So twice this week I took my prone foil out to mondos and I think my foil is too big for the conditions and possibly my board is too small? I have 4’3" 32L prone board with a gen1 cabrinha ha 1200 wing. I weight 95kg. Im taking off on decent size sets and regardless how far forward I push down on the nose the board just pops up instantly and I have no time to get up. Im literally just hanging on like superman on a boogie board… It def foils but just pops up way too fast for me to react. Is this classic overfoiling? Do I need a bigger board? Whats wrong here. Maybe a ha 1000 might be better I think. Any ideas? Would a bigger longer board work better to get me in earlier and also keep the foil down. Im an advanced surfer so can def read and catch the waves properly.Thanks
A guy with experience would make this setup work… but would also not want to be on such a large foil in 3-4 foot surf.
If this is the setup you have, trying to slam the mast as far back as it’ll go to reduce early lift. At 95kg a 1200 wing is still kinda big, but it’ll work in 2-3 foot surf. Once you start getting into waist to chest high and pitchy, you’ll be over-foiled. Also, a 32L board is REALLY small to learn on for 95kg. I would honestly start at 40L at least to get you in early. I’m 85kg and I couldn’t learn on a 36L board and I’ve been surfing all my life. I had to switch to a 50L+ board.
Ah ok, makes sense. Thanks. I agree the board is a bit too small. It was a pita to paddle around but i was determined to give it a go. After licking my ego wounds I started thinking about my gear and the conditions. I def felt over foiled. Do you think a ha 1000 would have been more manageable? Im gonna look for a 45L board too. Thanks
slam the foil all the way back in the boxes. And/or get yourself further forward on the board while paddling and when you put your hands on the board to pop up. Some boards just don’t have the boxes in the right place, but you can make it work. It might help to arch your back, chest up while you paddle to keep your weight back and then scoot forward as soon as you pick up speed
I slammed it back but I will try smaller conditions next time. Def felt over foiled. it was decent period swell 13 seconds
Mondos today must’ve been chunky winds well. For sure overfoiled, but doable. Paddle harder and faster into the peak. Or take off in the white water as it’s backing off.
That foil is fine for there 98% of the time.
It’s just the learning to foil hump you gotta get over. More front foot.
You can’t be lazy about paddling into the wave like you can surfing. Think about how you tell a new surfer to dig dig dig as they’re paddling. Also it’s fine to take off and boogie foil the wave. Just hold onto the board you can’t fall onto the foil if you’re holding onto the board haha.
How many foils out. Maybe I’ll come up tomorrow. Prone sounds fun. Had it all to myself in the drizzle yesterday but was on the sup foil. Prone today might’ve been fun.
Ok Ill give it a few more goes. Yeah today had some swell. aThere were a few fd guys and another analog prone on a armstrong 880? I think I need a bigger board tho. Def too slow paddling around. Great exercise tho lol.
I popped up to my feet a few times but just no time it just went so fast I couldnt get balanced before the foil just started going really fast. Def humbling
I think a 1000 wing might be better tho. It would be nice to keep the wing down and allow it to xome up at will vs fighting it
If you’re new to foiling. I like to tell people it’ll be 10 sessions of falling. Today would also be way to big to learn. More of an advanced day. I’m on Omen prone gear and wear a gath visor helmet. Easy to spot. Say hi if you ever see me. (usually on a red 7’10" sup out there)
The pop up compared to surfing is pretty similar. Just try to land 3 inches further forward than you think you need to. Then remember you are flying the foil, not surfing the board. Use the front foot to try and pearl as you drop in. The foil is trying to come out of the water. You’re trying to keep it in the water.
EDIT: A picture a winger, but this will give you an idea of how much further you need your weight forward as compared to surfing. When you’re in the steep part of the wave going fast, even a tiny (probably a 500ish size foil) will try to buck you off.
Sounds good. Thanks for the advice. Ill keep an eye out for you next time. My board is blue and orange. Ill be the newb with the manera hood and ak impact vest lol
#1 you are learning to foil so you will wipeout for a dozen sessions straight which is normal
#2 you really want knee to thigh high waves to learn, those waves are way too big. Better for you to catch the whitewater on the inside or the reforms
#3 that foil is way too big for those waves even at your weight, you barely need any lift on a 13sec 3-4’ wave, that’s really solid swell for foiling
You are probably just trying to take off at the wrong spot, that gear should be perfect for you at Mondos. Sit further inside and let waves break and crumble a little to get weaker and take off there. My guess is your surfing experience is telling you to send it on the steepest part of the wave, and at that size, that’s difficult mentally when starting prone foiling.
For once, Mondo’s may have been too big with the setup that you have and that little board.
So in hindsight and after everyones feedback, I def need to get a bigger board length and volume. I was trying to catch more of the smaller ones on the inside but maybe the tide and swell just wasnt ideal at the time aince it was dropping tide to 2’ and the only easy waves to catch were a bit more on the outside. There were some bigger soft ahoulders and I was going for those since those were the only ones able to push me to be honest. Prob a mix of not ideal conditions with too small a board. In reality the board could work but for practical effort its too small. Im hoping a bigger board will give me more glide so I can catche the smaller reforms and whitewater.
I am so glad I have an impact vest and helmet too. I did taco once right after takeoff… man that is scary. Fortunately I didnt touch the board and got away from the session unscathed but humbled
Do you know how to foil and are just trying to learn how prone foil or learning how to foil in general?
Ive foiled behind the boat and fd on a friends gear fairly successfully in flat water several times. Getting on foil feels more natural but I know in waves its even more difficult.
Get the 800
Being on a Gen 1 foil from any brand is going to have the tendency to buck you like a bucking horse on any wave. The new stuff is 100x better.
A quick bandaid could be a ton of negative shim to bring the nose down. It will slow you down too, which isnt a bad thing for learning.
Let’s go for a lunchtime session
ah dang I would have joined you I just got out of the surf at rincon. Feels weird back ona surfboard with a domed deck as opposed to the concave deck of the foil board.
Lots of good ideas. I might trya neg shim. The foil itself is a high aspect modern not like the big old fat ones. I was thinking of taking a leap for unifoil progression 170 tho. It seems alot of people really fin it to be forgiving. That or kt nomad, code ???