I had pretty much the same experience in the beginning with a Naish Macrochip 100cm board. I foil strapped but waterstarts on this board require planing from the start without any taxiing stage.
Kite foiling is awesome. In case it helps, I find it easier holding my small board on its edge with one hand and with feet in position, and down looping the kite with the other hand, gets straight up on foil. You may also like to try a 1deg mast base shim to increase front foot pressure.
After a while I figured out a pretty sweet method, I hold the board sideways to my right with right hand and right knee then I basically throw the board forwards and the foil makes it curve around to directly downwind of me. This gives the foil some drive to engage and then I engage the kite just as my feet get on the board and pop instantly up on to foil.
Well done! I can't think of a more stressful session than riding a Jericho thermal on that lunchtray with a 5m snowkite.
I had pretty much the same experience in the beginning with a Naish Macrochip 100cm board. I foil strapped but waterstarts on this board require planing from the start without any taxiing stage.
100% for the flippers, small pair a swim fins can make a huge difference on the swim back.
Kite foiling is awesome. In case it helps, I find it easier holding my small board on its edge with one hand and with feet in position, and down looping the kite with the other hand, gets straight up on foil. You may also like to try a 1deg mast base shim to increase front foot pressure.
After a while I figured out a pretty sweet method, I hold the board sideways to my right with right hand and right knee then I basically throw the board forwards and the foil makes it curve around to directly downwind of me. This gives the foil some drive to engage and then I engage the kite just as my feet get on the board and pop instantly up on to foil.
This is the technique I use. Still trying to learn how to water start switch...