Learning to kite foil - why you should, and my best tips for hydrofoiling

2 years, 35 + hours, and lots of high impact wipe outs...and I finally learned how to foil. I wouldn't wish that process on anyone else, so I figured I'd put together a video to share my humble learnings and hopefully help out anyone else looking to learn. Special thanks to Marc Lavoie for giving me lessons in the Grenadines, and really breaking down foiling in a way that no other instructor had before.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:20 - Reasons to foil
0:58 - My steps to learning foiling
1:13 - Pre-flight tips
2:36 - Foiling Tips
Music:
Hamacadame - Ours Surplus, Tour de Menage
Gear:
Camera - Panasonic GH5, Panasonic 100-300mm, GoPro 9, GoPro Max, DJI Mavic Air
Kites - Core XR4 15m, 12m, 9m, 7m, Sensor 3 bar
Kiteboard - Core Fusion 138, Nobile Infinity Foil Splitboard
Foil - Slingshot Hoverglide with Space Skate , Infinity 76, Apollo 60 wings
Foil - Slingshot Hover Glide with Space Skate and Ride Engine Manta 76 wing
Gear - Ion Booster Vest, NP Helmet, Patagonia 3/2 wetsuit, Solite Boots

[@activex7327]

Wow , great tips! Thanks!!!

[@seanbailey4625]

I’m just waking up to kite foiling and this video is the best into that I’ve seen yet,,, thanks

[@erbartlett]

Thanks, appreciate the positive feedback! Let me know if you've got other ideas for future videos I could try!

[@shaunbennett5510]

Yes bro!! Foiling is a game changer and gets rid of the light wind struggle🔥🤟🏼

[@erbartlett]

I probably got 35 session in on a twin tip... got 45 session in during April and May alone on a foil :) Honestly, I had no idea i'd get so hooked.

[@kcavra]

Thanks for sharing how long it took, great info!

[@KitesurfingAcademy]

Evan, thanks for sharing your story! Lots of useful tips here! Thanks!!!

[@erbartlett]

Appreciate it! Let me know if you’ve got ideas for other stuff I should cover in future videos!

[@user-vs3sj3le3s]

Thanks for this great video👍

[@erbartlett]

Appreciate it! Let me know what else might be interesting!

[@Bend-Oregon]

Wow... TONS of great info here! Thank you!

[@erbartlett]

Thanks! Hopefully it help people avoid some of the pain I incurred :)

[@OneWheelGuy1]

Nice video. My only disagreement would be on foot switches - they are not actually important. I am a solid foiler (I can ride for 30+ minutes without stopping) and I can't do foot switches. I'll learn them eventually, but they can be difficult and it is fine to postpone that skill. I always ride left-foot-forward, I just do carving turns from heel side to toe side. Easy! I can ride seated, but I can't switch feet, and that's fine.

[@erbartlett]

Yeah, foot switching can definitely be learned much later. I’m just starting to work on them more seriously now

[@ieism1]

Awesome video!

[@erbartlett]

Thanks! Let me know if you have any feedback on how I can make them better!

[@AKJammer1]

I've been foiling now for about 9 months. Long straight runs, no problem. Getting up in either direction, no problem. Any kind of turn or foot switch, crash and burn. I've looked at hundreds of videos and have had people watch me to see what I'm doing wrong, but all I get is them saying "you're falling"... Yeah, I know... You kind of glossed over jibes and tacks, but I think these are the hardest parts to learning to foil. I have an efoil session booked tomorrow, maybe that'll get me some muscle memory on the turns that I can add the kite too afterward.

[@erbartlett]

What foil wing are you on? The big Slingshot Infinity 76 was the one that really helped me get these down. The last section is on carving / tacks. I basically just ride the same direction the whole time, no foot switches. I can switch stances on a surfboard, but haven't quite figured it out on a foil. For me, the carving turns started to happen when I figured out to move the kite first, move the kite much slower and more gently than I expected, and stayed more vertical (leaned less) through the turn with more front foot pressure. Thats a lot of things to remember at once :)

[@AKJammer1]

@@erbartlett I'm on a Neil Pryde Surf Foil using the Medium wing. I have the Small wing as well, but am using the larger one due to the "easier to learn" theory of the larger wing. The Medium has a Projection Area of 1262, the Small is 1045. The Infinity 76 is larger at 1534, but when I tried to go to a really large wing, around 2000, I found it almost unridable.

[@erbartlett]

@@AKJammer1 how much do you weigh? The whole easier to ride big wings theory isn’t just the surface area. The space skate 65 is a pretty big wing but it’s got a lower aspect ratio and whatever impact that has, I found it much trickier to ride than the infinity 76. Wing aside, downwind tacks we’re tricky and elusive for me for quite a while. I didn’t get them down pat until I rented a place near the water for a vacation, and I was basically able to go every day before and after work. The kite movement was critical for me because I was on kites that are fairly unforgiving for foiling, the Core XR. I’d get pulled off my board every attempt when I was moving the kite too fast. I really had to learn to slow it way down, and be much more gentle with bringing the kite up to 12 on the transition. After your kite slows starts up to 12, then slowly follow it with the board until the board is straight down wind as the kite hits 12. During this I had to really focus on staying upright and keeping my weight forward, it felt exaggerated but eventually it worked. Keep in mind I was doing all this in 13-15mph wind or greater. It took me longer to the kite movements and carves down in the lightest of wind. I ended up switching to a single strut Foil specific kite and that made things a lot easier. Hope some of that helps you break through!!

[@AKJammer1]

@@erbartlett I'm 210. Wind around here is 11-15 in the summer so pretty similar. My main kites are a 9 Roam and a 12 Flite, both Allula's. I've even tried my 17 Flite on the lighter wind days. You've got some great tips, I'll try them out. Had a good 2 hrs on an efoil this morning. Not quite the same thing with left to right, heelside to toeside, but I was able to make it work on that. I think I felt where I need to put my body weight. I'll put it to the test sometime this week on the water under a kite. Thanks again.

[@erbartlett]

@@AKJammer1 with the allulas, it’s probably not the kite. I bet if you hop on a 1500 sq cm foil like the infinity, you’ll nail these in the next session or two. Let me know how the e-foiling went, I’ve heard it’s a great tool for learning to foil, but never tried it myself!

[@steviev2504]

Wow; a fantastic video! I'm right where you were... been kiting for years, tired of being skunked, ready to learn... I just literally can't find a place to teach me!

[@erbartlett]

Go for it! So here's how I would approach it: 1) download and watch the progression videos on foiling, those were some of the best that I found 2) buy a foil, I'm partial to the slingshot hover glide because you can find them used for cheaper, and if you're a bigger guy go for the Infinity 76 big surf wing 3) find a local wake boarding charter or jet ski rental and ask if they'll tow you behind on the foil (you only really need 4 or 5 mph , so power isn't an issue) 4) go learn how to get up on the board with the foil below you, learn to ride with the foil under the water, learn to feel what speed is needed so that the foil will come up out of the water, basically get comfortable on the foil without a kite 5) then set up your kite and see if the same boat or jetski will keep an eye on you while you figure out water starts and riding. Obviously film it all on a GoPro and post all the results on KZbin!

[@steviev2504]

@@erbartlett great tips; thanks so much! look'n into a kite'vacation down in the OBX; that'll be a good opprotunity!

[@OneWheelGuy1]

I found the kitesurfing college videos helpful. A big wing and a short mast are best for learning. And, I don't think you need lessons. I taught myself (Hood River, staying close to the event site) based on online videos and advice from other foilers in the parking lot - it worked. I did one efoil session and one towed-foiling session, and I'm sure those can help, but I'm not sure I did enough of them to really matter.

[@pierreisabelle8666]

Hi, I enjoyed your video and decided to take the plunge. I’ve chosen the Slingshot Hover Glide Fkite V4, but need your input on your Nobile Split board. Do you think the 2020 Infinity foil split is a good board to learn on? I know it will be great for traveling…and I already have the NHP split TT.

[@erbartlett]

Congrats!! I love the Hover glide system, have really enjoyed trying different wings and progressing with it. I was already quite comfortable riding the Nobile Infinity foil as a surf board before I started foiling. I find that the concave deck pad makes it easier to water start strapless. I’ve also found the board is big enough that when you touch the water on foil you can still recover and keep riding. The things I like least about it are the weight and durability. It’s heavy so for long walks down the beach, you feel it. The durability was mainly an issue with the deck pad, which kept coming unglued. Now that I’m comfortably riding, I’ll probably move to something smaller like the Slingshot dwarf craft 110cm. Here’s my review of the split boards kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIjKn3uZi811j5Y Thanks for the positive feedback, helps keep me motivated making more videos and progressing my kiting

[@JamesLamb]

Nice video - straightforward. I'm only about three years in to twin-tip; one kite (10m), and realizing at my usual location my problems are coping with irregular wind and waves - when I visited some spots with flatter water and steadier wind, I did a lot better. I received a gift certificate and bought a hybrid surfboard (strap and foil capable). But at this point thinking maybe my next purchase should be a 12-13m kite and a foil later on. My 10m is rated minimum 13 knots wind, and at my usual spot when the wind is less than that, it's really unreliable. But I visited a spot down the coast and there was a fairly reliable 8-10 knot breeze (hence my thinking maybe the larger kite first). Thoughts? I'm thinking if my existing kite can only hang in the air at 13 knots, a foil is not going to help for lighter breezes unless I get a lighter / larger kite.

[@erbartlett]

Thanks! Light wind riding really depends on your weight and skill level ( more skilled riders are more efficient). I’m 215lbs / 90kg and When I first started out I bought a 12m and a 17m because I was in a light wind spot. My suspicion is that riding a 10m in less than 15-18 knots would be very challenging unless you are very light. After a couple years of riding I eventually moved from a 17m to a 15m. The other thing you can consider for light wind riding is a bigger twin tip ( 150cm or bigger) or the hybrid surfboard. When the wind is light, I typically ride a bigger board before I switch to a larger kite. After those suggestions, a foil is a real game changer, it changes the physics drastically. It’s hard for me to twin tip under 15knots, but I can foil in 8 knots… it’s a different game. That being said learning to foil was about as challenging as learning to kite to begin with. Hope that helps!!

[@MrTheHfdprinsloo]

Awesome! thanks for sharing your foiling journey! I am on the same path to take my kiting to the next level. I recently got myself a takuma helium 1500 foil to fit to the Nobile Infinity Foil Splitboard. I fitted the foil to the board and I am ready to go. Have you had any problems with the durability of the foil M6 screw threads of this board, since it only goes into the board 1cm? Given all the forces associated with foiling this connection just seems a bit light and I am worried that that my new foil will get ripped off the board. Any thoughts? Thanks

[@erbartlett]

I was worried too about the screws, but I've probably done 60+ sessions on it, and have not had any problems. I've hit the ground, and I've hit rocks, and I've not noticed any issues on the screws. Let me know how your progression goes!!

[@MrTheHfdprinsloo]

@@erbartlett thanks for reply, that is comforting to know. Can't wait to try it!

[@leons.kennedy4517]

Thanks for the awesome video mate!My spot is really light wind and I decide to get a foil after your video, I got a 12m rebel kite and I'm just 63kg is that enough to ride in about maybe 7 ~ 13 knot? or I just need to buy a bigger kite 15m? 17m? any advice ....

[@erbartlett]

What other kites do you have? Foils are so much more efficient that a skilled rider might never need anything larger than a 9m kite. At your weight, 12m should be plenty large. I would caution you against trying to ride in light winds when you are learning because it makes everything a lot harder. I think the rebel is a 5 strut kite, which makes the kite heavier, and it will have a harder time flying in anything below 12 knots. I’d recommend practicing your first water starts with the 12m in 12-15knots so you have enough power to get up and going and you’re not worried about your kite stalling.

[@leons.kennedy4517]

@@erbartlettOh got it,that was very useful. I'm just learn kiteboarding last month, so right now just got 1 kite. But I will buy one more kite for foiling in light wind day. I think I will buy a airush ultra v3 17m or maybe a foil kite.

[@erbartlett]

@@leons.kennedy4517 I think you will be fine with a 12m to learn. I would be cautious about buying something too big like a 15m or a 17m. Foils don't provide a lot of friction, so you can get overpowered very easily, and then its really not fun to ride. Riding on my 15m is actually quite challenging because it has too much power for my foil.

[@leons.kennedy4517]

​@@erbartlett Ok thank for your kind advice!

[@MartinDevoto66]

Hi Evan, I’m in the very beginner state: can go and come back, but can’t turn. I’m sharing a board with a friend but want my own. What’s your suggestion concerning wings?

[@erbartlett]

So as with all kite related recommendations it really comes down to each persons situation and those can be quite different. My experience was through my first couple lessons and rentals I rode foils that gave me a really hard time, and then I started riding larger wings and it was a lot easier. I’m 210lbs and riding strapless, which is important because I can move my foot forward to compensate for a wing with more lift. I’m a fan of larger surface area higher aspect ratio foils, and if you’re over 200lbs I’d highly recommend the Infinity 76 and the hover glide system. It’s been a flexible platform to learn on, and it has a good used market which makes getting new wings pretty easy

[@mitjastiglic2911]

Do you suggest to start with wake foil behind the jet ski? I have space skate/ alien air combination did you use short mast for learning?

[@erbartlett]

It’s obviously possible to learn without a jet ski , but I think it can help speed up the process if you have access to one. When I first started foiling everything felt foreign and new… like it felt like I’d gotten worse at flying a kite. Using a jet ski just removes the kite and lets you get a feel for the foil by itself. With the space skate , remember, it’s a big wing and won’t need much speed or acceleration from the jet ski. The lower mast is just less intimidating when you start, at first it felt like I was rising up 50ft out of the water :)

[@mitjastiglic2911]

@@erbartlett Thanks, which wing you started with? When you ride 76? Isn't it to big for kiteing?

[@erbartlett]

@@mitjastiglic2911 I weight 95kg and I started with the Space Skate, then I switched to the Infinity 76 and I found it to be more predictable and stable. The Infinity 76 needs less power to get going, but since its such a big wing you might need to make sure you can adjust your foot straps or have a track on the bottom of your board to be able to tune it. I ride strapless, so it was just easy for me to move my front foot forward to handle the extra lift from the wing. After about 6 months, I then switched to the Apollo 60 which is a lot faster and more for fun carving, but it is surprisingly stable.

[@mitjastiglic2911]

@@erbartlett Thanks

[@mitjastiglic2911]

@@erbartlett Just asking, do you use normal fuselage and rear wing or bigger ones?

[@surfa05]

Hi ! Do you think that I can use a foil of 1750cm of area...?? I weight 240 pounds. 20 years of kiteboarding..... Cheers.

[@erbartlett]

what front wing are you considering? im 220lbs, so going big definitely makes sense, and there's really two issues that can come up when going really big 1) the wing might be great for learning and for slow speeds, but as you improve you might outgrow the wing as it might have too much lift for higher speeds 2) if your board doesn't have tracks, a really big wing might be hard to setup right because you wont be able to put it far back enough to offset the lift

[@surfa05]

@@erbartlett Thanks!! This help me thinking....!! Cheers.

[@scottklandl488]

Get a skimboard. Foil is a myth

[@erbartlett]

never tried it!

[@scottklandl488]

I’m kinda Being a trill but with good technique a skim board is as good as a foil. There is a baseline for all and that is achieving a lift speed and the foils initial increased drag basically equalizes them. After that… for maybe 1/2-1 mph the foil can perform better by achieving better upwind, which helps when the wind falters. But the disadvantages are big. With foils. The draft is massive, weeds can be an issue. Limiting/ static foot placement, less interesting trick variations

[@erbartlett]

@@scottklandl488 I think it’s fair to say foils aren’t as much for tricks as skim boards, unless you’re super advanced, the main benefit of foiling for me is really just the light wind ability. Maybe eventually I’ll get comfortable enough to try tricks

[@scottklandl488]

@@erbartlett my point is the low end is the same. There has been one person in 10 years whose been able to ride (on a foil) that that haven’t been able to ride. And it was my first time at that spot on the ocean so I think he better could judge the swell current. Foils are interesting, but they are extremely limited vehicles

[@erbartlett]

@@scottklandl488 i had no idea, it doesn't look like it would be since a skimboard has more surface area touching the water. do you have a video of someone using one in light wind??