More time on my 2024 DLab Slicks, improving the skillset, and first video shots with my Insta360 X4

Getting more time on all my 2024 DLab Slicks (6, 5 and 4m) and one high wind session on my trusty old 3m SLS Slick. Improving current skillset. First video shots with my tripod mounted Insta360 X4.
Basically just enjoying retired life wing foiling at home 😀

[@wiepkejan]

Wow what a progression! Impressive!

[@targadave]

Thanks. I look up to everyday riders like “Lake Champlain Kite and Wing”, Andrea Tartaglia and Ceilhe Halpin, and pro riders like Alan Cadiz, for inspiration. My biggest challenge at 65 is fighting off constant joint issues and old injuries. I do everything possible to keep them working right but they don’t always cooperate…..

[@wingfoilrentals]

Please let me know if you wish to name brands or credits as an ambassador etc. love to share the skills of the pros. 🥂

[@steriospeaker]

I love this video 👌🏻. I’m a similar standard to you, so working on much the same stuff. Your Heineken gybe/ Backwind thing really helped my standard Heineken gybes, because as soon as I tried it, I realised I had not been placing the wing anywhere near far back enough.
Any tips for the behind the back tack? I can get all the way round, but 99% of the time drop off the foil as I try to get the wing back up again (1050 foil).
Top job.

[@targadave]

Yep, running out of planing speed and coming off foil is something I always go through when learning these upwind transitions. Here are a few tips for behind the back tacks, but they are just my personal opinion:
toe-side to heel side is much easier to start with compared to heel-side to toeside. Every time I “over rush” an upwind transition or try and go into it at an extreme speed I usually fail. I definitely want good entry speed, and I need to be aggressive (fully committed), but I always need to be smooth and methodical or I always fail. For behind the back tacks in particular it’s that last regrab of the handles/boom (that gets you repowered in the other direction) that does need to be aggresive and quick. I’m thinking about it and pulling the wing into “regrab” position before I get to the end, even though it doesn’t look that way. Here’s a video of my first attempts at it over 2 years ago. Lots of falling.
One last personal tip. I often learn many of these moves faster on my “light wind gear” in 10-15 kts than I do on my higher wind gear in 20+ knots. The water is generally flatter, everything happens slower, and you don’t give up that much entry speed, while reducing stall speed significantly.
(I know there are pro level riders out there who can generate so much speed and glide that they seem to have all day to casually finish on foil like it was a walk in the park. Maybe add in a pump or two to help out. Not quite the same for us mere mortals😂, especially older ones)
Good luck!
ua-cam.com/video/H0dUinLehUM/v-deo.htmlsi=-kjLl95rUP4qONCm

[@oldsquid9887]

Do you have any Gong V3 foils? I want to know what you think of the new versions.

[@targadave]

@@oldsquid9887 I know I’ll end up on V3’s but just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I probably will purchase pretty soon; most likely a V3 Fluid H Medium along with a V3 Fluid stab M, V3 Al fuselage and V3 HM 85 mast (14mm). I’m not a big fan of HA foils with high AR’s (over 10). The V3 Veloce H is also a possibility. No way I’m giving up my V2 Veloce’s until I’m absolutely sure I’m on a V3 model that is an improvement. I’ll still keep my V2 HM 85 mast and dedicate it to my Foil Drive Max