Since there are currently no conditions, I’d like to rent a jet ski so I can go out tow-in and still enjoy myself.
I was thinking, why not put on straps and try some small airs behind the jetski ?
First of all, is it a good idea to start this trying strapped in or better with out ?
With both straps or just one, the front one?
Any advices / tips / feedback on the best way to learn it ?
I’ve never strapped my board before. Any advice on the position?
(I’ve already seen it in two or three videos online, but feedback is always welcome.)
Are you looking to just have some fun or do you want to build skills to use in the surf? I would say that (like riding prone) the riding strapped is the easy part, the hard part is pop up and getting in the straps which the ski isn’t gonna do squat for. It’s just going to introduce the opportunity for injury
Back when I rode non-offset I found getting my back foot in the strap to be impossible. Since I started riding a heavily offset stance and put that strap position offset it became possible to pop up and get my feet in. Custom strap position is essential.
I am not looking to ride strapped a lot, when I am riding prone I love being strapless. I am just taking the opportunity of the flat sea to learn some move i could use later strapless.
But sure I am looking to have fun as this the point of foiling, but the goal of going out strapped will be to learn the air
Do it. Some guys offset their straps(as do I) but any strap configuration should work. Learning behind a ski is the best way, then wing, then on a wave. Goodluck.
Strapped is fun. Small straight airs are super easy and not dangerous.
Always 2 straps. Never 1. 1 will get one foot stuck in a strap and destroy your knee or ankle.
Straps will make squatting sinker starts easier to tow up since you have more control over the board while it’s under water.
Use whatever strap position your board has. Start out with them as close as possible to the foot position you already use. When I had to use stick on mounts to a board, I GoPro’d my feet while riding to figure out the positioning.
I tried today with an Armstrong HA 780 and just the front strap. It was really hard.
I was already thinking trying with two strap tomorrow as it will be more « natural » than just one strap.
Best way to try is it to using « the wave » as kicker or trying on the flat ?
@Hdip , with two strap this is less hurtful for the knee / ankle ?
Is it better to have the strap a bit looser or really tight ? Today it was really tight.
Is it easier with a MA foil or any tips on the gear ?
Two straps means both legs are doing the same thing. Less chance of doing the splits or getting one leg twisted behind your head.
I’ll defer to what I’ve heard Kai Lenny say on straps. You want them setup narrow (tight) side to side on your feet and tall (loose) on the top of your foot. That way you can rotate your foot to keep the strap tight, but it pops up vertical for easy sliding your foot out so you don’t get stuck in the strap.
Just do little ollies in the flat first. Just imagine a pump that comes up out of the water. Land tail first and lean back into the pull of the rope. (I’m coming at this from a winging point of view btw, never towed behind a ski)
I sup foil with front strap only for a while because my board only have front foot insert. I was told to adjust the strap so only my toes can slide in and not the whole foot. I also surf small wave like 1-4’ max. Never had issue of twisting my knee even with sudden breaching. I think you should initially try set it up narrow like the above post.
I put some slingshot half straps on an older board and tried boosting, and it’s a lot easier than I thought, haven’t had any sketchy landings with the straps, and they’ve given me more control, keeping me out of the water when I’d have gone in strapless. If you’re on the fence about straps, you can always try half way.
It’s not a full strap.
I wanted to master tacking before I started jumping, but jumping is easier - at least the small 1-2’ jumps I’m doing on flat water in <20kt winds.
When I was jumping my wing kit i used a loose front strap (armstrong) and a half hook in the back (slingshot). I tried the back full strap but didn’t like being that locked in. While jumping if you cross the eye of the wind be prepared for a smak down on the backside. A couple of those and you’ll likely never do that again lol. Overall I fould jumping a wing’ed kit easy and quite exhilarating especially when you send full speed airs off big waves. I never got into 180’s or 360’s because I’m just to adverse to injury in my mid-50’s. Enjoy the process!
So I tried today with 2 straps. That is true, this is way easier.
I managed to jump easily but unfortunately I didn’t land.m . Each time, I felt going forward, may be too much pressure on the front foot. I tried with the rope and without, same result.
I just had a few attempts but I’ll try another time.
Any tips on the landing?
You need to weight your back foot for landing. The drag from the foil as you came back into the water makes the nose want to drop down. Trying some skids where you just pop the foil out of the water and skid on the surface will help getting the feel for landings.
. Each time, I felt going forward, may be too much pressure on the front foot. I tried with the rope and without, same result.