Great video Niko, as usual! After foiling for 4 years, I couldn't agree more that finding the good trim (and writing it down!) gets you MILES of progress. What worked for me personally: 1) Set the straps so that the front wing is between front and back straps 2) Set the stabilisers to neutral (0°), as the slightest tilt gives a ton of power 3) Adjust the mastbase cm by cm until you find the perfect balance And when you find perfect balance is when the magic starts. It has literally doubled my quality sessions/year, adding a whole new dimension for someone who has been sailing for 30 years already
After 3 years of wind foiling, I fully agree with having a foil-specific sail and board. Please take a good nose protector or reinforce it you will have some landings :). Also, a game-changer for me is learning how to touchdown without falling. Initially, you are scared so you will likely fall into the water. Many of these can be converted in fewer stops and more time. Another suggestion ( maybe given for granted ) is to choose flat water surfaces and constant wind for starting. Finally, I admit, it's not easy but the reward makes it works, and also for older windsurfers like me, it's the way to go as it is less demanding physically but very zen , I can fly for hours. After wingfoiling you will probably not go back and stay more on the water! so thanks NIco for this tutorial! this summer try foiling!
Hey Nico, best detailed tipps I've seen so far. I will try some of them as soon as possible. Especially the sail trim is very exciting because I'm just using windsurfing sails, no special foil sails. Jochen
Hi Nico, Great to see you do a video on foiling as it is something I think we are missing and why I think wingding is taking off so quickly as there is so many videos about it. Please keep giving tips on set up please, i have been windfoiling for 2 years and always keen to find more information on racefoil set up's. Thanks Matt
Thanks Nico for this top video. This is a complete summary of what every windsurfer needs before beginning to foil. I began to foil 2 years ago. If I had watched this video before my first tried, I had spent less time to experiment and try the good setup. Hope to see you on the water🤙
It is amazing to me how many variables and adjustment points there are in wind foiling. In a way, that's good because if the foil is not working well there are lots of things you can do to fix it, but it does make things a bit overwhelming. You did a good job of explaining it all in this video. In my experience, the most important thing is getting your body weight centered properly over the foil. Since my board has a Tuttle box, I can't move the foil, but I do have multiple footstrap inserts. I've positioned my straps so that my body weight is just in the right spot so that the board doesn't constantly nosedive or climb upward. I have an older foil that doesn't allow for stabilizer angle adjustment or rake angle adjustment, but some of my foiling friends tweak those things. It seems to me that those things are more useful for making fine adjustments rather than overcoming a strong tendency to nosedive or breach.
Hi Nico, Thanks a lot for this video. I had my fourth foil cession this week. Great expérience. Your vidéos are always very helpfull and save me a lot of time in learning. You’re a top Guy. Please, carry on making videos. Take care.👍👍👍👍
Thank you for this interesting and informative video. I don't foil so all that information about rake and making sure that the nose of the board doesn't point down was all new to me.
Trying to windfoiling just now. I have a 90 liters Airbolt with MFC Helios 1440. I'm 65 kilos. I can uphaul easily on the board and on my first try i made just a few flights, but i'm very happy. I can't wait to go back on and try try try...i would like to be able to control my foil set up from 10 to 18 knots as soon as possible. Difficult to find the right position of straps, foil and mast base. Your video will help me to achieve my goals. Thank you Nico
Fantastic video, so good to get all tips together with your great explanations. I use a NP FR 90 with a Fanatic Blast 145 and been foiling for 1 season and can now handle the foil quite well. It's a wonderful feeling like you say 😊. Thank you for all your videos, they are great 😊
I just started flying, the hook has been set! Now I can focus on truly getting the board trimmed correctly. This video is just what I was looking for! Thanks!
Last Sunday was my first day on my Windfoil. "Dolphinshow" as it's best in Meldorf.😂 But it was fantastic the short moments when I was flying absolutly noiseless over the water. Great feeling and I want defently more. Thanks for your Video. This fits perfect at the moment. ❤ Defi Wind is a big dream for me, but I got a daughter 2 Monts ago and for this reason I would have no time to join this year. I wish good luck to the others to win this fantastic price. Hope to see you on the water in northern Germany soon and wish you all the best. MfG Renè
Nice video, as usual! Been windsurfing for 20 years and was determined to never go the windfoil route, due to risk of costly catapults. BUT, then I got into wingfoiling and got in love with it. Since I now have some foil skills, I've decided to learn windfoil primarily freerace with a 850cm2 wing, to get that speed feeling on foil that I lack on a wing. Looking forward to try it soon, with the trimming tips from you!
You're the first one I have heard of taking this route. I always dreamed that one day wingers will turn into windfoilers, haha. Let's see how your experience goes.
@@Nico_GER7 I just discovered your channel, and I'm pleased to say that I'm inspired to fulfil your dream, mentioned above, "that one day wingers will turn into windfoilers". I have a background in both surfing and sailing, so it was natural to want to combine the two. Two years ago I took up wingfoiling, but the wing seems so inefficient compared to a well trimmed sail, so now that I have some skills on the foil, I've decided to branch out and start windsurfing, and ultimately windfoiling. I have a question: do you think I can start learning windsurfing on windfoiling specific gear? The boards are extra wide, like a beginner windsurf board, and as you explained in this video, the sail is higher aspect to reduce backhand pressure. Seems like a great combination for learning to windsurfing with a fin, and then quickly advancing to windfoiling. What do you think? And what board would you suggest? I'm 77 kg, and a very experienced surfer, and intermediate level wingfoiler. I hope to hear your thoughts on the best pathway to fulfil your dream. Haha!
I tried to get an cheap Access to foiling and bought the first generation of the NP Foils. What I had to learn was that 4 years in the world of foiling are ages when having a look at the development. I had big problems getting in the foil, then I tried a new foil from last year and it was so much easier. The foils have developed so much in the last three or four years so I recommend every beginner to invest some more money into a newer foil instead of getting frustrated like I did!
So true, the development is crazy fast in these early stages. One big difference is stiffer carbon being used, which makes for a more direct feel and more control.
thanks Nico. I am at the point now where I am comfortable upwind and VMG downwind with back foot out of the strap, but I am still not comfortable on a fast reach with both feet in the strap and tend to remove the back foot and slow down. So if you can make a video about going fast on a reach while still feeling in control, that would come in handy
It takes balls… I would recommend to start on a big board in low wind (try not to be full power). Get your hips low and really feel the board and foil, you have to act like a suspension, a spring, and make the board stable. It’s a lot different from fin windsurfing because you don’ have to act a suspension against waves, but still the objective is keeping the pressure steady on the fin (your front wing, in this case). DO NOT move forward or backwards on the board: get lower, change direction slightly, for example) and DO NOT move the sail to the front or back. Look where you want to go of course, very far away from you, and spot the gusts. For the first times maybe try going fast on a reach and THEN take off, as opposed to build up speed while flying. Hope I helped :)
Thank you for doing a winD-foiling video! I'm a recreational windsurfer turned wingfoiler who's been (trying to) windfoiling this off-season and is now newly addicted after finally getting up on foil more. Keep the windsurf foiling vids coming!!
Nice video Nico. I’ve been windsurf foiling for a few years but with freeride/wave foil gear. My board only has inboard settings & I use a narrow stance. Not fast but loose & I fly easily with 4.7 sail. Fits in the back of my Prius 🥹
I love foiling on my JP 100cm course racing board and the IQ foil. In 12 knots it’s the most amazing experience ever. It’s pretty much like flying across the water at twice the speed of the wind ❤
Windfoiled for a year, on Fanatic (stingray & their windfoil) with some horrrific crashes, the last one smashing through my carbon boom with the side of my head (I wear Gath helmets!), I put the gear up for sale that very evening and sold it the next day. I got on the water more, yes, but also lost days on the water in good winds because I was recovering from a foiling crash - the wing makes a little more sense to me, but I have had enough of the foil experience - I invested in a floaty wave board and spend more light wind days riding waves (lucky enough to live in a wavey part of the world).
Damn, what an unlucky experience! Would love to know what exactly went wrong, because generally speaking I don't think foiling is more technically difficult than fin windsurfing. But of course... nothing beats wave sailing 😄
@@Nico_GER7 Haha I'm the lucky buyer of Bart's redundant Stingray and Flow foil setup here in Cornwall last year and I'm absolutely loving learning to windsurf foil on it!
Nico, what do you think about foiling on a more traditional and narrower freeride board (of course foilready). Is it possible to have one versatile board for foil and fin gliding ? I personaly like narrower freeride/freerace board (65-70cm) and feel more confortable staying in straps more inside the board.
Alter, du liest wirklich jeden Kommentar. Wahrscheinlich bist du darum der beste Windsurfkanal auf YT. Ich war zu erst nicht so der Fan deiner Entscheidung komplett zu JP/Neilpryde (zurück-) zu gehen(warum auch immer, ich fand das Konzept von recycletem Plastik um Boardaccessoires zu bauen großartig(Öko und so...). Aber du siehst weniger gestresst und happier aus. Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu deinen oft schwierigen Entscheidungen.
Moin Christoph, danke für deine Support. Ich finde das Konzept auch gut und man sollte es auf jeden Fall unterstützen. JP und NeilPryde machen da mittlerweile aber auch ihre Hausaufgaben. Gerade was Verpackung von neuen Segeln und Brettern angeht. Klar, mehr geht immer. Genau, weniger Stress und damit mehr Zeit die Kommentare zu lesen 😂
Great job Nico, I took a foil to test in 2019 and since I tried it I haven't looked back... after the first year I only tried it a few times.. in the following years I'm favoring the foil over fin. Since last year I have taken a board dedicated to hydrofoil but I use the same sails that I use with the fin because I don't know how to jibe yet (both fly jibe and water fly). Despite this (in my sessions I always tack) I manage to have a good average speed (about 26km/h) and with peaks of 42km/h (I use a 650cm2 front wing and a 5.8m2 Atlas sail. When will I learn to jibe in flight I will be tempted to try and buy a cambered sail ..which I believe will make the rig even more stable in gusts of wind. My normal session is about two or three hours with 50-65 km. Do you suggest to learn fly-jibe with normal sail or try using a cambered sail to learn flying gybes ? Thanks again for all your work and the enthusiasm you put and instill in all of us! Good wibe!
Love the channel! Question for you - I am finding a lot of conflicting advice regarding harness line length, with a lot of advice online recommending significantly SHORTER lines than normal for foiling. Any observations?! I have just invested in a pair of Dakine adjustables for some experimentation....
Hi Nico, great video. I have the 2020 JP SUPER RIDE 132. The deep Tuttle box is foil-ready, but I see you always only on the wide foil-boards. Could you please make a foiling experience about these Foil-ready windsurf boards? I'm very curious to your opinion about these boards in combination with foiling.
You can see one shot of me in the video with a Magic Ride. It sure does work to give it a go and see if you like it. If you enjoy the experience you will get a lot more fun out of a dedicated foil board. But don't hesitate to use your Super Ride and give it a go with my tips from the video.
Finally gettin' better in my jp freestyle wave 2021 LXT 103lts. Not that easy as it is a small board but it has the box ready to foil. It seems its the only freewave board ready to foil. Now I'm enjoyin' it a lot. Its a fun stuff for low wind days. Keep it on Nico. Cheers from Chile 🇨🇱
Hi Nico. Thank you so much for this kind of tuto really useful. My experience of foiling is as you said a lot of fun when you can be stable with harness for a long distance. It seams totally impossible at the beginning but become true with the time. My question : when I stay on the same position for a long time (more then 5´) I end up having a back pain. It is jut like if the pressure on my foots was not align with the pressure on my hand. The misalignment is handle by my back. Any experience and advice for that ?
@@Nico_GER7 not clear ! I get back pain staying in the same position for a long time pushing more on the rear side of the board with my feet and pulling more on the front side with my hands… but is that answering your question ?
Thanks for your video. I'm an experienced wavesailor. I've learned windfoiling to get more days on the water, with a big foil (1600 cm2) and the same wave sails. I had to give up using the straps as the best way to control the height was moving my body forward or rearward. In spite of this it's very difficult to keep an stable flight with a gusty wind. The wind range is very short, every gust makes me taking off the water. I heard the big foils were easier to learn but I think an smaller foil and bigger sail would have a wider wind range and let me waterstart instead of uphauling so much. Am I right?
hello Nico, do you think that the new foil boards, in particular the high-end boards with tails with recesses, which reduce contact on the water, make it easier to take off in flight, and also make it easier to jibe when passage of the sail?
Excellent video with many useful tips and tricks. One comment regarding the longer harness lines. Are they not also a function of the higher boom setting I have been told to use when windfoiling ?
I would not really a higher boom. The boom can be another tuning tool to set the trim of the board and get the nose higher. However, while freeriding chest height is a good reference. If it's too high, it's hard to keep control. Like I explained, you will have more buffer zone with longer harness lines and it allows you to get yourself in a more secure posture (with bend knees).
Good Video, but keep in mind differences between freeride/race high aspect ratio foils und more playable low aspect ratios which is used f.e. by the slingshot community 😊
For fun, performance and learning I would always recommend a pure foil board. But it's a budget question and how much space you have in your car and garage 😄
Nice video a lot of information. You say that you extend your harness lines with 6 inches. I normally use variabele lines between 32-34 inches. Where do you get such long harness lines? Starting at the Defi Wind Experience sounds great to me.
Hi Nico! I want to purchase a dedicated foilsail second hand and found a neilpryde RS:Flight 7.8 from 2019. What do you think about that sail? Is it a good foiling sail or should i go for something newer and more developed? Cheers, Hugo
Hi Hugo! Great sail choice. Neilprydes are always quite well developed in my experience. I remember that sail, I think it's quite good for getting into it and advancing. It all depends a bit on your level. If you tell us a bit more about you, your level, your experience, budget, etc., we can help you out. wa.me/31850481281 (for example via WhatsApp)
Hi nico, currently I’m using a fanatic falcon slalom 130L board 2015 edition, and 7.2 gaastra cosmic sail 2018 ( 2 cambers ) and my foil is a neilpryde flight AL 2019, and I started foiling last October, and i’m just starting to get my board straight when I fly, and it’s kinda hard to get it straight, it always want to move sideways, I wish you could help me and give me some tips man, love your content keep it up !
Nico vielen Dank für deine ausführliche Erklärung. Ich habe ein starboard IQ foil. Da gibt es unterschiedliche Aussagen über den Backwing und die Shims. Mein backwing hat -2 standardmässig wenn ich einen 0 shim verwende. Nach deiner Erläuterung beutet das mehr Auftrieb. Ich habe aber auch schon Meinungen gelesen das - immer eher „abtrieb“ und + eher immer „auftrieb“ bedeutet. Von der Logik her würde sich deine Aussage her total decken. Auf dem Wasser habe ich das Gefühl das es sich eher manchmal anders anfühlt. Ganz schön verwirrend manchmal 😂
@@Nico_GER7 🤣 sehr gute Frage. Ich bin davon ausgegangen dass das alle gleich machen. Also mein Backwing ist Standard mit -2 so geneigt das es wie in deiner Animation Seitenansicht so geneigt ist \ also rechts runter. Eigentlich so wie in deiner Animation. Das bedeutet das mein System eher zum Auftrieb neigt oder? Ich habe jetzt meine Fußschlaufen nach ganz Richtung Mastfuß gestellt um bessere Kontrolle zu bekommen was super funktioniert. Ich probiere jetzt mit Shims den Backwing etwas flacher zu stellen für weniger Auftrieb damit ich die Fusschlaufen weiter hinter machen kann für mehr power. Habe ich noch einen Gedankenfehler? 😅😅. Nico danke für deine Zeit und das du dir die Zeit nimmst das zu lesen.
I am thinking, for example, of the shape of the tail of the falcon foil fanatic which I suppose, like the starboard and Tabou board…, must facilitate the start in flight and facilitate the relaunch in the jibe. what do you think? and What is the appropriate volume board for a 6.3 m2?
Hello Nico. Love your video. I am windsurfing for 2 years but I more often thinking about buying foil because of the conditions that i have in my spot. I have one guy that helps me with the windsurfing overal but still i wanna ask you and hear an opinion from you. He said that i should buy carbon slalom foil with like 2 front wings at a start 900cm and 650cm, 95cm mast and 110 fuselage. He said that it will be a bit harder to learn how to windfoil on it but it wouldnt be boring after half a year compairing to freeride foil. but the price of carbon foil is a bit to big for my budget so i was thinking about aliuminium foil. is it a good choise?
I'd say try a foil before buying. If you like it you can also buy an second hand foil to learn and I won't go extreme direct like a 110 fuselage and 2 wings, unless you are into foil racing (which I doubt since you began windsurfing 2 years ago). I have a lot of pleasure with my "freerace" foil (was marketed as pure race beast at its launch lol). And buddies of mine that have much more racy foils are struggling to manage them. They constantly are going a lot upwind and have to do big downwinds to come back. If you intend to do more freeride foil session, I wouldn't recommend a fuselage longer than 95cm. Mine is 68 from the leading edge of the front wing to the trailing edge of the stab, the other extreme I'd say. I could appreciate more longitudinal stability, but I still have a lot of fun, and I am riding the same foil since feb 2019, before that I had the blue aluminium foil from Neilpryde, with which I debuted and took a lot of pleasure too.
Some brands say that aluminium is actually better on one aspect ie stiffer than carbon fiber but the main downside is the corrosion between steel bolts and aluminium threads but this can be reduced by using tef gel and always take the hydrofoil apart after the session. I have a GA hybrid aluminium foil. Maybe it takes me extra10-15 minutes to set up from scratch compared to fin, not as much of an issue as i thought before purchase. I have a 1450 cm2 front wing which is stated to have terminal speed about 20 knots. I find that plenty fast enough, stable too. Looks like several brands converge on very similar design.
Nice that you already got some help here. I'd say it depends a lot on your level, how fast you pick up something and where you want to go. If you are already a decent free racer and a quick learner, your friend might be right. You can also surely start with an aluminum foil. Just like the previous comment said, you can have a lot of fun with it for many years. Just try to make the best decision for yourself individually and ask yourself a few questions. How quick will you pick it up? How many sessions per year will you have? And of course: What's your budget?
Hi Nico, thanks for your video, very detailed and useful. I´m gona try my first wind foil time next week, and I was wondering myself which wind conditions are the best for the first day (around 10 kts?)? and with this conditions, which size of sail is best recommended (windsurf sails)? thanks
Hi Nico, well it was all sort of going ok, but had next to no time on water last year, totally lost my confidence on my JP free foil 130. Just getting nowhere. So bought a 160Ltr slingshot levitator, which I use with ( blue ) Np glide wind foil, with large front and rear wings. Sails are 7m ezzy hydra, 5.8 duotone f-type and a little 4.7 whichcraft slayer for windy days. Good news my confidence is coming back having a big board, I'm 95kg ish.hopefully once I can get loads of confidence back can jump on my little freefoil again.
Oh man, I totally get that. End of last year I completely got out of touch with foil racing and my confidence was gone. It really just takes time and patience to get it back. And off course it's a big mental setback, because you know you were once there. Good on you for making the move to a board that fits you better and for pushing through!
Hy Nico, these are great tips for SLALOM windfoiling. But as many you just assume that windfoil is just about extending slalom discipline. IMHO this is just killing windfoiling as surely as windsurfing was... which I cannot care less : winGfoil will take over for most riders, winDfoil will just be a niche competition practice for rich high end riders, and I'll keep windfoiling at my local spot. Unless someone with as much influence as you start taking about freeride and freestyle windfoiling. I personnaly favor down the line very low aspec wave sail for foiling, aft mast base setting, front footed... I have my reasons for these settings. One should really focus on understanding the way gear is balanced and how to trim it depending on practice and goals.
Thanks for the tips! I am a long time windsurfer entering my 3rd season on the foil. I am a big guy (285 lbs) and would love to get your thoughts on gear and set up for the super heavyweight. Are there others so big that are managing the foil? Thanks!
Just scale everything up bigger. Larger board more volume larger wing more lift larger sail more power. And/or lose some weight. 285 is about 3,000 calories a day. 2,400kcal over time is 200lbs. Still allows one whole medium pizza per day. But nothing else ex water or diet drinks. Lol.
Still looking for a foil, but I want to start for lightwind first. I don’t want to buy a new board or sail, so I will be using my current board and evo13 sails.
Started foiling last autumn. I get stable flights as long as I don't try to get into the footstraps. I tried all the things in the video already. I guess I'm putting too much pressure on the back leg on fin as well and the foil just exposes my mediocre technique. It's a matter of practice makes perfect.
Having the old RS-Flight F4 with its "huge" fuselage giving 68cm from the front of the wing to the back of the stab, I confirm that short fuselage is not ideal for longitudinal stability (and not "lateral" as Nico said in the video). But that's not something I don't like :)
Hi Nico, I had some flight time on a friends foil setup during straight runs. If got 1 fixated knee (does not bend at all)which make it more challenging. Alltough i can windsurf (even some small jumps) I’m still in doubt if the rather large investment of foil equipment will pay off for me in the long run. What do you think? Will i be able to gybe on a foil eventualy? With kind regards, Nico(nice name i know)
First of all, big respect for windsurfing and making it work with your challenge. That's a question, which is very hard to answer for me. Would be more of a guess. What I would suggest is to rent it somewhere and try it out yourself.
I'm a windsurfer, but I have to say foil makes lot more sense on the kite setup based on simple rules of physics, I guess wing foiling is replacing windfoiling in the long run, for myself, I'm planing to take some kite lessons.
Hi Nico, i have a question😂 so I’m using iqfoil and everytime i put my foot in the foot straps, i lose all power and balance😢 do you know what’s going on?
Hello Nico! I am struggling to tilt the board when foiling upwind, whenever I push on my backfoot the board goes straight into the wind. I am foiling on a 81 wide race windfoil board with the starboard race+ foil and a 8.0 freeride finsail. Do you have any tips? /Hugo
Great video Niko, as usual! After foiling for 4 years, I couldn't agree more that finding the good trim (and writing it down!) gets you MILES of progress. What worked for me personally:
1) Set the straps so that the front wing is between front and back straps
2) Set the stabilisers to neutral (0°), as the slightest tilt gives a ton of power
3) Adjust the mastbase cm by cm until you find the perfect balance
And when you find perfect balance is when the magic starts. It has literally doubled my quality sessions/year, adding a whole new dimension for someone who has been sailing for 30 years already
After 3 years of wind foiling, I fully agree with having a foil-specific sail and board. Please take a good nose protector or reinforce it you will have some landings :). Also, a game-changer for me is learning how to touchdown without falling. Initially, you are scared so you will likely fall into the water. Many of these can be converted in fewer stops and more time. Another suggestion ( maybe given for granted ) is to choose flat water surfaces and constant wind for starting. Finally, I admit, it's not easy but the reward makes it works, and also for older windsurfers like me, it's the way to go as it is less demanding physically but very zen , I can fly for hours. After wingfoiling you will probably not go back and stay more on the water! so thanks NIco for this tutorial! this summer try foiling!
How fast does the wind need to be to foil comfortably?
@@talcat8031depends on your rig size but often 15 knots is enough for a great session
Hey Nico, best detailed tipps I've seen so far. I will try some of them as soon as possible. Especially the sail trim is very exciting because I'm just using windsurfing sails, no special foil sails.
Jochen
Really good tips. Especially the ones about the sail where really interesting 🤙🏽
Hi Nico, Great to see you do a video on foiling as it is something I think we are missing and why I think wingding is taking off so quickly as there is so many videos about it.
Please keep giving tips on set up please, i have been windfoiling for 2 years and always keen to find more information on racefoil set up's.
Thanks Matt
Great video and great initiative, as always, Nico! Keep windsurfing great!
Thanks Nico for this top video. This is a complete summary of what every windsurfer needs before beginning to foil. I began to foil 2 years ago. If I had watched this video before my first tried, I had spent less time to experiment and try the good setup. Hope to see you on the water🤙
🎉🎉🎉🎉Thanks so much for this opportunity!! My son would be extatic to win these 2 days 🍀🤙
Great video as always! Defi wind experience looks great.
It is amazing to me how many variables and adjustment points there are in wind foiling. In a way, that's good because if the foil is not working well there are lots of things you can do to fix it, but it does make things a bit overwhelming. You did a good job of explaining it all in this video. In my experience, the most important thing is getting your body weight centered properly over the foil. Since my board has a Tuttle box, I can't move the foil, but I do have multiple footstrap inserts. I've positioned my straps so that my body weight is just in the right spot so that the board doesn't constantly nosedive or climb upward. I have an older foil that doesn't allow for stabilizer angle adjustment or rake angle adjustment, but some of my foiling friends tweak those things. It seems to me that those things are more useful for making fine adjustments rather than overcoming a strong tendency to nosedive or breach.
Hi Nico, Thanks a lot for this video. I had my fourth foil cession this week. Great expérience. Your vidéos are always very helpfull and save me a lot of time in learning. You’re a top Guy. Please, carry on making videos. Take care.👍👍👍👍
Thank you for this interesting and informative video. I don't foil so all that information about rake and making sure that the nose of the board doesn't point down was all new to me.
Großartige Explanation of foiling. Thank you 👍🏼
Trying to windfoiling just now. I have a 90 liters Airbolt with MFC Helios 1440. I'm 65 kilos. I can uphaul easily on the board and on my first try i made just a few flights, but i'm very happy. I can't wait to go back on and try try try...i would like to be able to control my foil set up from 10 to 18 knots as soon as possible. Difficult to find the right position of straps, foil and mast base. Your video will help me to achieve my goals. Thank you Nico
Fantastic video, so good to get all tips together with your great explanations. I use a NP FR 90 with a Fanatic Blast 145 and been foiling for 1 season and can now handle the foil quite well. It's a wonderful feeling like you say 😊. Thank you for all your videos, they are great 😊
Omg! Doing the Defiwind would be awesome!!
I just started flying, the hook has been set! Now I can focus on truly getting the board trimmed correctly. This video is just what I was looking for! Thanks!
Last Sunday was my first day on my Windfoil. "Dolphinshow" as it's best in Meldorf.😂
But it was fantastic the short moments when I was flying absolutly noiseless over the water. Great feeling and I want defently more.
Thanks for your Video. This fits perfect at the moment. ❤
Defi Wind is a big dream for me, but I got a daughter 2 Monts ago and for this reason I would have no time to join this year. I wish good luck to the others to win this fantastic price.
Hope to see you on the water in northern Germany soon and wish you all the best.
MfG Renè
Haha! The "Dolphinshow" - love it 😁
Congratulations on your daughter.
Thanks a lot! The tips for trimming the sail i will definetly try. The chance to train for the Defi would be awesome!
Defo dreaming!
Joy with Jordy!
Bring it on!
Nice video, as usual! Been windsurfing for 20 years and was determined to never go the windfoil route, due to risk of costly catapults. BUT, then I got into wingfoiling and got in love with it. Since I now have some foil skills, I've decided to learn windfoil primarily freerace with a 850cm2 wing, to get that speed feeling on foil that I lack on a wing. Looking forward to try it soon, with the trimming tips from you!
You're the first one I have heard of taking this route. I always dreamed that one day wingers will turn into windfoilers, haha. Let's see how your experience goes.
@@Nico_GER7 I just discovered your channel, and I'm pleased to say that I'm inspired to fulfil your dream, mentioned above, "that one day wingers will turn into windfoilers". I have a background in both surfing and sailing, so it was natural to want to combine the two. Two years ago I took up wingfoiling, but the wing seems so inefficient compared to a well trimmed sail, so now that I have some skills on the foil, I've decided to branch out and start windsurfing, and ultimately windfoiling.
I have a question: do you think I can start learning windsurfing on windfoiling specific gear? The boards are extra wide, like a beginner windsurf board, and as you explained in this video, the sail is higher aspect to reduce backhand pressure. Seems like a great combination for learning to windsurfing with a fin, and then quickly advancing to windfoiling. What do you think? And what board would you suggest? I'm 77 kg, and a very experienced surfer, and intermediate level wingfoiler. I hope to hear your thoughts on the best pathway to fulfil your dream. Haha!
Great video. Keep more coming on foiling. I am foiling 75%of the time now.
Might have to try a foil sail now! The defi wind experience looks awesome!
Defiwind has always been a bucketlist thing!
I tried to get an cheap Access to foiling and bought the first generation of the NP Foils. What I had to learn was that 4 years in the world of foiling are ages when having a look at the development. I had big problems getting in the foil, then I tried a new foil from last year and it was so much easier. The foils have developed so much in the last three or four years so I recommend every beginner to invest some more money into a newer foil instead of getting frustrated like I did!
So true, the development is crazy fast in these early stages. One big difference is stiffer carbon being used, which makes for a more direct feel and more control.
Never foiled. But with a foil ready board one should give it a try. Some more things to tune. Thanks for the tips.
Yes, definitely give it a try!
thanks Nico. I am at the point now where I am comfortable upwind and VMG downwind with back foot out of the strap, but I am still not comfortable on a fast reach with both feet in the strap and tend to remove the back foot and slow down. So if you can make a video about going fast on a reach while still feeling in control, that would come in handy
It takes balls… I would recommend to start on a big board in low wind (try not to be full power). Get your hips low and really feel the board and foil, you have to act like a suspension, a spring, and make the board stable. It’s a lot different from fin windsurfing because you don’ have to act a suspension against waves, but still the objective is keeping the pressure steady on the fin (your front wing, in this case). DO NOT move forward or backwards on the board: get lower, change direction slightly, for example) and DO NOT move the sail to the front or back. Look where you want to go of course, very far away from you, and spot the gusts. For the first times maybe try going fast on a reach and THEN take off, as opposed to build up speed while flying. Hope I helped :)
P.s: nose protector is recommended 😂
Surfing Defi wind is something I have on my bucketlist. Would be great to go best prepared.
Thx again for all your help
You make me start foiling and now I just want to foil and almost no slalom
Keep on the great job see you in defi🤙👊
🤩 See you there
Good video! Even if you are more advanced, good to refresh everything and get to know the details of how it works!
Great video, Nico! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm: it is infectious.
Thank you for doing a winD-foiling video! I'm a recreational windsurfer turned wingfoiler who's been (trying to) windfoiling this off-season and is now newly addicted after finally getting up on foil more. Keep the windsurf foiling vids coming!!
Kompaktes Video wie immer, danke!🤙
Nice video Nico. I’ve been windsurf foiling for a few years but with freeride/wave foil gear. My board only has inboard settings & I use a narrow stance. Not fast but loose & I fly easily with 4.7 sail. Fits in the back of my Prius 🥹
That's a fun and loose set up for free riding (or even freestyling)..
Great info , really motivating!
I love foiling on my JP 100cm course racing board and the IQ foil. In 12 knots it’s the most amazing experience ever. It’s pretty much like flying across the water at twice the speed of the wind ❤
Yup, and you always have plenty of power, even in light winds.
@@Nico_GER7 absolutely. It’s taken my sailing from 8 months of the year to pretty much 12 months coz we can now sail in light winds. 😍
Windfoiled for a year, on Fanatic (stingray & their windfoil) with some horrrific crashes, the last one smashing through my carbon boom with the side of my head (I wear Gath helmets!), I put the gear up for sale that very evening and sold it the next day. I got on the water more, yes, but also lost days on the water in good winds because I was recovering from a foiling crash - the wing makes a little more sense to me, but I have had enough of the foil experience - I invested in a floaty wave board and spend more light wind days riding waves (lucky enough to live in a wavey part of the world).
Damn, what an unlucky experience! Would love to know what exactly went wrong, because generally speaking I don't think foiling is more technically difficult than fin windsurfing.
But of course... nothing beats wave sailing 😄
@@Nico_GER7 Haha I'm the lucky buyer of Bart's redundant Stingray and Flow foil setup here in Cornwall last year and I'm absolutely loving learning to windsurf foil on it!
Many thanks for this Nico, Big fan of your content . Keep it going . I am Newbie and your videos keep me going :D
Great to hear 🙌
Excellent info as always!
Nice video! happy to come practising this in the Playa Del Medio waters!
Perfect Nico! Good video.
Nico, what do you think about foiling on a more traditional and narrower freeride board (of course foilready). Is it possible to have one versatile board for foil and fin gliding ? I personaly like narrower freeride/freerace board (65-70cm) and feel more confortable staying in straps more inside the board.
Such a great opportunity!!!!!! My son would it for its first Défi!! He is bilingual French English 👍 Thanks!!!!!!
Alter, du liest wirklich jeden Kommentar. Wahrscheinlich bist du darum der beste Windsurfkanal auf YT. Ich war zu erst nicht so der Fan deiner Entscheidung komplett zu JP/Neilpryde (zurück-) zu gehen(warum auch immer, ich fand das Konzept von recycletem Plastik um Boardaccessoires zu bauen großartig(Öko und so...). Aber du siehst weniger gestresst und happier aus. Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu deinen oft schwierigen Entscheidungen.
Moin Christoph, danke für deine Support.
Ich finde das Konzept auch gut und man sollte es auf jeden Fall unterstützen. JP und NeilPryde machen da mittlerweile aber auch ihre Hausaufgaben. Gerade was Verpackung von neuen Segeln und Brettern angeht. Klar, mehr geht immer.
Genau, weniger Stress und damit mehr Zeit die Kommentare zu lesen 😂
Great job Nico, I took a foil to test in 2019 and since I tried it I haven't looked back... after the first year I only tried it a few times.. in the following years I'm favoring the foil over fin. Since last year I have taken a board dedicated to hydrofoil but I use the same sails that I use with the fin because I don't know how to jibe yet (both fly jibe and water fly).
Despite this (in my sessions I always tack) I manage to have a good average speed (about 26km/h) and with peaks of 42km/h (I use a 650cm2 front wing and a 5.8m2 Atlas sail. When will I learn to jibe in flight I will be tempted to try and buy a cambered sail ..which I believe will make the rig even more stable in gusts of wind.
My normal session is about two or three hours with 50-65 km.
Do you suggest to learn fly-jibe with normal sail or try using a cambered sail to learn flying gybes ?
Thanks again for all your work and the enthusiasm you put and instill in all of us!
Good wibe!
Love the channel! Question for you - I am finding a lot of conflicting advice regarding harness line length, with a lot of advice online recommending significantly SHORTER lines than normal for foiling. Any observations?! I have just invested in a pair of Dakine adjustables for some experimentation....
Hi Nico, great video. I have the 2020 JP SUPER RIDE 132. The deep Tuttle box is foil-ready, but I see you always only on the wide foil-boards. Could you please make a foiling experience about these Foil-ready windsurf boards? I'm very curious to your opinion about these boards in combination with foiling.
You can see one shot of me in the video with a Magic Ride. It sure does work to give it a go and see if you like it. If you enjoy the experience you will get a lot more fun out of a dedicated foil board.
But don't hesitate to use your Super Ride and give it a go with my tips from the video.
Finally gettin' better in my jp freestyle wave 2021 LXT 103lts. Not that easy as it is a small board but it has the box ready to foil. It seems its the only freewave board ready to foil. Now I'm enjoyin' it a lot. Its a fun stuff for low wind days. Keep it on Nico. Cheers from Chile 🇨🇱
Glad you're enjoying it. Indeed a small board 😄
@@Nico_GER7 yep as I know its the only board for waves but ready to foil. Love my Jp freestyle wave 2021 LXT 103lts 🙌. Rock on Nico 🔥
Great tips! Thanks!
Hi Nico. Thank you so much for this kind of tuto really useful. My experience of foiling is as you said a lot of fun when you can be stable with harness for a long distance. It seams totally impossible at the beginning but become true with the time. My question : when I stay on the same position for a long time (more then 5´) I end up having a back pain. It is jut like if the pressure on my foots was not align with the pressure on my hand. The misalignment is handle by my back. Any experience and advice for that ?
Sounds to me like too much pressure on the back foot.
Which foil do you have?
@@Nico_GER7
Alpinefoil on a starboard 144
I understand I should try to increase a little bit the stabilizer angle. But I already have a 0,7° shim.
@@jbmodelisme4142 Not sure if that is a lot on the foil you have. Do you get back pain on the rear end side of the board?
@@Nico_GER7 not clear ! I get back pain staying in the same position for a long time pushing more on the rear side of the board with my feet and pulling more on the front side with my hands… but is that answering your question ?
Thanks for your video. I'm an experienced wavesailor. I've learned windfoiling to get more days on the water, with a big foil (1600 cm2) and the same wave sails. I had to give up using the straps as the best way to control the height was moving my body forward or rearward. In spite of this it's very difficult to keep an stable flight with a gusty wind. The wind range is very short, every gust makes me taking off the water. I heard the big foils were easier to learn but I think an smaller foil and bigger sail would have a wider wind range and let me waterstart instead of uphauling so much. Am I right?
love those video . HOpe I win for the defi wind experience.
Where can we buy the blue tshirt you have during the promotion Nico ?
hello Nico, do you think that the new foil boards, in particular the high-end boards with tails with recesses, which reduce contact on the water, make it easier to take off in flight, and also make it easier to jibe when passage of the sail?
Great vlog Nico👍thanks
Hey Nico, super Tipps. Danke für das Video 🤙👍
Sehr gerne 👍
Great informations thanks !
Excellent video with many useful tips and tricks. One comment regarding the longer harness lines. Are they not also a function of the higher boom setting I have been told to use when windfoiling ?
I would not really a higher boom. The boom can be another tuning tool to set the trim of the board and get the nose higher. However, while freeriding chest height is a good reference. If it's too high, it's hard to keep control.
Like I explained, you will have more buffer zone with longer harness lines and it allows you to get yourself in a more secure posture (with bend knees).
Good Video, but keep in mind differences between freeride/race high aspect ratio foils und more playable low aspect ratios which is used f.e. by the slingshot community 😊
3 days in a foil this season I should watched this first lol Fin to Foil fun in Colorado 🤙
Your the man thank you always
Thanks for the video, Nico. Would you recommend balanced harness lines or more biases toward the front/back?
Centered, haha! Otherwise it's going to be hard on your arms.
But harness lines more forward can help to keep the nose low and under control.
Great Video ! Keep it up😊
Is it recommended to go for a hybride board or pure foil board?
For fun, performance and learning I would always recommend a pure foil board. But it's a budget question and how much space you have in your car and garage 😄
Just starting flying with numerous catapults. Having taken off how do you keep speed under control and how do land smoothly ? Best wishes
Nice video a lot of information. You say that you extend your harness lines with 6 inches. I normally use variabele lines between 32-34 inches. Where do you get such long harness lines?
Starting at the Defi Wind Experience sounds great to me.
I’d love to do the Defi wind again someday!
Foiling is amazing! And I'd love to join the DEFI Wind Experience! 🤗
nice vid tho! learning everytime a bit more about windsurfing good luck in the training sessions at Tenerife!
Hi Nico!
I want to purchase a dedicated foilsail second hand and found a neilpryde RS:Flight 7.8 from 2019. What do you think about that sail? Is it a good foiling sail or should i go for something newer and more developed?
Cheers,
Hugo
Hi Hugo! Great sail choice. Neilprydes are always quite well developed in my experience. I remember that sail, I think it's quite good for getting into it and advancing.
It all depends a bit on your level. If you tell us a bit more about you, your level, your experience, budget, etc., we can help you out. wa.me/31850481281 (for example via WhatsApp)
Thanks Nico! I will send little more info.
Very useful info🤙
Nice video Nico.
You are Fantastic
Hi nico, currently I’m using a fanatic falcon slalom 130L board 2015 edition, and 7.2 gaastra cosmic sail 2018 ( 2 cambers ) and my foil is a neilpryde flight AL 2019, and I started foiling last October, and i’m just starting to get my board straight when I fly, and it’s kinda hard to get it straight, it always want to move sideways, I wish you could help me and give me some tips man, love your content keep it up !
The first two generations NP AL is just a hard foil to ride. Time on the Water is the answer.
오 좋은 정보 ㄱㅅ
👍🏼
Nico vielen Dank für deine ausführliche Erklärung.
Ich habe ein starboard IQ foil. Da gibt es unterschiedliche Aussagen über den Backwing und die Shims.
Mein backwing hat -2 standardmässig wenn ich einen 0 shim verwende. Nach deiner Erläuterung beutet das mehr Auftrieb.
Ich habe aber auch schon Meinungen gelesen das - immer eher „abtrieb“ und + eher immer „auftrieb“ bedeutet.
Von der Logik her würde sich deine Aussage her total decken. Auf dem Wasser habe ich das Gefühl das es sich eher manchmal anders anfühlt.
Ganz schön verwirrend manchmal 😂
Kommt drauf an in welche Richtung minus und in welche Richtung plus ist 😅
@@Nico_GER7 🤣 sehr gute Frage. Ich bin davon ausgegangen dass das alle gleich machen.
Also mein Backwing ist Standard mit -2 so geneigt das es wie in deiner Animation Seitenansicht so geneigt ist \ also rechts runter.
Eigentlich so wie in deiner Animation. Das bedeutet das mein System eher zum Auftrieb neigt oder?
Ich habe jetzt meine Fußschlaufen nach ganz Richtung Mastfuß gestellt um bessere Kontrolle zu bekommen was super funktioniert.
Ich probiere jetzt mit Shims den Backwing etwas flacher zu stellen für weniger Auftrieb damit ich die Fusschlaufen weiter hinter machen kann für mehr power.
Habe ich noch einen Gedankenfehler? 😅😅.
Nico danke für deine Zeit und das du dir die Zeit nimmst das zu lesen.
I am thinking, for example, of the shape of the tail of the falcon foil fanatic which I suppose, like the starboard and Tabou board…, must facilitate the start in flight and facilitate the relaunch in the jibe. what do you think? and What is the appropriate volume board for a 6.3 m2?
very valuable tips 👍 now I should start to use a foil 😂
Hello Nico. Love your video. I am windsurfing for 2 years but I more often thinking about buying foil because of the conditions that i have in my spot. I have one guy that helps me with the windsurfing overal but still i wanna ask you and hear an opinion from you. He said that i should buy carbon slalom foil with like 2 front wings at a start 900cm and 650cm, 95cm mast and 110 fuselage. He said that it will be a bit harder to learn how to windfoil on it but it wouldnt be boring after half a year compairing to freeride foil. but the price of carbon foil is a bit to big for my budget so i was thinking about aliuminium foil. is it a good choise?
I'd say try a foil before buying. If you like it you can also buy an second hand foil to learn and I won't go extreme direct like a 110 fuselage and 2 wings, unless you are into foil racing (which I doubt since you began windsurfing 2 years ago). I have a lot of pleasure with my "freerace" foil (was marketed as pure race beast at its launch lol). And buddies of mine that have much more racy foils are struggling to manage them. They constantly are going a lot upwind and have to do big downwinds to come back. If you intend to do more freeride foil session, I wouldn't recommend a fuselage longer than 95cm. Mine is 68 from the leading edge of the front wing to the trailing edge of the stab, the other extreme I'd say. I could appreciate more longitudinal stability, but I still have a lot of fun, and I am riding the same foil since feb 2019, before that I had the blue aluminium foil from Neilpryde, with which I debuted and took a lot of pleasure too.
@@lomicwind you using aliuminium foil right now?
Some brands say that aluminium is actually better on one aspect ie stiffer than carbon fiber but the main downside is the corrosion between steel bolts and aluminium threads but this can be reduced by using tef gel and always take the hydrofoil apart after the session. I have a GA hybrid aluminium foil. Maybe it takes me extra10-15 minutes to set up from scratch compared to fin, not as much of an issue as i thought before purchase. I have a 1450 cm2 front wing which is stated to have terminal speed about 20 knots. I find that plenty fast enough, stable too. Looks like several brands converge on very similar design.
@@zytigon thankyou
Nice that you already got some help here. I'd say it depends a lot on your level, how fast you pick up something and where you want to go.
If you are already a decent free racer and a quick learner, your friend might be right.
You can also surely start with an aluminum foil. Just like the previous comment said, you can have a lot of fun with it for many years.
Just try to make the best decision for yourself individually and ask yourself a few questions. How quick will you pick it up? How many sessions per year will you have? And of course: What's your budget?
which sail (brand + size) do you recommend for a beginner to intermediate
Hi Nico, thanks for your video, very detailed and useful. I´m gona try my first wind foil time next week, and I was wondering myself which wind conditions are the best for the first day (around 10 kts?)? and with this conditions, which size of sail is best recommended (windsurf sails)? thanks
Id really like to go to the defiwind
Hi Nico, well it was all sort of going ok, but had next to no time on water last year, totally lost my confidence on my JP free foil 130. Just getting nowhere. So bought a 160Ltr slingshot levitator, which I use with ( blue ) Np glide wind foil, with large front and rear wings. Sails are 7m ezzy hydra, 5.8 duotone f-type and a little 4.7 whichcraft slayer for windy days. Good news my confidence is coming back having a big board, I'm 95kg ish.hopefully once I can get loads of confidence back can jump on my little freefoil again.
Oh man, I totally get that. End of last year I completely got out of touch with foil racing and my confidence was gone. It really just takes time and patience to get it back. And off course it's a big mental setback, because you know you were once there.
Good on you for making the move to a board that fits you better and for pushing through!
Hy Nico, these are great tips for SLALOM windfoiling. But as many you just assume that windfoil is just about extending slalom discipline. IMHO this is just killing windfoiling as surely as windsurfing was... which I cannot care less : winGfoil will take over for most riders, winDfoil will just be a niche competition practice for rich high end riders, and I'll keep windfoiling at my local spot. Unless someone with as much influence as you start taking about freeride and freestyle windfoiling. I personnaly favor down the line very low aspec wave sail for foiling, aft mast base setting, front footed... I have my reasons for these settings. One should really focus on understanding the way gear is balanced and how to trim it depending on practice and goals.
No, this is not only for slalom, but especially for freeriding ✌️
Thanks for the tips! I am a long time windsurfer entering my 3rd season on the foil. I am a big guy (285 lbs) and would love to get your thoughts on gear and set up for the super heavyweight. Are there others so big that are managing the foil? Thanks!
Just scale everything up bigger. Larger board more volume larger wing more lift larger sail more power. And/or lose some weight. 285 is about 3,000 calories a day. 2,400kcal over time is 200lbs. Still allows one whole medium pizza per day. But nothing else ex water or diet drinks. Lol.
Still looking for a foil, but I want to start for lightwind first. I don’t want to buy a new board or sail, so I will be using my current board and evo13 sails.
Yup! Go for it
Choices Nico, choices. Or new fins or a foil. It will be a foil as soon as my bankaccount allows it😉
Foil sroil :D
Started foiling last autumn. I get stable flights as long as I don't try to get into the footstraps. I tried all the things in the video already. I guess I'm putting too much pressure on the back leg on fin as well and the foil just exposes my mediocre technique. It's a matter of practice makes perfect.
Yup, no training beats time on the water.
(Or above the water)
Sorry but I didn't understand ... the short fuselage or the long one is more stable. Great video as always.
Putting the backwing further in the back, increases the stability ( in lift) you will get in your foil.
Having the old RS-Flight F4 with its "huge" fuselage giving 68cm from the front of the wing to the back of the stab, I confirm that short fuselage is not ideal for longitudinal stability (and not "lateral" as Nico said in the video). But that's not something I don't like :)
www.machinedesign.com/learning-resources/engineering-essentials/article/21834526/whats-the-difference-between-pitch-roll-and-yaw
@@Nico_GER7 thanks Nico
Hi Nico,
I had some flight time on a friends foil setup during straight runs.
If got 1 fixated knee (does not bend at all)which make it more challenging.
Alltough i can windsurf (even some small jumps)
I’m still in doubt if the rather large investment of foil equipment will pay off for me in the long run.
What do you think?
Will i be able to gybe on a foil eventualy?
With kind regards,
Nico(nice name i know)
First of all, big respect for windsurfing and making it work with your challenge.
That's a question, which is very hard to answer for me. Would be more of a guess.
What I would suggest is to rent it somewhere and try it out yourself.
Wenn ich mein Finen Slalom Board zum Foiln benutze, muss ich da noch andere Sachen beachten?
I just Can't get the foiling bug. I have a board and a foil for 2 years but only used it 5 times. I Always get the fin out 😅😅
Defi? hell yeha
I'm a windsurfer, but I have to say foil makes lot more sense on the kite setup based on simple rules of physics, I guess wing foiling is replacing windfoiling in the long run, for myself, I'm planing to take some kite lessons.
good video... w foil
Looking forward to riding with you at the Défi! If you could coach my son Hugo (FRA-1095) maybe he'll be able to beat me :P
Hi Nico, i have a question😂 so I’m using iqfoil and everytime i put my foot in the foot straps, i lose all power and balance😢 do you know what’s going on?
Mal sehen. Vielleichr schaff ich es ja 🎉🎉
Hello Nico! I am struggling to tilt the board when foiling upwind, whenever I push on my backfoot the board goes straight into the wind. I am foiling on a 81 wide race windfoil board with the starboard race+ foil and a 8.0 freeride finsail. Do you have any tips?
/Hugo
Hope to win this for my son Hugo!! First Défi 💪💪(with his sister and friends) Thanks 🤞🤞🤞🤙