Foil Board Setup- choosing the right board, foil placement, foot placement and using foot straps

[@albertorodriguez460]

Awesome video for the ones, like me, are struggling with adjusting our foils! Many thanks!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Good to hear it’s helpful 🤙🏼

[@meshmellow]

The possibility to offset the back straps is so important that makes me wonder why you are one of the few companies that actually implemented it on their boards. Keep it going 🤙

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you. Less inserts mean lighter weight but our preference is to have enough inserts to allow well balanced foot placements. 🤙🏼

[@RamonSBruhn]

Hi Robert. Thx for your videos!! I am 87kg progressed from a 6.0 110l board to a 5.4 95l board 6.5 kg, Armstrong 1550 and 1850 foils. I go once to twice a week. Winds 15 to 30 knots. I am regular. I feel confident in gybes, in foiling switch, parking the wing and connecting some bumps and I am now into tacking from switch, i have managed 3 on foil so its getting better. Switching feet on foil seems to be for me yet quiet impossible. My question is about board size. Option a) I keep my 5.4 95l for light wind days and get a 5.0 75l for stronger wind days. Option b) I get a 5.2 85l board and gues that would sell the 5.4 and keep the 5.2 85l as my unique board. I noticed a big difference when flying a 5.4 over a 6 board, it gets much easier and fun turning a 5.4 then a 6 board. Will I notice that big difference also when stepping down from a 5.4 to 5.2 or 5.0?? Is it worth sacrifying these liters? I am 47 years old so I dont want to pump like hell each time I fall. Maybe its better to get small steps down i.e. from 5.4 to 5.2 and get to a 5.0 only once I nearly dont falla any more?? Kindest regards from Canary Islands. Take care and have fun.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Using a smaller board has clear advantages and once you get used to riding a smaller board you can probably sell the bigger one but it’s good to do it in small increments. I’m about your weight and use a 4’6 x 78L board in all conditions now. Using a smaller board makes switching feet even harder though, so you might want to learn that on your bigger board first.

[@RamonSBruhn]

@@blueplanetsurf many thanks, do you usually switch feet with a little jump or shuffle moves? Thx a lotI can only change feet touching water but on foil seems impossible.

[@blueplanetsurf]

I don’t switch my feet

[@thelicencecoliquorwisedivi8364]

Hi Robert. I see you guys only use one front strap only as you are obviously very comfortable riding toeside. I've mastered the basics and use a 110 litre (5'10") board mostly on a 5.0 wing. I want to start using footstraps. I come from a windsurfing background(25yrs), so am used to footstraps. Would it be better to have 2 front straps to start off - one for goofy and natural? Or should I go like you guys with one and then ride toeside instead of switching? Also, could you plse comment on what to take on with on a crossing - safety wise? We were inspired by you recent downwind race and our local guys are thinking of doing a short crossing of our bay (+- 16km) and move on to longer crossings. Would a pouch (with a smoke flare) and impact vest be ok? We plan to have a rubber duck as back up. Thanks for all your great videos. Jurie

[@blueplanetsurf]

If you switch your stance you need two front straps and I would encourage you to get used to switching while you still use a bigger board. For open ocean I would add a cell phone if you have reception the whole way, or an epirb is even better and always use the buddy system.

[@ClivehWright]

Excellent video, never knew about finding the centre of balance etc. Thanks for the help.

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏😎👍🤙🏼

[@Bigd0gg]

Excellent video Robert, really appreciate the explanations!

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you, glad you found it helpful! 👍👍

[@gusthunter4181]

If you fall backwards on a wave and have your straps too tight your foot is gonna be stuck... Keep them loos enough so you can slip out of them in a situation like that. I had to learn the hard way. Keep it up :-)

[@blueplanetsurf]

Yes, the strap should be pretty loose and you should not wedge your feet into the straps too tightly so you can quickly eject if you fall, very important!

[@tomasgulas]

Thanks so much for the tip on foil placement and finding center of gravity. I'm using 90L Mike's Lab kite race board and have the foil too far back and based on your advice I'll reposition the foil. I have hard time getting up on the foil, really hard time.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you, glad to hear it was helpful. Yes, if the foil is too far back on the board it’s hard to get on foil as you have to position your weight too far back on the board, sinking the tail and creating extra drag during takeoff. 🤙🏼

[@targadave]

Robert, Nice tips and great to see how your wing specific boards have evolved from the earlier Carver boards. My first wing board was a Carver 5’8” (114l) that a friend now uses, ....and it’s still working great. This season I’m downsizing from 5’1”/90l Innegra board to a 4’9”/75l Innegra board (Innegra is my new favorite wing board material! You should consider it. It’s amazing stuff compared to carbon). I’m 78kg so this board volume is right at my weight in kg. I’m curious if you are still using the same knee start technique on your 78l wing board that you used on your earlier/larger wing boards? That would be about -12 liters for you so I assume the board would slightly more “sinky” as you’re knee starting. Cheers😀

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I still knee start, the technique I use on this board is shown in the second half of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipaseIl3bc5-bqs For me the biggest challenge on the 4’6 has been the front to back balance, the lower volume seems less of an issue. Innegra is great, will have to test it on foil boards. 🤙🏼

[@smytharmstrong8543]

I tried the foil placement trick -- I put my hand under the foil at its thickest part (about 1/3 from the front of the foil) and lifted -- the board was parallel to the ground so I thought I had the mast locked down in the right spot. I decided to see what difference it made to move the mast forward a couple of inches. Lifted again and again the board was parallel to the ground. I thought the nose of the board would tilt up as I moved the mast forward but it didn't. Not sure this method is going to help me when it comes to foil placement -- am I doing something wrong?

[@blueplanetsurf]

Good point. This is a starting point, not exact science. Moving the foil forward should make the nose slightly lighter and tail end slightly heavier so you should be able to notice a small difference in the angle of the board. The main thing is to find the foot placement in relation to foil placement where foil pressure is balanced between the legs.

[@philmiller8586]

Thanks for the video Rob. There was someone out on one of your boards at Lake Pupuke in Auckland today :-) Which beach is that in the last few seconds of the video? Is that where you do most of the on the water shooting? I feel a trip to Hawaii coming once the pandemic is in remission...

[@blueplanetsurf]

The last few seconds is Waimanalo on Oahu’s east side viewed from to top of the Koolau ridge. It has onshore winds, similar to Kailua and is a beautiful place to wing foil though I prefer to go out at spots with more waves and side shore winds. The beauty of being on an island is that you can go to wherever the conditions line up best 🤙🏼

[@srilankaisland4489]

I like to stand up paddle board How much recondition bord place tell me 🙏🙏🙏

[@blueplanetsurf]

Do you mean how to install a foil mount into a SUP? Here is a video on how to install a Foil Strongbox: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6GsmqOkg8qbn8U

[@srilankaisland4489]

Okkkkk

[@awareness556]

Why is the Easy Foiler not shown on the website?

[@blueplanetsurf]

Hi Felix, sorry we are currently sold out but we have more of the 6’11 and 7’6 Easy Foiler boards coming in a few weeks. They don’t show while we are sold out.

[@johnkienzle2775]

I'm just starting. I'm sporty 220...I have a naish s26 6'6" 140l with a 6m wing and a slingshot 84 front foil about 2000cm. I foil behind the boat without issue. I had the foil all the way back because it works behind the boat. I can't transfer to my feet. Feels very tippy. I'm sure my size doesn't help. I'll try your balance point and see if this helps. But any other help would be great! Thanks

[@blueplanetsurf]

How do you start when towing behind the boat? Try starting on your knees and standing up at low speed. If you can do that you should be able to do it with wing power as well. If not, get a more stable board. Also make sure your weight is centered exactly over the foil.

[@johnkienzle2775]

I use a smaller board and start like a wake surf board, sideways. I'll try it with the wing board on my knees. Thanks. I just don't see many other boards that are bigger than 140l.

[@Ahjsport]

Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰 🤙 Can you maybe tell about front foil size contra wing size ? Which size of front foil do you use to 4,5,6 wings ? Can one front foil do it all ? For using on flat water 🤙🤙

[@blueplanetsurf]

Hi Denmark, greetings from Hawaii 🏝🤙🏼. I have been using the same foil shown in the video in all conditions and change the wing size depending on wind speed. For flat water and lighter wind I would opt for a bigger foil and use the smallest wing possible for easier handling. 🤙🏼

[@Back-N-Black]

I want to get into foiling here in Florida. I am a SUP'er, conventional surfer and wave sailor. I would eventually like to prone, SUP and wing foil but am wondering, which variant of the sport would be easiest for me to start. I am 6'1" ~190 lbs. I know these two will probably take two different boards SUP foil or prone foil to learn?

[@blueplanetsurf]

Learning behind a boat or using an efoil is easiest, then wing foiling. Catching waves is hardest.

[@Y_M1967]

@@blueplanetsurf why is catching waves the hardest? What if you’re already a surfer and know how to catch waves?

[@joebenjamin6139]

Thanks again for sharing info and the different camera angle views keep it interesting.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for the comment, always trying to make the videos a little better 🤙🏼

[@scotttemplin1877]

Excellent video. Very clear and concise. Nicely done.

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for the compliment 🤙🏼

[@dominiccabrera300]

What is minimum board liter that I can float for my body weight 70-75 kg,? Thanks

[@blueplanetsurf]

The beauty of the metric system is that one liter floats 1 kg of weight, so 75L floats 75kg

[@robadair]

Great details and explanation. Thanks

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏👍😎🤙🏼

[@robinmordasiewicz]

awesome video, good job

[@blueplanetsurf]

Thank you! 🤙🏼

[@timmc2742]

Hey Blue Planet surf.. I have been trying this with my 4’4 prone board and Axis 890/ultrashort black series and when I have my board at the back of the tracks it’s still tail heavy. And then when I put it all the way forward it’s still favours tail heavy. Can’t get it to balance flat! Any ideas as to why? Thanks for all your videos 🙏

[@blueplanetsurf]

Good question, I will go over this in tomorrow's live show: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3y7oY2Igsx1rcU

[@ypure3859]

I don't own any of this..but learning alot

[@blueplanetsurf]

It’s always good to learn and understand before doing. Please also watch our long foil safety video before getting started.

[@Ahjsport]

Awesome

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏👍🤙🏼

[@srilankaisland4489]

Superrrrrr 🔥🔥👍👍💖💖💖

[@blueplanetsurf]

🙏💪🔥😎🤙🏼

[@beatdowngaming8883]

Blueplanetsurf is the best

[@blueplanetsurf]

😊 love it, thank you! 💪🔥😎🤙🏼