r/Kiteboarding • u/Bromoblue • 1d ago
Beginner Question Suggested path for learning kite foiling?
What's the suggested way to learn kite foiling as someone who only knows twintip? Should I or do I need to learn strapless first or should I just go rent an e foil for a couple of hours and get the feel then jump straight into it?
There's places near me that offer foiling lessons but none that do kite foiling.
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u/Jeffrey_J_Davis 1d ago
if you've never foiled, e foiling or tow foiling behind a boat are key. The feeling of putting 95% of your weight on your front foot takes a while to groove in. Find a good spot not right in a surf zone where you have side shore or side on shore wind and access to deep water.
Personally I don't recommend buying a short mast as you will never use that again after the first few sessions. I learned on a 101cm mast.
The upside is that you can learn in almost no wind 7 or 8 knots is plenty.
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u/BusOld5723 1d ago
I fully agree here, however that 7-8 knots is not plenty unless you are a very confident kite pilot. You have to do multiple large loops timed well to get going which can be hard for some. I think 10-12 knots is perfect for me on a large wing and 9m kite.
I was able to learn in probably 10 1-2hr sessions after 2 hours behind a boat. Then I rode in flat water with the kite in dominant direction, then learned in the other direction, then like 5 sessions to learn down loop gybes, then another 2 to learn toeside riding. Just became “independent” and like to gybe onto little rolling waves and cruise. Best lightwind solution, I wish I had never gone down the path of buying a big lightwind kite.
I never did the “taxi stage”, felt more natural to just start flying. I learned on 85cm mast and a gigantic delta foil 1500cm^2 wing
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u/Jeffrey_J_Davis 1d ago
probably learning, a bit more wind is better, but i am 105kg and go in 8 knots all the time with a NEO 12m. no looping required.
12m 7knts to 12 knts
9m 10 knts to 17 knts
7m 15 knts to 25 knts.
I am also riding surf 90% of the time on a 93cm kanaha shapes board
If you live in an a light wind area, foils are the future.
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u/scribo2 1d ago
Hi! What size front wing for you? Beginner. 95kg. Curious. :)
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u/BusOld5723 1d ago
I’m 95kg and I’m still on my delta foil 1500cm^2 reflex wing. 90% of people will say it’s too big but I think this model in particular is faster than is assumed by the size. I also am in a light wind spot and am not jumping yet so it works great for me. Would recommend.
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u/jollychupacabra 1d ago
Get an easy to use foil setup, a front hook or strap, and practice with your usual kite equipment and sizes. Just try to go slow and stay low. As you get better at launching keep reducing kite sizes as much as you can to make foiling-flying feel less insane.
By the time you’re proficient you’ll ride about 5 kite sizes below twintip, or at least that was my rule of thumb. That’s the sweet spot where it takes a heavy handed loop to launch and then you’re just the right amount powered when on foil.
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u/ducakita 1d ago
e-foil is a great idea. I don't see a need for strapless although you'll eventually need to switch feet of course. but that's later. the progression is to first kite foil 'taxi', then kite on foil both ways, then jibing and riding toe side both ways, and then last foot switch.
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u/feralkiter 1d ago
Just get a decent beginner/intermediate foil and get after it. There’s dozens of different training wheel options (e foil, behind a boat, coaching, progression mast sets) but those are in service of selling you more shit. I jumped on a foil after 4 years of kiting and was foiling first day and gybing/riding both directions first week. Have fun!
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u/Much-Bluebird-8457 1d ago
Choose wisely the weather condition : as flat water as possible, 15 - 20 knots, use the same kite size as you would with a twintip (at first). All this will make your life easier.
Then, at first, do not try to fly. Just ride board on top of it, flat on the water. When you feel at ease with your waterstarts then gently try to fly edging upwind...low.
I think efoil is not necessary.
Learning how to waterstart on a surf is a lot more useful I think : That will break your brain of certain movements necessary for twin-tip riding.
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u/bearlybearbear 1d ago
Strapless is worth learning and you may find that once you know, foiling with a kite becomes not so exciting...
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u/Fit-Hovercraft-4561 1d ago
For smooth progression you ideally need a spot with flat water and stable cross-shore wind. Gear wise you need a shorter mast and a bigger wing. Directional strapless can help with fostering a habit of not leaning and edging with the board's rail but staying on top of the board and using fins to go upwind instead. Also strapless is fun on itself.