Hello! I'm on the excellent journey of learning how to Wingfoil, and after a few weeks have come along pretty well with good consistent flight (apart from when the foil come right out of the water).

My quick question is when I'm up on the foil on my 125ltr Naish Float, my front foot is a decent way infront of the strap inserts. Any further back and I feel like I can't control the lift.

Is this a regular issue when learning? Bit like when learning to windsurf, the footstraps always seemed a long way back.

Any tips? Thanks!

BenKirk said..
Hello! I'm on the excellent journey of learning how to Wingfoil, and after a few weeks have come along pretty well with good consistent flight (apart from when the foil come right out of the water).

My quick question is when I'm up on the foil on my 125ltr Naish Float, my front foot is a decent way infront of the strap inserts. Any further back and I feel like I can't control the lift.

Is this a regular issue when learning? Bit like when learning to windsurf, the footstraps always seemed a long way back.

Any tips? Thanks!

Hey Ben,

Thanks for choosing Naish and also for reaching to with your experiences. Without a few details it is hard to give you an exact answer here, but in general as Jacko mentioned you may have your foil mounted too far forward.

I am actually riding the Naish 125 hover right now as my board and I mount my Naish foils generally close to centre of the mounting tracks, I have my front foot all the way forward and my back foot all the way back in the straps (I am quite tall at 6'2" and 90kg). This setup gives me what I feel is quite close to neutral balance on both feet when nicely powered.

Depending which foil you are using may vary the mounting position as all brands of foils have a little variance as to their mean force balance point (for example Axis is about 2 inches behind Naish).

It can take several session to actually really dial in your settings on a board, and then you will likely change them again as you progress. I usually tell people to start all the way back in the tracks. Then slowly move the foil forwards until you find the board lifts easily and balances with control. If it lifts super easy but is a little rolly or difficult to control, then you may have gone too far forward. Moving your front foot forward can counter the foil lift but not the board balance. It is a little bit of a game. Ideally try thinking about the forces as combined (the average position between them) opposites, and every time you change something it changes the equations balance.




Here is a highly technical image very loosely showing the forces simplified. The balance between the rear wing and the front wing basically make an upwards force and your weight creates a downward force. having your back foot too far back can create less down force against foil lift as can having your foil too far forward. On a Naish Foil I generally find having your back foot with your foot arch over the trailing edge of the mast a good guide. Front foot you move to manage the lift and be comfortable. You will basically ride with a little more front foot pressure majority of the time.

Happy to discuss further if you wish, send me a DM with you PH and we'll chat.

regards,

JB

Good to read thanks all. JB I'll DM you - I'm on a Naish 1400 foil, 85cm mast, am 6'1" and 92kgs. Such a fun sport! Looking at the wind in the northern beaches today I can't decide on a DTL wavesail at Longy (hmmm) or a foil on the lake. Nice to have a choice.

Lots of individual variability so you have to figure this out for your particular body, equipment and riding stance. Remember, you are looking for 2 correct spots for your front foot...and they should hopefully be the same. One is riding on the surface and the other is while on foil. If they are the same. I would not change anything. If they are different (meaning you have to move your foot after you come up on foil), then you have to experiment with mast position until your foot position is the same on the surface and on foil

Windgenuity said..

I am actually riding the Naish 125 hover right now as my board and I mount my Naish foils generally close to centre of the mounting tracks, I have my front foot all the way forward and my back foot all the way back in the straps (I am quite tall at 6'2" and 90kg). This setup gives me what I feel is quite close to neutral balance on both feet when nicely powered.



On a Naish Foil I generally find having your back foot with your foot arch over the trailing edge of the mast a good guide. Front foot you move to manage the lift and be comfortable.

JB

Hey JB - can you share the same for 110 - where do you find you have the straps and the mast located?
im assuming straps all the way fwd and back strap over leeward part of the mast
And mast...where do you have that? (i have gone from 1 inch from the very back to 1 inch from the front)

(im using Naish masts and foils...the 2000 currently and will get the HA1800/1400 in future)