. I headed back to the beach and walked back.

Once again I conclude that learning to use a foil board is not easy but I am making progress.

Modern freestyle boards are much easier to use and learn on, but I intend to persist with the Double Agent until I can cruise around and stay upwind. 

Weak seabreeze, only good for foil kites and boards

Session 466. I am determined to get up and going on my foil board.  Headed to St Kilda hoping for a 15 knot sea breeze but less than 10 knots came in.  No inflatable kites could get going, but Natalia and Ivan were going well on their foil kites (13m) and foil boards.

Foil kites are expensive though - around $3,000 + bar! 

I stayed for a while hoping for the wind to build but it didn't.  Sea breezes have not been very consistent so far this year.

I got my Union 10m kite flying but couldn't get enough power to get going on the Double Agent foil.

Someone left a wetsuit on the stone wall near the kite caravans - contact me if its yours.

Breakthrough - up and going kitesurfing on a foil board!

Session 456. Breakthrough!  Enough wind on Friday for foil boarding on Lake Weyba. Adam and I met George from Adventure Sports Noosa at 1pm and pumped up our kites.  To launch we dragged our rigged kites out 100m from the shore to where the wind was.

Adam, George and Peter

The drift launch technique was to splash some water onto the wingtip into the wind and let the kite float off downwind until the lines tightened then launch the kite.

The key tips were:

• Use the same kite size you would for a normal session for the wind speed - don't go for a smaller size (when you are more experienced you would use a smaller kite)
• Dive the kite hard downwind and do a water start 
• Keep the board oriented in direction of travel (not downwind)
• Get on the board, keep it flat with your weight forward on the front foot, keep your forward knee bent
• Place your rear foot close to the front foot 
• Twist (rotate) the board upwind, keeping it flat with the nose on the water (avoid going downwind which depowers the kite which may then crash)
• Get used to the forward motion with the board flat on the water - the drag of the water has a braking effect that keeps your speed down 

It was much easier using a "beginner foil" and a short mast - George had 35cm masts on both the foil boards. One was a Cabrinha Double Agent board an foil, the other was a Nobile board with a Naish surf foil.

During my previous attempts at foiling, I had not got comfortable moving with the board flat on the water - the long foil amplifies errors and seems to make the board to weird things such as tripping and pulling you over your toes or porpoising out of the water.

The short mast avoids these problems - it was easy to get the board going flat on the water and if it popped up it was only 35cm.

I was able to get going forwards quite easily, it was a great relief to achieve this without any major crashes and boosted my confidence a lot.

George was using Bluetooth helmet comms but the range was limited to 300 m.  I did some tacks to get further tips.

To get the board riding on its foil the steps were:

• Increase board speed by powering the kite and steering upwind
• Shift your rear foot towards the rear of the board 
• Gradually transfer some weight to the rear foot until the board starts to rise on the foil
• Fine tune your kite power  - too much power will increase your speed rapid, too little power and your board will drop back to the water surface
• Keep steering upwind - you can go much further upwind than you think you can!

To slow down:

• Transfer weight back onto the front foot to get the board board back on the water
• Push your bar out to reduce power from the kite

This was  breakthrough moment similar to the first time I was able to hold ground upwind out an back!

Rising onto the foil the ride becomes incredibly smooth - like a magic carpet ride.

The speed increases on the foil but I didn't need to cut much power from the kite.

The board occassionaly slapped back down onto the water without causing too much concern.

George got me to swap boards with Adam and give him the radio helmet.  The Naish surf foil was faster and easier to get board up out of the water but I found it more difficult to moderate my speed.

The foil wanted to accelerate. I catapulted forwards off it a few times, but it was really nice to cruise on.

I did numerous tacks right across Lake Weyba - its much wider than it looks - over 2km across.  I was feeling confident on the foil, able to get up and going, stay upwind and also slowdown and stop.  I tried toeside riding and some gybes but decided to keep focusing on just riding the foil.

The wind speed eventually increased so I came in. 2 hours on the water and 28km

Really stoked to achieve some distance on the foil board and get up onto the foil.  The lesson and the beginner foil setup were well worth the money.

George said the Cabrinha board and foil are good for learning with a short mast - he has a second has medium size mast that I bought to use for my future efforts - but on checking my board once home I have the old model Double Agent with the mast welded to the fuselage.

After we finished we headed to Castaways to see if a downwinder was on.

Learning to foil board behind a boat off Mentone

We decided to try some foil board training getting towed behind a boat to get used to the foil board without having to worry about a kite.

I was interested to see if this would accelerate learning.  The water is flat and there is no kite to control so the focus is on the foil board.

The drill was to keep weight on the front foot and weight forward and get the board planing on the water.  The theory seems simple, putting it into action is much harder . . .

Here is a video of the action.  This was the first time on a foil board for Stuart, James, Cameron and Grant.  I wasn't able to participate due to my hamstring injury.

There was general agreement that it is hard to do!

Some learnings:

• Watching the video, its apparent that getting forward on the foil board is difficult when getting towed.
• Moving the rear foot out of thin in front of the rear foot strap might help
• Ivan tells me that they use a SUP with a foil when doing tow practice behind a jet ski - no water start is required and moving weight around on the board is easier without footstraps

Learning to foil at St Kilda - some good progress then a hamstring injury

Session 433. Foil 03. Headed to St Kilda for another foil board session. It was blowing around 20 knots most of the day so I chose my 8m kite.  I wore my 1mm wetsuit over my 2mm shorty for better leg protection.  I called in at The Zu Boardsports on my way to the water.

Ivan's tips were:

• Move the foot straps on the board to their most forward setting
• Concentrate on keeping the board level

With those in mind I navigated the learner kites along the shoreline and body dragged out to deeper water.

Success!  I was able to got up and going on a left tack - it was an amazing experience.  Once you are on the foil its like flying and completely smooth.  Its easy to go fast.  There is no pull on the harness and the dynamic between kite, board and water is completely different.  

I stacked, bailing off the board, then had a another go.  Heading back on the right tack was actually better - I was better able to control the board speed and keep the board close to the water.

Feeling confident, I did the walk of shame back for another run.  I got up on the foil again and was going fast, then had another big stack, catapulting off the board and looping the kite.  During the yank I felt a popping that seemed to be in my left hip and then there was pain.  I realised it was the hamstring and I had probably torn it so it was session over.

I am wondering why I didn't back the power off when I got going fast, its a similar problem I had when I was first learning to kitesurf and would get overpowered and crash. 

Its easy to underestimate the additional power on tap by having negligible resistance from the board.

I was able to gingerly pack up and walk back to my car.

Ivan's advice back at the shop was to NOT bail right of the board when crashing and to try to stay with it.

My left hamstring had been tight for a couple of weeks, I first noticed it in Perth.  In hindsight I may have had a Grade 1 hamstring injury, although I am not sure how.

Today, I appear to have  Grade 2 hamstring injury.  Its sore to move the leg in some directions and there is a painful region under my left buttock.  This could take a couple of weeks to heal . . . which is very disappointing.

C'est la vie.

GPS Log

Learning to foil at St Kilda - its hard!

Session 431. Foil 02. Following Ivan's advice I went to St Kilda to learn on my foil board.  There is flat water behind the breakwater and around 15 knots is ideal. 

Foiling is HARD to learn - I think its harder than learning to kitesurf.  Its about 90% board and 10% kite.

I got out of the water and on the board several times but it felt really weird. Its like having a sea anchor underneath your board.  It seems you have to forget everything you have learned to date (edging the board, pressure on rear foot etc) and focus on keeping the board flat and weight well forward on the front foot.

I had fitted the rear footstrap which helps with controlling the board.

I tumbled off it toeside a coup of times, clunking my shins on the edge of the board (and drawing some blood).

I continue along, wary of other kiters.  Struggling.

My brief attempt on the return tack was even less successful.  I walked back along the beach.

Some things I learnt today:

• Keeping the board flat on the water makes it easier to handle.
• When body dragging (out) have the kite on one side and the board on the other (so you don't get yanked onto it).
• If you are crashing bail off the board to get clear of it.
• Don't kick under the water near the board - you might hit sharp edges of the foil mast or the foil itself
• Wear booties
• Wear a helmet
• Wear a steamer wetsuit to provide some all-body protection (a nuisance in summer!)
• Keep at it!  This summer I am going to get up and going.

I have been told it takes around 10 goes like this for it to "click". 

This was the first time I had actually got up onto the board (but not the foil) for a short period and controlled it.

GPS Log

Fawkner Beacon crosswinder and first good session on the foil board (at last)

Session 406.  Got down to Hampton in the late afternoon chasing the sea breeze.  I rigged feverishly and headed out. Stu Styles came in soon after I started.  I was keen for an adventure and could see a large cruise ship heading out from Port Melbourne along the shipping channel so I headed out for a look.  

I was nicely powered and making good progress on a tack towards Fawkner Beacon with the big ship making fast progress along the channel.  The wind softened a bit and my tack veered to the north a bit.  The ship was disappearing in the distance, I didn't get close to it, but it was a buzz being out there.  

The return tack was good and the wind held up as I returned then it dropped after a couple of runs close to the shore.  I landed my kite and started packing up then Stuart Webb arrived and headed out. 

I decided to have a go on the Cabrinha Double Agent foil board in the lighter wind so I set it up and walked out next to the southern groyn.  I was again having difficulty controlling the board while drying to board/body drag out.  It spins and twists.  I was then concerned about the reefs in the middle of the windsports section but avoided them.

Then I finally had some deep water and was able to power up the kite and keep the board under my feet but pushed out with the foil and mast almost horizontal.  It was great to get that amount of control. Then I had a go and standing up.  Its a really weird feeling when the board you stand on is not the "main board" - the foil is!  I got going a little but without much control.  

I think I should have been leaning forward more to keep the foil under, but at least I had no big stacks and kept control of the kite.

Tacking back in to the right I repeated the same technique with similar control, standing up a few times but feeling very tentative about the foil lurking under the water.  

I got back to the beach very happy to have succeeded in short session without a big stack or crashing my kite hard.   I was also able to sail the board back in flat on the water with one hand on it.

Don't let anyone tell you foil board are easy - learning is like being a rank beginner again!

Some tips:

• Don't power the kite up too much - keep good control
• Watch out you don't get pulled over your toes - the foil can act like a sea anchor under the board
• Practice controlling the board when body dragging - its harder than it looks
• Keep weight forward on the front foot when you are up.

The wind picked up a lot to around 25 knots which didn't make it any easier.

I took the Nugget out for some more runs and bigger jumps, relishing the surplus power.

GPS log

More great kitesurfing at Beachport SA in strong southerly

Session 368. We headed for Beachport after breakfast in Robe (delicious pippies!). The wind was around 15 knots when we arrived but soon picked up.  I assembled my foil board and took it out into the waves for another humbling experience.  Once again I found it difficult to get out through the waves and body drag, even with the foil upwind.  The waves were turning the board in all directions.

I thought I would struggle with the weed and swell even if I did eventually get out so I came in and swapped the board for my trusty Nugget.   Then I spent some frustrating minutes resetting my lines before I was out and fanging around nearly overpowered.

The waves were good and the wind was strong - up to 25 knots.  Everyone was blasting around catching waves and boosting big.  What a place, its the gift that keeps on giving!

Stu lost a fin from his Secret Weapon and had a brief look for the needle in a haystack on the beach. I drove up the steep dune access track onto the beach and down to pick him up.  The Kitewagon handles the steep and very well.

We stopped mid afternoon with energy levels well depleted then headed into Beachport where we ate some lovely bratwurst with sauerkraut, had a coffee then started the long drive home of around 6 hours.

Kudos to Stu for scoping out such a good wind forecast at a great location.  We were all "kited out" on this trip!

Flailing with the foil board!

Its a long pier - over 700m!

GPS Log

First kitesurfing foil board session - its as hard as they say

Session 355. Foil session 1. I got down the Hampton at around 4:30 and helped Tony with a refresher on kite rigging and flying - he went well.

I was very keen to have ago on my foil board (Cabrinha Double Agent) so today was the day.  There was about 18 knots at Hampton and some swell so conditions were not ideal for learning but I decided to give it ago.

Carrying the foil sideways was not too difficult.  However, once in the water its a beast.  The foil protudes a long way under the board and has a mind of its own.  I walked out as far as I could and attempted to body drag out further, to no avail.  I tried keeping the board sideways with my foot in the front straps and dragging out, that didn't work well either. 

The foil acts as a massive lever under the board. When it catches it spins the board around.  It was like being a rank beginner again, unable to get off the beach!  Those that say learning to use a foil board is hard are correct.

Further along the beach the board was a real handful in the breaking waves.  I dropped the kite a couple of times while wrestling/juggling the board.  The second time I decided to come in.  There was a bang then a limp kite.  I think it was folded by a wave and the leading edge tore then the bladder burst.  Not good.

I packed up with my tail between my legs and pondered the next foil board session with Eric and Anthony.

Its hard to learn but another kiter was out on a foil board and going well.  As he said, you don't believe its possible until you see someone doing it.

Next session I think I will go for:

• Less wind and a bigger kite (flatter water, much smaller waves)
• A location where there are no reefs and groynes to worry about
• Taking off the four board - they are not necessary and not good to contact with feet or hands while handling the board

See also: Kitesurfing a foil board - Kitesurfing Handbook