697 posts
Experienced foiler here.. since 2020 on the wingfoil. Lately lots of parawing sessions and I notice some wear and tear. Waiting for that gust to arrive to stand up and go, sometimes it can take a bit. And all that waiting and at the same time balancing. One foot flat on the board, same knee raised, and other (right) knee on the board with all weight on it.
I'm now out of action for at least a week.. with excruciating pain right under the kneecap. I know the pain comes from pressing the right knee down all the time.
Same for my right elbow.. getting from the water onto the board I need to 'elbow' my board, holding parawing up, and climbing, sliding onto the board. My right elbow already developed some thicker tissue.
Is there a better technique to avoid all this?
NSW
194 posts
What size board are you running?
I'm on a 50L sinker board and even on that the time spent on knees (I've never used my elbows) is minimal.
My simplified process is:
Straddle board seated
Parawing up in leading hand and kept fairly low to maintain a steady pull
Bring feet up behind me and onto knees (parawing is flying the whole time) use other hand on deck for balance if needed.
Once balanced on knees and still moving front leg up to drop knee, watch for gust as soon as it hits straight to feet.
Slight angle downwind to generate speed, couple of pumps of the board while pulling back upwind to keep tension in lines and off you go.
If there isn't enough wind to get going on that attempt either slog on my feet for as long as I can hoping for the next gust or simply return to seated position.
The steps between seated to standing and pumping is generally around 5 seconds.
835 posts
Just sit on the board with your legs left and right until a gust hits and spend only 1 second on your knees when it does and you want to stand up.
Dont understand why you'd go out riding around on your knees anyway (once past beginner stage). Either the board is big enough or there is enough wind to float you, then just stand up, or not, and then just remain seated until you get the gust. And if the board is big enough but you dont have the stability to get standing / keep standing because of waves etc, remain seated until you have a gust which gives you the required stability.
If you really need to taxi you can also put your feet on the nose of the board and just sit on it like you're sitting on the ground with your legs in front.
If you're a beginner, riding at some sunny place in a shorty or even no wetsuit at all and salt is scraping your knees open, volleybal kneepads are what you want. They're soft and cushony, but dont block movement too much.
493 posts
You could also wear a kneepad. Something like a volleyball kneepad.
QLD
344 posts
Knee issue-i brace myself with my hand that isn't holding the wing. So left hand bracing against left knee (just holding your knee) have your right knee down on board, and right hand holding wing. I find using my arm helps to keeps a bit more stability through the legs, less pressure on back leg/knee.
Elbow issue-i usually use both arms to pull myself onto the board-yes, with the other hand holding the parawing at the same time. The wing will come down to the water but that's no problem, you kind of do a water relaunch once you are up on the board.
