Downwind foiling: The First Skill You Need

[@paddlestandingup]

Be sure to check out the canted forward stroke. I think for many people this may be easier. It's mostly a forward stroke but has a draw element as well. This draw helps to counter the tendency for the board to yaw toward the non paddle side. Great video, I want to learn to downwind foil!

[@peter240365]

Nice vid - I would emphasize angle of blade at entry a little more. Twisting paddle blade with your top hand so that inside edge of blade (closest to board) is further forward than outside edge pulls the nose of board towards the paddle.

[@davewestfoils]

Totally. Great advice - Rail steering and all that - just too complicated to get across in a simple video for me :) Tried to keep this one simple

[@MartialArtUK]

I needed this video, thanks

[@StandUpMagazin]

Great video. Very helpful. 🤙🏽

[@blurr.drone.]

Great vid! Great footage 🤙🏼

[@davewestfoils]

Only the best from you good sir!

[@nicolaspetit9509]

Hi Dave Many thanks for this video 👌 I am 1.88m tall and I am a beginner in rowing. I am starting to row straight. What length of paddle do you recommend? Mine is 195 but I feel like it is a bit too long. What do you think? 🤙

[@MrDuncanBooth]

Thanks Dave this was exactly what I was looking for. Can you please comment on paddle length I feel mine is too long.

[@davewestfoils]

About your height is a good spot. Mine is about a half inch shorter than me.

[@MrDuncanBooth]

@@davewestfoils thanks Dave your vids are great keep up the good work.

[@eliancitomix]

Thanks for the video! Can I ask you which paddle did you use?

[@BassSwirls]

That'll be a canoeing C stroke . I've near 20 years canoeing so hopefully the stroke technique should be fairly easy.

[@benware7691]

Epic vid! With the J stroke and reverse j, which would you use for what?

[@davewestfoils]

You use both concurrently most of the time. Not sure exactly when. It becomes second nature.

[@jackbarnes694]

Hi Dave. Looking at getting into down wind. I foil but no sup. What type of board would you recommend? Long and narrow what your on now or start with something shorter and wider?

[@davewestfoils]

I'd go around the 21 wide to start with. Either way you won't be able to stand on it until you get used to it haha! A wider foil is an important piece of that puzzle to help you stand on it. I'm very much on the long and narrow bandwagon. But I could be wrong in 6 months who knows :) Sport changes so quickly

[@IzzumiPoshaf]

The Suit is very nice, what Brand is it?

[@cnrd83]

Hi Dave, do you see any difference in paddling straight depending on which length fuselage do you use? And also which is better/easier advance+ , advance or the regular? Obviously for turning an advance or advance+ will be nicer but just for paddle ups does it become any harder using an advance vs regular or is it the opposite or maybe you didn't even notice a difference? Thanks a lot! Appreciate and keep up the good work!!

[@davewestfoils]

Nope. Not at all. In regards to paddling straight the foil is irrelevant.

[@cnrd83]

@@davewestfoils Thanks Dave, so just to clarify.. with saying 'the foil' you mean the whole setup so also not depending on the fuselage length neither if it's the regular or advance one?

[@davewestfoils]

Meaning the mast, foil everything is irrelevant to paddling straight. You can padddle straight without a fin with this technique.@@cnrd83 If you can't paddle straight it's not the gear its the technique.

[@cnrd83]

Thought that if the mast is slightly further back using a regular fuselage vs advance the tracking might be better..

[@davewestfoils]

Me too. But it's irrelevant. @@cnrd83

[@apricotscrub]

Can you please try the hand pedals from kalama and let us know if it's easier than the suppaddle.

[@davewestfoils]

I've tried them but only after I'd learnt paddle stuff. I think the hand paddles are harder. Check out james caseys video on them he did recently. Great product and lots of people have success of them but I'm too far down the SUP paddle path to go to hand paddles. :)

[@catvaganay3237]

Hmm am just doing circle...

[@inzaghiposumaalkahfi9650]

It's like a Swimsuit?