The beauty of windfoiling is that you can have an amazing session even in the lightest breeze. But getting up and taking off is one of the most challenging parts. Nothing's more frustrating than standing around watching your friends fly. Balz 'Radiculo' Müller shares his personal light wind takeoff technique, an active approach that gets you flying earlier than you thought possible. THE ACTIVE TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE: Step-by-Step: 1. Sail upright on half-wind course 2. Place both feet in the straps 3. Begin small, smooth, circular sail pumps (like stirring a big pot of soup) 4. Pull the sail from front, back and around 5. Bear off slightly downwind to pick up forward drive 6. THE CRUCIAL PART: Transfer energy from sail down and forward through your body into the board 7. Push back foot down while pulling front leg up 8. Lift body weight off board, let it release from surface "Instead of only pumping with the sail, I transfer the energy down and forward, through my body directly into the board—especially into the back leg." - Balz The Key Insight: → Not just pushing up and down → Down AND forward → Front leg pulling up the board → Creates forward drive and momentum "This creates a coordinated motion that launches you out of the water—very similar to an ollie in skateboarding." - Balz --- WHY ACTIVE TAKEOFF MATTERS: → Passive takeoff = not foiling until almost planing on the fin → Active takeoff = foil earlier, maximize light wind → Essential for smaller equipment → The gear we love once flying, but needs technique to launch Practice the timing between sail power and leg action. --- GEAR CHOICE - BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER: Balz's Insight (80kg rider): "With my active takeoff style, a bigger sail is often counterproductive. With the powerful pumping motion, you're always fighting against the extra mass." - Balz Balz's Light Wind Setup: → RAD 4.8 sail → Predator 100L board → 909 span / 1000 cm² front wing → 90 cm fuselage THE REAL SECRET: "Many riders blame their equipment when the real issue is technique. Every setup has its own sweet spot. Learning to pump efficiently and adapting your technique is often worth far more than buying bigger equipment." - Balz --- LIGHT WIND MANEUVERS: Keep the Momentum: → Once flying, you can fly almost forever if you maintain momentum → Solid gybe is crucial to stay on foil longer → Duck gybe preferred (maintains forward drive through turn) Light Wind Waterstart: → Hold sail down at sail foot → Place sail upright → Edge the board slightly → Step/pull body compact up onto deck → Practical way to get up on board --- THE BOTTOM LINE: "Master the light wind motions, understand your setup's possibilities, and you'll be surprised by how early and efficiently you can get flying." - Balz --- PREVIOUS TUTORIALS: → Ep. 9: Backloop: https://youtu.be/3tovoF_BISw → Ep. 8: Safety & Risk Management: https://youtu.be/3tovoF_BISw → Ep. 7: Upwind Carving 360: https://youtu.be/gB6cwrcmivQ → Ep. 6: Chop Hop & Shovit: https://youtu.be/u7minUiBbQY → Ep. 5: Duck Tack: https://youtu.be/jsdCmoato9E → Ep. 4: Duck Gybe: https://youtu.be/unuUitGM7eg → Ep. 3: Carrying Your Windfoil Gear: https://youtu.be/_u9bpA_RIdg → Ep. 2: Downwind 180 Kono: https://youtu.be/VQHZ0JmEON0 → Season 2 Kick-Off Recording: https://youtu.be/pUq1J2fxv7s --- COMMUNITY: Cracked the light wind takeoff? Share your early-foiling wins in the Flight Club forum! Use #RadFlightClub to show your light wind sessions --- FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT: Instagram: @radiculo | @severnewindsurfing Hashtag: #RadFlightClub Forum: discourse.severnewindsurfing.com (membership required. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/svflight) --- Flight Club is Severne's free community-driven windsurf foiling education program led by Balz "Radiculo" Müller. No corporate filter. Just progression. See you on the water. What a time to be alive. #WindsurfFoiling #Windfoiling #LightWind #LightWindFoiling #FlightClub #BalzMuller #Severne #FoilTakeoff #PumpingTechnique #RAD
