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How to get into foil racing

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Created by ActionSportsWA > 9 months ago, 29 Jan 2019
ActionSportsWA
WA, 950 posts
29 Jan 2019 3:22PM
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Hi Peeps,

I thought I would post my experience with my entry into foil racing in case you were curious but were a bit intimidated by the speed and the gear people were using.

Background: Firstly, I am a very experience kiter of almost 20 years and also had extensive dinghy racing experience from the ages of 10 until 19. I stopped racing dinghys and raced ocean yachts for a couple of years and then got into windsurfing (but thats another story).

So, how much had my background experience contributed to my entry into foil racing? Not a lot to be honest...

I started foiling in earnest almost exactly one year ago (January 2018). As a newbie to foiling I was frustrated by the speed and constant breaches at terminal velocity of the entry level foils, so I bought a fast carbon freeride foil which gave me more speed with a bit more control. I then liked the idea of light wind foiling at speed, inspired and encouraged by Youtube video's of guys going flat out in like 4-6 knots of wind, so I bought my first 14.5m Foil kite. The difference in power and light wind performance was astonishing but with that came speed I couldn't control, and full throttle breaches led to some serious beat downs, So i bought a smaller 11m foil kite. This was a great addition and gave me a bigger wind range so I wasn't so overpowered.

I started going to the river to get some experience in riding fast and to meet up with other fast foilers. Straight away I was all to painfully aware that I was not going to be anywhere near as fast as the fast guys, but I went out and tried to match their angles and speed, resulting in some spectacular wipeouts. The racing fraternity are very encouraging and super supportive and generally are very free with advice and helpful tips. I started to improve...

My foil speed was holding me back so when a second hand Moses Comet 111 came up for sale, I grabbed it. It was a bit of a learning curve to ride the race foil but the top speeds were so much more comfortable and offered glimpses into how it feels to go quick.

I kept hanging out with the crew on the river, practicing learning tacking and took a 2 week trip to Mauritius where I dedicated myself to improving my foiling and tacking before returning to Perth winter. When I returned I could tack at 75% success rate, regularly touching down but get around I did.

It was at this point where I figured I'd try racing with the big boys. My tacks were rough, gybes, non existent, but I felt I could go fast in a straight line ... ish . On the day of the first race, I figured I'd just stay out of the way at the start line and was happy to start 30 seconds behind the fleet so as not to get into any tangles. I went around the course and was lapped by the leaders in a three lap races, In all my racing career, I've never been lapped at anything, so it was extremely humbling, but I had a total blast. Each race day has a series of three races and I came last in every one of them, convincingly last! In fact in my first race day I think I only finished one of the three races and was a bit discouraged. One DNS, one DNF and one last place.

A couple of race days later, I started getting a little quicker and found a couple of guys who were not too far ahead of me, so I decided to race to beat them and ignore the leaders, they (the leaders) were just so far ahead it seemed impossible that I would ever catch them. I became determined to beat the guys just ahead. Then, low and behold, I did in one race. That day I had two last places, and a second last! I was improving!

We fast forward again a few more races and an upgrade in kites to a very competitive Flysurfer VMG race foil and I am now starting to finish in the middle of the fleet on a good day. I'm no longer being lapped and my love of racing and the community spirit and social side of being a member of a club again. I've found what I've been missing.

The racers are a good bunch of blokes and are still offering advice, tips and assistance and I have noticeable improvement in every race now. Every race, I learn what not to do and pick the top racers brains on speed, equipment, technique and strategy. I've now joined the Perth Kite racing association and have associate membership at the Jervois Bay Sailing Club where we race and use the facilities every other weekend for club championship race days, or just social races in the weeks in between.

Having friendly faces, great amenities like showers, changerooms, kitchen, bar and BBQ available for pre and post race needs makes the social side of the racing really all the more enjoyable. I normally stay for a cold beer and sausage from the BBQ and chat away to both foilers and catarmaran sailors. It's all the little tips and tricks that you learn along the way from the more experienced racers which accelerates your progression much more so that You Tube videos and freefoiling.

So what is my advice to someone looking to maybe get into foil racing? Don't wait for all the gear like I did. The fun is having purpose to your foiling, having a course and marker bouys to go around and to enjoy the start procedure and of course the satisfaction of crossing the finish line regardless of your finishing time or position. If you bring along a friend at the same level as yourself, you race him or her. The club offers one or two lap racers for social racers. Social racers are anyone on any foil with any inflatable kite at any basic skill level. You don't need to tack or gybe in order to race but is desirable if you can ride along competently staying up on the wing. I know there are loads of foilers in Perth at this level. Come along and have a go. It's free to race initially and you don't need to be a member of any clubs.

There is a race this Sunday the 3rd of February, so if you just want to come down and say G'Day and have a crack, bring your gear and be at the club JBSC by 12pm. Briefing is usually at 12, then racing starts at 1.05. There are usually three races and the bar is open after racing.

We often have one and sometimes two social racers show up but I'm guessing, like I was, are quite intimidated by the fast guys with all the good gear. There is no need, race against the guys/girls who are just a bit quicker than you. You will progress much faster going around the course and learning the angles and techniques to get around as quickly as possible.

Formula Foil is going to the olympics in 2014. You have 5 years to get your game on, to represent Australia at the France Olympics.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or contact the Perth Foil Racing crew @perthkiteracing FB group Perth Kite Racing and Freeride




DM

Gazuki
WA, 1363 posts
29 Jan 2019 5:06PM
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Inspirational, great read, thanks for an honest insight.

BenMaz
WA, 20 posts
10 Feb 2019 8:39AM
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Thanks for the article Darren. Very encouraging for us new to foiling and wanting to race.

Aspiremr
WA, 108 posts
11 Feb 2019 6:57AM
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Great read Darren, new to foiling in the last 6 weeks, and this is definitely on the agenda.

warwickl
NSW, 2173 posts
11 Feb 2019 11:07AM
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I have a KFA full carbon in the forsale section at a very low price making it easy to start into race.

ActionSportsWA
WA, 950 posts
12 Feb 2019 12:24PM
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Hi Guys,

Thanks for the kudos. The point of the article is that you don't need to be on the best and fastest gear unless you want to start taking it to the pro's.

Racing is a a fun thing to do with your mates. It gives you structure to your foiling and presents a challenge with multiple goalposts along the way so you have a sense of achievement as you progress. It might initially be finishing a race, to make tacks, then gybes, then get better starts, finish a race without crashing, then fninishing a race without touching down, beating your friends etc. Of course good gear makes a difference but is only part of the process of learning and improving.

It's nice to be in a social group which is competitive but at the same time social and supportive. Being immersed in this environment is the fastest way to improve your foiling. Not everyone has the money to "take it to the pro's", but there is plenty of cheap race gear as the pro guys upgrade if this is your thing. It's not about the gear! As we always used to say in my dinghy days, the fastest skipper on the slowest boat can still kick more arse more than the least experienced skipper on the fastest boat.

For all those foilers not riding waves, come on down to your local race group and say G'day and have a go. Going around the course is fun in itself.

In Perth it is this mob www.facebook.com/perthkiteracing/

Bring a buddy and race them around the course. All of the crew are very approachable and willing to help. See you on the water.

DM



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"How to get into foil racing" started by ActionSportsWA