airsail said..

north_kiter said..
A third person video would help me understand this as it just sounds like a modified knee start but you hold the strut handle instead of the leading edge handle.

That's it, just don't use the leading edge handle and it comes naturally. Definitely quicker as one less hand movement, and stable as one wind tip stays in the water while you get to your knees.

ha ha two pages to get to the bottom of it!

Nice, I'll try it today

Gave the stinkbug a couple of goes today and it works a treat with my 110kg on a 95L board. Super easy.

Any chance someone has a third person view video? I still have no idea what the manoeuver looks like ??

drlazone said..
Youtube link does not work for some reason.
I just uploaded to Vimeo. Hopefully this works.

This is the 3rd person video, it is in the first page of this thread.

Stop the video in second 17....
He is not using the leading edge handle, there are not many ways to get in the board grabing the wing from the main front 'riding' handle.
Only with this info you go out and try....

I tried it successfully and I did the same as the video, put the elbow in the board and jump in, I just did not spend any second on my knees, skip to second 1:08, I put my second knee in the board at the exact same time I grab the back handle, in a flow motion, the thing is the sheeted wing gives you all the support you need to stand up in a moment.

After doing it in the water I looked at the first video and I understood it perfectly, the difference is the guy puts the fist in the board instead of the the elbow, the rest is similar

I finally got my smaller board (20L below my weight), was a bit wobbly to get going at first, tried the stinkbug start but didnt completely get it. However....

After some time I tried starting with the board parallel to the wind direction with the nose pointing downwind, that was a game changer! I first tried getting to my knees holding the wing on the front power handle with the board perpendicular to the wind, that resulted in quite a lot of wobbles and I felt like the wing was in the way. With the board parallel to the wind it was soo much easier! The steps I do:

1. Get the board between my legs, like sitting on a surfboard waiting for a wave, with the nose pointing directly downwind / downwaves
2. Grab the front power handle of the wing
3. Grab both sides of the nose with my hands while holding the wind by the front power handle
4. Get to the knees facing the nose of the board
5. Pull wing over my head and go

Worked like a charm every time and was away in seconds! For me, the key points which make it work is that I have 4 points of contact with the board, making it very stable untill I'm ready to go, and that pulling the wing overhead is actually a movement in the same direction as the most stable axis of the board, which seems to greatly reduce wobbles for me.

DTee said..

WhiteofHeart said..
I finally got my smaller board (20L below my weight), was a bit wobbly to get going at first, tried the stinkbug start but didnt completely get it. However....

After some time I tried starting with the board parallel to the wind direction with the nose pointing downwind, that was a game changer! I first tried getting to my knees holding the wing on the front power handle with the board perpendicular to the wind, that resulted in quite a lot of wobbles and I felt like the wing was in the way. With the board parallel to the wind it was soo much easier! The steps I do:

1. Get the board between my legs, like sitting on a surfboard waiting for a wave, with the nose pointing directly downwind / downwaves
2. Grab the front power handle of the wing
3. Grab both sides of the nose with my hands while holding the wind by the front power handle
4. Get to the knees facing the nose of the board
5. Pull wing over my head and go

Worked like a charm every time and was away in seconds! For me, the key points which make it work is that I have 4 points of contact with the board, making it very stable untill I'm ready to go, and that pulling the wing overhead is actually a movement in the same direction as the most stable axis of the board, which seems to greatly reduce wobbles for me.

Sounds like you've developed a start similar to Alan Cadiz. He also starts in a seated position, but crosswind. If the wind is strong enough he get straight to his feet without kneeling. In his video about it he's using a floater board, so not sure it would work for you with only 20L.

I'm not on a 20L haha, I'm on a board 20L below my weight! Im 96Kg riding a 75L board.

LeeD said..
So you can shove it a foot underwater, making it easier to stand up.
Couples guys here riding around 35 liter boards, need gusts around 8 knots to get on their feet, slog thigh deep, pump onto foil in around 12 knots with 950 mid aspect foils and 4.5 wings.

Are you talking about a squat start here ? 8 knots on a 35 L sinker . tell me more ? What you mean above board a foot under water ? What technique are they using ?

WhiteofHeart said..
I finally got my smaller board (20L below my weight), was a bit wobbly to get going at first, tried the stinkbug start but didnt completely get it. However....

After some time I tried starting with the board parallel to the wind direction with the nose pointing downwind, that was a game changer! I first tried getting to my knees holding the wing on the front power handle with the board perpendicular to the wind, that resulted in quite a lot of wobbles and I felt like the wing was in the way. With the board parallel to the wind it was soo much easier! The steps I do:

1. Get the board between my legs, like sitting on a surfboard waiting for a wave, with the nose pointing directly downwind / downwaves
2. Grab the front power handle of the wing
3. Grab both sides of the nose with my hands while holding the wind by the front power handle
4. Get to the knees facing the nose of the board
5. Pull wing over my head and go

Worked like a charm every time and was away in seconds! For me, the key points which make it work is that I have 4 points of contact with the board, making it very stable untill I'm ready to go, and that pulling the wing overhead is actually a movement in the same direction as the most stable axis of the board, which seems to greatly reduce wobbles for me.

Totally agree with you. I'm 6'6" 100 kg on a 105L, and interestingly use the exact same technique. Much more stable that way, at least for my size. Getting on the board while perpendicular to the wind, with the knees pointing to the side of the board was just not doable for me. Maybe that is a good technique for someone with average size and weight but for larger folk, I think your described technique is much superior.

eppo said..
Assuming you are a natural footer. You grabbing the front wing handle with left hand so in position already? If so when grabbing the nose of the board to get on your knees, the wing will be pulled on the windward side and lay over the board and be in the way. Or do you grab with right, then swap hands when in knee position ?

For the start I grab it with an overhand grip with my left hand, being a left foot forward rider. Because the board is pointing downwind and you're grabbing the nose, the wing is just downwind from you with the clew pointing away from you downwind so it doesnt really get in the way anyway. I had more trouble with the wing being in my way when I tried the same thing with the board across the wind.

@rfh, could be, wouldnt know why it would be easier for us this way though and not be easier for someone who's smaller. Im 6'4"/96Kg so I see a trend there.

The stinkbug start has been revolutionary for me.

At 110kg my primary board was 125L and I would avoid my 95kg unless it was mostly smooth and above 15 knots.

Since I have started using the stinkbug, I have not used the 125L board at all. I am now using 95L for everything.

Because of the stinkbug start, I was also able to get up and going on the 65L slingshot skywalker in about 12 to 15 knots using a 7m Slick.

bigtone667 said..
The stinkbug start has been revolutionary for me.

At 110kg my primary board was 125L and I would avoid my 95kg unless it was mostly smooth and above 15 knots.

Since I have started using the stinkbug, I have not used the 125L board at all. I am now using 95L for everything.

Because of the stinkbug start, I was also able to get up and going on the 65L slingshot skywalker in about 12 to 15 knots using a 7m Slick.

Yeh In Exmouth a big lad like yourself and only relatively new to the sport was having trouble starting in the chop. He was doing the "stand on the board first thing" which only works until it doesn't in "real" Conditions. Had a pretty bad wing mare being stranded on a downwinder well before the end point. So Showed him the stink bud method (even though I've never done or needed it myself just have read what you guys have said on here).

next session he came in with big smiles. It works well. He is now cranking.

Is this the stink bug technique?

broVan said..
Yes, but I try to grab one handle further back. And I don't do that thumb grabbing the nose thing. And I now, mostly go straight to back knee on board and front foot on board and then launch the wing. The more dihedral in the wing, the easier.

So yoi going to your front foot on the board as you lift the wing. So front knee on first then lift to front foot? Or straight to front foot. Then lift wing ?

Also how stable is it when kneeling on the board in that position (that is can you wait like this until a gust comes)?

DWF said..
Is this the stink bug technique?

Yep,that is exactly what i do.Great vid!.

Can555 said..

broVan said..
Yes, but I try to grab one handle further back. And I don't do that thumb grabbing the nose thing. And I now, mostly go straight to back knee on board and front foot on board and then launch the wing. The more dihedral in the wing, the easier.

I'm trying to picture getting the front foot up on the board before launching the wing. Seems pretty yoga-esque considering the wing is sort of blocking you from making that move until the wing is clear? I do the start similar to the vid without the nose grab and it works really well. Haven't tried it on anything under 76L yet though. I'm 90 kg. Only issue is how this start is wearing holes in the elbows on my wetsuits so fast!

My flexibility is garbage. I think what I do is grab power handle and put that arm's elbow on board near front strap. Next I climb on with rear knee slightly aft of center and am in a stable position. I am pushing the board down with rear hand to get to my knee. Then I grab the rear power handle and in one movement I stand my torso upright, launching the wing and then my front foot goes on board just infront of front strap. I use the wing to take weight off my front leg and drop it in place. I always get to to standing with each foot to the outside of straps which puts me center balanced on the board and helps with planing.. My back foot uses the kick pad to pry up on. Then I put the front foot in strap with back just behind it for liftoff. Once on foil, I then put rear foot into strap. I can taxi in the one knee kneel for a short while but its not really worth the effort. Once I'm in that position, I can easily stand up. This move is much easier with my Dart than any other wings I have tried it with. The dihedral lets me get under the wing in a crouch. I'll try and get some vid to show.