You're on Foil...Now What?! How to Fly Longer--and in CONTROL! | AWKWA Wingfoiling 101

Are your wingfoil flights still too short and/or lacking control? Feel like your foil is flying you more than the other way around?? While even getting on foil is a tremendous achievement, odds are you're looking for more! Chances are also good that you're on what I term "the Tabletop" and getting off of this unstable situation as a beginner is the key to longer flights. In this video, I cover a few of the more valuable tips that helped me finally break through and "off" the Tabletop to stay on foil longer, gain control and efficiently enough to start driving the foil upwind (no more schlogging back!).
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[@bille6596]

Thought this would be a good place to share a few details I've recognized recently. Your foot stance advise is spot on. I've been using this exactly as you described. But the actual location is a trial&error exersize that can be further complicated by wrong mast placement. If possible, find someone more experienced (preferably close in size) who can ride your setup and give you specific feedback on foil placement and foot position for your setup. I made a huge leap forward when a friend (who happens to be my size) took my board for a quick ride. He came back with the exact foot location for my setup, and this validated mast position as well. That gave me a lot of confidence to increase speed and get short controlled lift offs. Then I could put more focus on wing position/control. Fine tuning foot position and control: If you know you have enough speed for liftoff and are not flying, move your center of gravity slightly back, either you back foot only, or both feet the same amount, to increase foils attack angle. When on foil : With correct foot location the board should respond quickly and smoothly to slight weight shifts forward and back. If you shift weight forward and the board is not lowering move your foot/feet slightly forward. Shifting weight towards back should make board rise, if not move foot/feet slightly back. (I don't think wing position has any direct influence on board elevation, so trying to get the nose down by randomly moving the wing around hasn't worked well for me) The wing: your last tip about bringing the wing down from the overhead position is great because it reinforces my current wing placement. Right now I need the wing more in front of me to help accelerate and overhead to help manage gusts and spill excess wind when I'm on foil. Because the wing is so high, I'm mostly looking downward under my front arm, just in front of the board. My friend pointed out that I should be looking OVER my front arm/shoulder and into the distance, not at the board. Watch anyone on foil and this seems like correct form. So I'm making a conscious effort to bring the wing down and to my side, whenever I feel even a bit in control of the foil. Thanks again for the excellent direction.

[@awkwa]

These are all tremendous tips, thank you! Yes, there are a bunch more tweaks and thoughts I could've probably added in (e.g., trim), but I was trying to keep it short and wanted to focus on the 2-3 key things that helped me push through finally. So much to experiment with when you're learning and even now! Thanks for viewing and the helpful commentary :D

[@stefanocostantini7717]

I loved your expression "survival mode". That's properly the way I feel every time I succeed to take off. But it's also true that if you're able to relax and stay more up with your body, the experience of flight is completely different and more satisfying. Thanks for your precious tips.

[@awkwa]

For sure! It's a state I still find myself in learning to windsurf foil, as well as on the hairier days winging haha Appreciate your viewing and the feedback! Happy flying :D

[@chrischarlwood]

Super useful tips on spending less energy and going upwind. Very clear and great demo. I have subscribed!

[@NeuralEngin33r]

perfect timing great video very instructive

[@onion.express]

Right before Poland’s season starting. 😄 I’m just about switching from wingsup to wingfoil, so these are great tips for me to remember during sessions. Actually I noticed the same thing with stance on SUP - the more I lean backwards the smoother and easier my rides were. Great analytical approach, thanks! 😄

[@PaulJohnSimeone-pr7uj]

Great video. I tried the foot placement and posture change and immediately had longer more controlled flights. Thank you.

[@dazcar54]

Great instructional video ! First time I’ve seen any of your videos yet a very helpful subject so keep up the good work. Foot and body position in relation to wing is something I hadn’t heard before either. Hopefully I’ll get to try it out today if the wind picks up.

[@steverogers2658]

Great instruction and comments that I have not seen before. Amazing how the stance of hips in front of shoulders applies to so many balance sports when using a handle😊

[@stokedforsuccess100]

Excellent video and clear explanations! Just picked up 2 super tips from you, eager to try on my next wing foil session. Thanks!

[@awkwa]

Thanks for watching and the kind words :D Let us know how either or both worked out for you--and if I missed anything that you also think helped you!

[@bille6596]

So everything you said at the beginning - that was my day today! Finally Got some decent rides but struggled with Gouge like wind and chop- So hard to control all the variables (and a few big bails/near misses) Good advise though. Already had the stance. Trying to focus on straightened up the posture when I can. Still lots of mysteries to uncover about wing positioning. Will have to watch again. Thanks for making the video.

[@awkwa]

Thanks for viewing! Well, having just come from Hood River last month, learning in Gorge-like wind and chop is no joke! So if you're even getting on foil and surviving, you're doing great IMO. It will take a few sessions to get it ingrained, but you will steadily start to stand up straighter and against the pull of the wing and not breaking at the waist so much (usually a good recipe for a "yard sale" lol). Keep at it and you'll be flying around like a pro in no time!

[@NeuralEngin33r]

great stuff. thank you. the stance asvice really helps

[@awkwa]

Thanks for watching and the kind feedback! If you're interested, check out Tucker's video for MACkite on wingfoiling "stance". That's maybe the one video that helped me finally break through the spiral of up on foil > crash > schlog back upwind > up on foil, etc., etc. Happy riding!!

[@chandra5103]

@@awkwa Thanls for you videos, your mind set in kinda as mine which means I appreciate you sharing your experience with all of us! Thanks again.

[@jeromesurffoil7033]

I will put your advice to practice next go out. I am just at the level that you described. Coincidentally, I have one those balance things specifically for engaging my muscles, balance, and awareness for wing foiling. I use it at my standing desk at work. lol

[@awkwa]

I remember getting it, but it mostly just sits in the corner unused lol. Then it dawned on me how it's the perfect analogy to how you first feel when you get on foil. So, I'm glad I was able to get some use out of it haha Thanks for viewing!

[@candych0754]

Nice good video

[@mikeb1039]

Is the normal sailing (any sailing) tactic to try to fly as much upwind as you can? In my limited time land learning my wing (2 times last week, 12-14mph wind, 8.0 wing, I have trouble controlling it much off of straight into the wind. I "thought" that the desirable sailing was closer to 45 degree angle to the wind, but I can't get close to that without the wing dipping hard into the land/water to be. ??

[@henryhester1897]

I’m just slogging 209 yards at will. Starting to practice standing straight up 😉

[@marcomessina]

Outstanding. The explanation of the biomechanics is a masterpiece. When can I get a lesson on the tabletop😅

[@awkwa]

Grazie, my friend! Based on lots and lots of frustrating sessions before I figured my way out lol I'd say you're mostly "off" of the table it looks like, so no balance board necessary lol

[@mikeb1039]

It's really easy to use and really stable. Start next to a chair back or elsehwere with something to grab for balance. The most important part is " you really don't need to get thrown off at any point", it feels unstable and makes you work but if you relax and slowly tilt the tt until each edge touches the ground (one at a time) at 12 oclock, 3 oclock, 6 oclock and 9 oclock you'll see you can go the max edge of 'lean' and NOT have to lose your balanace. VERY secure. To start, tip the board on it's bottom edge (6 oclock) and put one foot up against it remaining on the ground and tipped at 6 oclock. Now just move your other foot to the same position, bottom of the feet on the table top but resting on your heels with your toes pointed up as much as they'll go. From there just put some weight forward to tilt 12 oclock DOWN until you are balanced. You'll swing around and until you Understand that you CAN go full tile in any direction and still stay on the ground and in control you will flail about for a bit. ;)

[@mikeb1039]

This helped me but just 'some'. When I got the much harder and more realistic feeling balance board I got much better very quickly.