In pump foiling, which pumping technique is better to generate more speed and higher top speed? Bigger amplitude or Smaller amplitude?
prob smaller but may vary from foil to foil.
I always feel the fasted with high amplitude pumps and energetic leaps / decompressions.
Fastest for me is high as possible on the mast and quick taps to the speed up.
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What do you mean by quick taps?
Once up to speed I like to get high on the mast and just do small amplitude pumps (taps). Basically keeping the foil level and giving it a tap, tap, tap.
With the small amplitude pumps I feel like I can save a lot of energy for connection the next wave.
This work well for me on the Progression 140.
For pumping at max speed, it looks like big amplitude AND fast cadence as seen in the pump foil races.
Does small amplitude generates more speed?
I’m a prone foiler typically trying to connect as many waves as possible. For me high amplitude pumping is for accelerating and small amplitude pumping is for maintaining speed after you reached your max speed. If I’m going fast while pumping I’m doing small amplitude taps.
I think there are a few scenarios for my pumping.
My last two sessions were at a point break with really small weak waves on a 60L mid length and the Unifoil Evolution 175. Waves had just enough energy to get me to my feet but not enough energy to get on foil. My waves started with very high amplitude pumping to get on foil. Very similar to a downwind paddle up. Once on foil I exit the wave high on the mast and pump out looking for the next wave. While pumping out I’m trying to get the foil up to speed and trying to get the board to feel firm under my feet. Once the foil is at speed and the board is firm under my feet I switch to smaller amplitude pumps. More of tap, tap, tap. For me max speed is when the board feels firm underfoot and I only need to do small amplitude maintenance pumps to keep the board at speed. When everything it perfect it is a tap, tap, glide, tap, tap, glide like in the attached video.
Another scenario is when the waves are good and have some size. In this case I’m exiting the wave already at max speed. Since the board is already at max speed I just do a tap, tap, glide out to the next wave.
Does having longer legs help with pumping, especially if you want to increase your speed?