So you want to progress your foiling skills?
Foiling is another incredible aspect of the sport. It has the ability to turn light wind, potentially non-kiteable, kite days into amazing freeride days which equals more time on the water, in and out of season.
Here are 5 tips from our pros on how to progress in the foiling discipline.
Tip 1. – DON’T TRY TO FOIL
It sounds crazy but don’t try to foil.
Just try to balance on top of the board and have it go in the correct direction when starting. When learning to foil you should keep your weight balanced onto your front foot – keeping the nose of your board down and not flying on the foil. Only once you are stable and are riding at a foiling speed should you carefully shift your weight towards your back foot and start flying on the wings.
Tip. 2 – IT FOLLOWS YOU… WEAR YOUR HELMET
Wear a helmet and a vest! Foils have a habit of tracking you down.
If you fall off – don’t look for the board too quickly – as it sometimes continues to stay on the foil and can travel a distance, just to hit you in the face as you find it. The AK Durable Supply Co Riot Helmet is recommended.
Tip. 3 – DON’T CHOOSE GEAR FOR YOUR FUTURE SELF
Choose your equipment for where you are at now, not where you want to be – skills-wise.
Using the correct gear for your level will help you learn faster and have fewer frustrations along the way.
Tip. 4 – CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOIL
Bigger foils are fine to kite on and much more stable. For example, the AK Trek 1000 and AK Trek 1300 are great foils to use for kiting and can cross over to other sports. Riding a bigger foil will also help you to ride in light wind.
Tip. 5 – LEARN HOW TO TACK BEFORE JIBING
If you want to change direction once you have started coming up onto foil consistently, try learning to tack before learning to jibe. Setting up for a tack you tend to reduce speed and your body remains more centered over your front foot as you start to bring your kite overhead. You will also be closer to your board when you fall off, so you can quickly jump back on without having to drag upwind.
Need more tips?
RECOMMENDED GEAR
KITES
One
The One is a lightweight single strut kite that has incredible relaunch capabilities. Made with lightweight components and durable D2 cloth, keeping the One surprisingly light in the air and forgiving at the bar. With a huge wind range the One is a fantastic kite for safe lightwind, and fast progression kiteboarding.
Ultra
When it comes to finding the ultimate combination in lightweight performance design for foil, freeride, and surf, look no further than the Ultra. The unique blend of stability, low-end power, and responsive drive allows the kite to fly further forward in the window. Pairing lightweight Single-Strut Geometry with a higher tension canopy makes this the most responsive version yet.
ULTRA vs. ONE
The One features a longer chord and larger leading edge, this creates more parked power, makes it easy to keep in the power zone, and gives more sweep to assist in the relaunch. The Ultra is a higher aspect with a finer foil, allowing it to fly further forward in the window.
BOARDS
Foil Skate
If you’re looking for a minimalist crossover solution, the Foil Skate offers a twintip style construction in a foil board shape. Sitting closer to the water compared to higher volume boards makes it easier to get going if you’re used to riding twintips. The stiff wood core provides an incredibly stable ride and is extremely durable. This includes low drag foil inserts, and optional fin connections, giving you the choice of traditional skate style directional riding when your foil isn’t connected.
Slayer Convertible – Read More About The Slayer
The Slayer introduces a completely unique concept between strapless freestyle, wave riding, and flatwater foiling freedom. Featuring a fully-gripped deck and raised rails for easy grabbing when riding strapless, and a low-profile standing area for easy edging. The Slayer is really versatile making it an ideal board for travelling with all-terrain versatility – wave, flat water & foil. Ride the Slayer with the AK Trek Foil.
Mini Monster Convertible
The Mini Monster Convert is our performance fish kiteboard for foiling, smaller waves, and lighter wind riding. With well distributed volume throughout the compact board and a performance rail, early planing and sub-planing performance are easily achieved, while maintaining incredible turning and carving abilities. The foil compatibility makes it ideal for light wind and travel.
Team Foil
If you’re looking for a compact carbon solution, the Team Foil Board is an extremely fun and skateboard for advanced free-riders, riding strapped or strapless. Constructed using ultra-light and durable Carbon Innegra, the refined bottom shape features beveled rails in the tail, with a release edge merging to the convex nose. The bottom is shaped for soft touchdowns at any angle. The concave deck features beveled rails and a convex nose.
RECOMMENDED FOILS & WINGS
BY
- AK Trek, low aspect ratio
- Low aspect ratio for ease of use.
- Perfect for entry-level foiling & progression.
- Smooth lift & stability at speed.
- AK Tracer, mid aspect ratio
- Medium aspect ratio for ease of use & maneuverability.
- Moustache tail wing for directional stability & ease of use.
- Versatile performance & high-speed control.
- AK Plasma, high aspect ratio
- High aspect foil for pump, glide & higher speed.
- Arc down tail wing for efficiency & pivoting turns.
- Short fuselage for maneuverability & pumping.
Next: 12 Tips For Progressing Kiteboarders
Whether you are already a progressing kiteboarder or you have just started taking lessons, you are bound to learn something new with these tips from our pros, about what they wish they paid better attention to when they first started their kiteboarding journey!
Tip 1. CHECK WIND QUALITY
When you start kiteboarding you are going to have to get familiar with reading the wind. Besides checking the direction and wind speed – don’t forget to check the wind quality.
What does wind quality mean?
Check the average wind speed vs gusts and lulls – the smoother the wind, the more repeatable your attempts are at whatever you are trying to learn and the faster you will learn.
If you are just starting out, rather go out in ideal conditions – the wind should not be too strong or too weak or gusty.
The video below explains wind conditions well.
Behind The Design – The Slayer
A recent addition to the Airush convertible range, the Slayer, is a hot topic. From strapless freestyle, foiling, wave riding, wakeskating, and even possibly the funnest kite-skimboard you have owned… It’s hard to imagine one board that can do it all.
It is the first board to leave the beach and the last to return on demo days.
So what makes the Slayer such a wanted item?
Visually, this board has a few similarities to the Foil Skate, but when it comes to the outline and functionality, these two boards are miles apart.