Riding a foil takes time, and you must have the right equipment to avoid injury. Learn to ride in winds that are less than 15 knots, too much power, and the foil rises out of the water and chucks you off.
Getting Started
Kite foiling is a great alternative to kite surfing; it expels less energy, it’s faster, and you feel incredible sensations you can’t explain. However, learning to foil can be challenging at first as it requires you to change the way in which you balance and drive your board.
When starting, it’s recommended to find a calm spot with deep water and a minimum of 15 knots of wind (the lower the speed, the better). You should also wear an impact vest and helmet. It’s important always to be conscious of other people surfing, swimming or kiting around you, as foiling can be quite dangerous in the beginning.
Stage 1: Getting Across the Wind
It was getting across the wind when kite foiling requires a new approach to riding that is very different to a twin tip. For starters, putting all your weight over the front foot of the board is essential to maintain contact with the water and control the speed of the foil. Spending time on a surfboard practising this stance will not only prepare you for the foil but also make mistakes far less damaging as there are no back foot pressure consequences.
The profile, surface area and height of the front wing are hugely influential when it comes to how fast the foil can go. As a general rule, beginners should start with a low-aspect front wing, which is slower and easier to learn. These also require less power from the kite to get up to foiling speed and are more stable, meaning that you won’t generate as much top speed.
Stage 2: Riding Downwind
When riding downwind, it is important to keep the kite high. If you ride it too low, the foil will generate too much speed & become difficult to control. You also want to be able to ride with your feet up on the board so you have more stability & control.
The first few rides downwind with a foil will probably feel like you are being pulled at a rodeo by an angry bull! You will have to concentrate extremely hard on every movement of your feet & body to achieve lift. Once you get the hang of riding upwind & downwind, it will become a lot easier.
A key point to remember is that when riding downwind with a foil, your angle of attack will be different to the rest of the watercraft around you – so be sure to check the wind direction carefully before going out on a busy beach. Collisions with other kiters, windsurfers & boats can be extremely dangerous if you don’t keep a safe distance from these hard objects.
When learning kite foiling, you will need a light-wind kite as you will be spending a lot of time riding in light winds. Foil kites have fewer struts than regular kites (around 2 to 4 compared with 6) and have a different structure; this makes them lighter & more stable in light winds. They also usually deflate a little slower than traditional kites when in the water, making them easier to water relaunch.
Stage 3: Riding Upwind
In the early learning stages, it can be not easy to stay upwind. It is due to the fact that you are essentially doing a water start with a kite on your back! The key to riding upwind is to ride crosswind and edge slightly into the wind, as this creates momentum. You can also control the height of your foil by varying how much you sheet in and out. The front foot pressure on the board is also very important to increase the speed of the foil and to reduce the tendency to breach (lift and fall back down).
