I can second this being an instrumental skill for beginners (as a beginner myself). I'm still learning how to get on foil, and I've had anxiety of being dragged downwind back to the shallow beach, or worse, depending on wind direction and the shore. Last Saturday I thought I should give upwind taxiing a shot and I was able to get several hundred meters upwind for the first time. This was even with the ~0.5 m waves, which have previously been a huge problem. I noticed many of the techniques you talked here worked, like the bent front hand. I thought "should I be doing this?", but it seemed to be working! Now I've got so much more confidence to practice my skills almost anywhere, since I know I'm in control of my direction and can come back to my starting spot. It feels like a great "safety net"!
Congratulations, one of the very few videos on UA-cam that talks about the very important problem of how to position the wing in relation to the apparent wind. Thank you!
I noticed, that when the wind is light, opening a wing and giving it more angle works better. And if a wind has power, you can sheet in and go upwind with better angle. Also in light wind you can not immediately go upwind, you need some speed to get momentum for your mast to counter force dragging.
Well explained. I'm learning to wing after windsurfing for many years and windfoiling for a few more. This was useful and unique instruction on the hardest part of learning to wingfoil. Thanks.
I tell people to let the wing luff and then bring the wing in a little bit until there’s some tension, feathering as you said. Sheeting in too much just drags one sideways or sometimes backwards. Also when I feather the wing while slogging in chop, if I lose balance I can sheet quickly to regain balance (and then I feather it out quickly in case I need to sheet in quickly again).
Great stuff! Showed me I was doing a lot wrong on my first session where I could hardly make any progress going upwind...Sorry if that's a super dumb question from a beginner but I was a bit confused that you had the boom in cross grip most of the time. Is that just due to the demonstration setting or do you do this from time to time? because I instinctly always tend to grip my Wing in overgrip or pronated on both handles. Thanks so much!
I can second this being an instrumental skill for beginners (as a beginner myself). I'm still learning how to get on foil, and I've had anxiety of being dragged downwind back to the shallow beach, or worse, depending on wind direction and the shore. Last Saturday I thought I should give upwind taxiing a shot and I was able to get several hundred meters upwind for the first time. This was even with the ~0.5 m waves, which have previously been a huge problem. I noticed many of the techniques you talked here worked, like the bent front hand. I thought "should I be doing this?", but it seemed to be working! Now I've got so much more confidence to practice my skills almost anywhere, since I know I'm in control of my direction and can come back to my starting spot. It feels like a great "safety net"!
nice video coach ! big shout out from The Solent , 🏴
Congratulations, one of the very few videos on UA-cam that talks about the very important problem of how to position the wing in relation to the apparent wind. Thank you!
I noticed, that when the wind is light, opening a wing and giving it more angle works better. And if a wind has power, you can sheet in and go upwind with better angle. Also in light wind you can not immediately go upwind, you need some speed to get momentum for your mast to counter force dragging.
Well explained. I'm learning to wing after windsurfing for many years and windfoiling for a few more. This was useful and unique instruction on the hardest part of learning to wingfoil. Thanks.
I find it helps both windsurfing and winging to have some torsion applied to the board - twisting it upwind with feet/ legs.
I tell people to let the wing luff and then bring the wing in a little bit until there’s some tension, feathering as you said. Sheeting in too much just drags one sideways or sometimes backwards. Also when I feather the wing while slogging in chop, if I lose balance I can sheet quickly to regain balance (and then I feather it out quickly in case I need to sheet in quickly again).
Good info Ben. Hope to try this sport sometime this fall.
Great stuff! Showed me I was doing a lot wrong on my first session where I could hardly make any progress going upwind...Sorry if that's a super dumb question from a beginner but I was a bit confused that you had the boom in cross grip most of the time. Is that just due to the demonstration setting or do you do this from time to time? because I instinctly always tend to grip my Wing in overgrip or pronated on both handles. Thanks so much!
directly into the wind is called "in irons" in sailing terms...