Makes a big difference, doesn't it! Winging and kiting can be tough to practice on the water since there are multiple things that need to happen together to make a maneuver successful so the better we can isolate each step the easier it is to progress in my opinion. I'm also a big proponent of visualization to bring steps together between sessions.
I have done the hips advice and simply it works!!! The feet switch is softer and the back feet finds better the right place when it moves forward. My previous technique was based on pushing down the back foot but it generated more instability and it was worse specially in lighters winds. THANKS A LOT!😊
Practice, practice, practice. Definitely completely agree with all these tips. I was inconsistent when I was just trying to quickly throw my feet to switch. All about raising up the nose just a touch when switching both directions and then just hammering in the reps until you don’t have to think about it. Such a critical skill to enjoy yourself out there, so much more efficient to go upwind when you’re heelside and not toeside. Side note, I have the Flux 60L and there is no doubt this board is more forgiving during touchdowns / mistakes. Makes a huge difference, love the board!
This video is sooo helpful. I implemented this technique and especially focused on the hips stability. The results are amazing. I can say know that I really can switch my feet
Amazing, stoked to hear it wingfoilguy! Just like going up wind consistently I think being able to switch your feet confidently is such a great milestone to achieve in winging and really improves the overall experience. Hit me up to try an Operator foil if you'd like to experience a similar breakthrough in riding/turning :) greg@omenfoils.ocm
Great video. This is the first time I've heard someone mention the importance of the hips. I'm about 50% at this point and will definitely start focusing on the hips. For some reason I struggle to switch from heel side to toe side (as in can't). Keep the videos coming!
Thanks man, I would bet you'll get your success rate up to 90% within a few sessions - I think a lot of riders keep the hips back naturally without really realizing it, the foot switch is super hard without it! For the switch to toeside I'd recommend keeping your body very forward facing thoughout, or rather, don't try to step your "new" back foot too far back. I didn't mention in the video but also helps to push more up wind while you are travelling towards the apex and then switch to going more downwind right as you switch feet. This will help you get more lift from the wing and a less awkward stance when riding out toeside. Let me know how it goes!
@@omenfoils That’s what so many racers are doing, they footswap just before pulling into a heel side race gybe. The irregular twist in the body is quickly diverted into an initiated downwind direction. Ie race gybe.
approaching 50% success today 😀 tried to "pretend" to be a bit more relaxed on my bad side. let front foot feel happy foil stability. and have more flex in my knees did magic 🪄 . untying a knot 🪢 getting out of switch
@omenfoils, I can't thank you enough. You articulated exactly what was holding me back. I had been stuck for months, and today you unlocked it for me. Although I've only succeeded in about 30% so far, I now feel confident that with practice, I'll reach 100% soon. Thank you so much once again!
Thanks Alva! When I use a board leash I've found the Kaohi double coil to be the least annoying option of everything I've tried. For wing leash I just use a larks head onto an old kite pigtail I attached to my makeshift waist harness. Sounds a bit janky but it actually works great!
many compliments for your detailed movie of the feet switch with unique tips that i have never heard before! i am on a DW board, so very long, as i understand, i don't have to lean my hips not forward but neither backyard can switch the feet even if my board is flat and not rising up the foil? the board must point downwind? can i ask you also some tips for riding toeside and Jibes? a big help when i try to jibe is to keep my weight forward, on my front feet... thanks for your lovely content, continue like this
Thanks Giovanni! The foot switch is the same on the DW board so no concern there, I actually think it's easier with longer boards as there is more momentum to a longer boards so it doesn't react as quickly to a small mistake in shifting your weight too far back or forward. Take another look at the video regarding the downwind comment, I ride a bit upwind while I am preparing for the switch to give myself more power in the wing to hold onto and become weightless, then once I switch I immediately point a bit more downwind to gain speed. This bit is fairly subtle here though, we're talking ~ 10 degrees or so each way. Do you have a specific issue with your toeside jibes? Maybe I need to do a specific video on them?
Thanks Matt! I prefer to leash the wing to my waist instead of my wrist since it allows me to move my arms more freely when I'm riding down wind. I also like that I can lie on my board and paddle it like a surfboard without having my wing tugging on my arm. Originally the leash had shock cord embedded but it's since worn out so is really just some UHMWPE line now with brummel splice at each end. On a related note, I still prefer an ankle leash for the board. I've found with both items leashed to your waist it's easy for them to get tangled and an ankle leash of the same length keeps the board a bit further from my head when I fall and I can use my leg to "pull" the board back to me when needed.
I love the challenge of foot switches and this video. perhaps that keeps me back 😅 "cheating" with short touchdown makes it very easy to "accidentally" shift weight forward due to slowdown... not good. also, in lighter conditions, you are free from chop but also, no support from wing🤷♂️ during "more wind", chop is increasing the difficulty... "you win some, you lose some ±". for mastering the gybe, you had to accept to give up the wing for supporting balance. for foot switch, you just have to ignore gravity 😅 at least, I think I have almost unlocked my "good side" for this dance 🕺 😅 now I just have to teach the other half of my body 😃
I have never tried to switch my feet on a normal prone surfboard but that would be pretty rad! This definitely works great on a kite surfboard though to prevent bogging down and keep speed.
when you initiate the switch, approx, which weight distribution should you have between front and back foot? (I wonder if I'm too "back foot heavy"...)
Great question - aim for 50/50 or the same as when you are riding normally. The point of most of the techniques in the video is to maintain only 50% of your weight on your front foot even when your back foot is lifted.
yeah, I think you could do pretty much the exact same technique except instead of just adjusting your feet berfor and after the switch you also pull them out and replace them into the straps.
Help. Over 9 years of kite foiling I've become stuck in footswitching that isn't so good for winging. I've caught on to Winging pretty fast with only 8 sessions and now jibing regular stance non stop..... But.... My footswitching is a "shuffle" switch and makes for %90 failure crashes. I'm 74 years old and if I stay in regular stance for an hour of riding my back (right) knee develops 24 hours of old injury pain
Hi Kippy, have you tried the tips in the video for a couple sessions? If you describe when and how you are falling perhaps I can help. Or better yet, send me a short video clip: greg@omenfoils.com cheers!
Is jumping to switch feet considered bad technique? I got my first couple of lucky switches by jumping and landing both feet at the same time. Feels a bit easier than doing it in multiple steps. But I don't want to teach myself bad technique.
Nothing is bad if you can make it work consistently, however, I would say you are likely going to make things harder on yourself with this approach in the long term despite the initial success. I know there is lots of steps involved in my recommendation but after some practice they'll be committed to muscle memory and soon you won't even realize you're doing them. I'd say it similar to winging in general, making a video on how to just wing in a straight line would end up being very complex - so many little micro adjustments need to be happening on multiple axis' at once with both the foil and the wing - and worse yet they interact with each other! Luckily our brains adapt and pretty soon most folks will get smoother and start channeling their inner Johnny Heineken vs Bambi on ice!
I can switch from heel side to toe side every single time, but from from toe to heel, I am always falling. anyone facing this problem? any tips please ? next session I will try the hip tip.
Please try the hips trick and let us know how it goes! Can you describe how you are falling during the switch? If you have a video you're welcome to send it to me directly - greg@omenfoils.com cheers!
@omenfoils thanks. Ill try to take a vid next session, i remember just not having control over the foil. And foil coming out of the water and me falling backwards.
The hip explanation really helped.
awesome, happy to hear it's useful info
I've told many people that I struggled with foot switches until I practiced them in my living room. Great explanation
Makes a big difference, doesn't it!
Winging and kiting can be tough to practice on the water since there are multiple things that need to happen together to make a maneuver successful so the better we can isolate each step the easier it is to progress in my opinion. I'm also a big proponent of visualization to bring steps together between sessions.
Pure gold advice re hips during switch. Subscribed
right on, thanks Chris! Hope it improves your time on the water.
The 'falling back while switching feet' clicked for me yesterday - thanks again!
awesome, such a great feeling to get a new technique dialed in!
I have done the hips advice and simply it works!!!
The feet switch is softer and the back feet finds better the right place when it moves forward.
My previous technique was based on pushing down the back foot but it generated more instability and it was worse specially in lighters winds.
THANKS A LOT!😊
Stoked its working for you Eduardo! Thanks for dropping a comment and supporting the content
Such great advice, thanks!
thanks Alagill, appreciate the support!
Practice, practice, practice. Definitely completely agree with all these tips. I was inconsistent when I was just trying to quickly throw my feet to switch. All about raising up the nose just a touch when switching both directions and then just hammering in the reps until you don’t have to think about it. Such a critical skill to enjoy yourself out there, so much more efficient to go upwind when you’re heelside and not toeside. Side note, I have the Flux 60L and there is no doubt this board is more forgiving during touchdowns / mistakes. Makes a huge difference, love the board!
Thanks @bombfootbags!
This video is sooo helpful. I implemented this technique and especially focused on the hips stability. The results are amazing. I can say know that I really can switch my feet
Amazing, stoked to hear it wingfoilguy! Just like going up wind consistently I think being able to switch your feet confidently is such a great milestone to achieve in winging and really improves the overall experience.
Hit me up to try an Operator foil if you'd like to experience a similar breakthrough in riding/turning :)
greg@omenfoils.ocm
@@omenfoils I’d love to try Operator. I’ll reach out by mail! 😊
Nice description, thank you.
thanks Keytes!
Great video. This is the first time I've heard someone mention the importance of the hips. I'm about 50% at this point and will definitely start focusing on the hips. For some reason I struggle to switch from heel side to toe side (as in can't). Keep the videos coming!
Thanks man, I would bet you'll get your success rate up to 90% within a few sessions - I think a lot of riders keep the hips back naturally without really realizing it, the foot switch is super hard without it!
For the switch to toeside I'd recommend keeping your body very forward facing thoughout, or rather, don't try to step your "new" back foot too far back. I didn't mention in the video but also helps to push more up wind while you are travelling towards the apex and then switch to going more downwind right as you switch feet. This will help you get more lift from the wing and a less awkward stance when riding out toeside.
Let me know how it goes!
@@omenfoils That’s what so many racers are doing, they footswap just before pulling into a heel side race gybe. The irregular twist in the body is quickly diverted into an initiated downwind direction. Ie race gybe.
approaching 50% success today 😀
tried to "pretend" to be a bit more relaxed on my bad side. let front foot feel happy foil stability. and have more flex in my knees did magic 🪄 . untying a knot 🪢 getting out of switch
awesome, got to fake it to make it!
Very very interesting, thank you for those tips I have never heard. 🤩
Happy to Nicolas, if you remember I'd love to hear how it goes after you've had a chance to put them into practice
@omenfoils, I can't thank you enough. You articulated exactly what was holding me back. I had been stuck for months, and today you unlocked it for me. Although I've only succeeded in about 30% so far, I now feel confident that with practice, I'll reach 100% soon. Thank you so much once again!
Stoked to hear it@@nicolasmercier38! Once you've got the foot switches dialed in drop me a line if you'd like to checkout one of our foils!
great description!
Thanks!
Great video! Thanks!
Thanks Nilz!
WOW, GREAT TIPS
Thank you.
Would you mind sharing what wing leash you are using?
Thanks Alva! When I use a board leash I've found the Kaohi double coil to be the least annoying option of everything I've tried. For wing leash I just use a larks head onto an old kite pigtail I attached to my makeshift waist harness. Sounds a bit janky but it actually works great!
Thanks for sharing, this looks like a great method
happy to, let us know how it goes on the water :)
Thanks coach. Some good nuance.
My pleasure, it sure was a lot easier to plan and shoot this one compared to our more technical videos!
Great vid
thanks Blair!
Best one out there.
The hips 🎉is the aspect of note here
Thanks guys!
Just like Ned Flanders said... it's all in the hips!
@@omenfoils I just feel it’s more of a windsurfer style stance pelvic thrust, tightening of the abs, rather than no hip movement
@@wingfoilrentals I haven't windsurfed so can't really visualize that, I think you're right on keeping core tension though for sure
many compliments for your detailed movie of the feet switch with unique tips that i have never heard before!
i am on a DW board, so very long, as i understand, i don't have to lean my hips not forward but neither backyard
can switch the feet even if my board is flat and not rising up the foil? the board must point downwind?
can i ask you also some tips for riding toeside and Jibes?
a big help when i try to jibe is to keep my weight forward, on my front feet...
thanks for your lovely content, continue like this
Thanks Giovanni!
The foot switch is the same on the DW board so no concern there, I actually think it's easier with longer boards as there is more momentum to a longer boards so it doesn't react as quickly to a small mistake in shifting your weight too far back or forward.
Take another look at the video regarding the downwind comment, I ride a bit upwind while I am preparing for the switch to give myself more power in the wing to hold onto and become weightless, then once I switch I immediately point a bit more downwind to gain speed. This bit is fairly subtle here though, we're talking ~ 10 degrees or so each way.
Do you have a specific issue with your toeside jibes? Maybe I need to do a specific video on them?
Great video. SMOOTH! So different from another YT video where the guy says to get your hips and weight way forward--did not work for me.
Thanks Toobmes, would love to get your feedback after you've had a couple sessions to try implementing the technique :)
Very helpful video thank you. Can you tell us about the wrist leash on your waist? Is it an actual leash? it looks like a piece of rope.
Thanks Matt!
I prefer to leash the wing to my waist instead of my wrist since it allows me to move my arms more freely when I'm riding down wind. I also like that I can lie on my board and paddle it like a surfboard without having my wing tugging on my arm. Originally the leash had shock cord embedded but it's since worn out so is really just some UHMWPE line now with brummel splice at each end.
On a related note, I still prefer an ankle leash for the board. I've found with both items leashed to your waist it's easy for them to get tangled and an ankle leash of the same length keeps the board a bit further from my head when I fall and I can use my leg to "pull" the board back to me when needed.
I love the challenge of foot switches and this video. perhaps that keeps me back 😅
"cheating" with short touchdown makes it very easy to "accidentally" shift weight forward due to slowdown... not good.
also, in lighter conditions, you are free from chop but also, no support from wing🤷♂️
during "more wind", chop is increasing the difficulty... "you win some, you lose some ±".
for mastering the gybe, you had to accept to give up the wing for supporting balance.
for foot switch, you just have to ignore gravity 😅
at least, I think I have almost unlocked my "good side" for this dance 🕺 😅
now I just have to teach the other half of my body 😃
haha, very cool xxxyyy - sounds like the beginnings of a good zen poem!
I don t foil , neither wing but this hip tip is going to help me switching feet on my surboard. Do you think so?
Really interesting tip
I have never tried to switch my feet on a normal prone surfboard but that would be pretty rad! This definitely works great on a kite surfboard though to prevent bogging down and keep speed.
Yes, sorry ,i mean to say kitesurfboard
@@alfredoviel no worries, let me know how it goes!
Hips are the key...
:)
when you initiate the switch, approx, which weight distribution should you have between front and back foot? (I wonder if I'm too "back foot heavy"...)
Great question - aim for 50/50 or the same as when you are riding normally. The point of most of the techniques in the video is to maintain only 50% of your weight on your front foot even when your back foot is lifted.
Would love to see it with straps.. basics are the same imho
yeah, I think you could do pretty much the exact same technique except instead of just adjusting your feet berfor and after the switch you also pull them out and replace them into the straps.
Help. Over 9 years of kite foiling I've become stuck in footswitching that isn't so good for winging. I've caught on to Winging pretty fast with only 8 sessions and now jibing regular stance non stop..... But.... My footswitching is a "shuffle" switch and makes for %90 failure crashes. I'm 74 years old and if I stay in regular stance for an hour of riding my back (right) knee develops 24 hours of old injury pain
Hi Kippy, have you tried the tips in the video for a couple sessions? If you describe when and how you are falling perhaps I can help. Or better yet, send me a short video clip: greg@omenfoils.com
cheers!
Is jumping to switch feet considered bad technique? I got my first couple of lucky switches by jumping and landing both feet at the same time. Feels a bit easier than doing it in multiple steps. But I don't want to teach myself bad technique.
Nothing is bad if you can make it work consistently, however, I would say you are likely going to make things harder on yourself with this approach in the long term despite the initial success.
I know there is lots of steps involved in my recommendation but after some practice they'll be committed to muscle memory and soon you won't even realize you're doing them.
I'd say it similar to winging in general, making a video on how to just wing in a straight line would end up being very complex - so many little micro adjustments need to be happening on multiple axis' at once with both the foil and the wing - and worse yet they interact with each other! Luckily our brains adapt and pretty soon most folks will get smoother and start channeling their inner Johnny Heineken vs Bambi on ice!
What size board is that?
Hey Optoutside, for the demonstrations I'm using the 60L Flux
I can switch from heel side to toe side every single time, but from from toe to heel, I am always falling.
anyone facing this problem? any tips please ?
next session I will try the hip tip.
Please try the hips trick and let us know how it goes! Can you describe how you are falling during the switch? If you have a video you're welcome to send it to me directly - greg@omenfoils.com
cheers!
@omenfoils thanks. Ill try to take a vid next session, i remember just not having control over the foil. And foil coming out of the water and me falling backwards.