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Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:56 am
by cglazier
I would like to tack and gybe my hydrofoil. I can do both moves pretty well on my surfboard and also on my raceboard. I would appreciate any tips for the hydrofoil.

- Which is easier to start with, the tack or the gybe?
- Does anyone do the regular tack or is it always the roll tack?
- I presume it is easier strapless.. correct?

This video from another thread seems worth studying. If there are other good ones please advise.

Thanks in advance
:wink: CG


Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:18 am
by Hawaiis
I find gybing easier than tacking. It is very similar to gybing a surfboard.
The only difference is the front tend to pop up on most boards. Jumping gybe will prevent the front to lift up too much. Or you can move the back foot to the front first during transition.

Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 6:18 am
by ChristoffM
I find gybing a foilbaord easier than my surfboard. You must just get used to the way the foil will hold the board and stop it sliding like a surfboard. Start by putting the board down, and keep your weight to the front of the board to avoid it popping up. Then you can slowly turn around and swap your feet. I find it much easier to swap my feet on a foilbaord that is flat on the water than on a surfboard, because the foil acts like a super stabilizer that holds the board flat even if I place my feet off center.

The gybes in the air are obviously much harder, as you progress you can turn around in the air, and then just drop the board onto the water for a quick feet swap and pop the board back up all in a smooth action.

I find the regular tacking much easier than the duck tack. If you can do a raceboard and a surfboard then you should learn the foil tack quite fast. I bring the board onto the water, and then do a regular tack. It takes some practice to figure out how hard to force the board to come around. I sometimes still keep the board in the air when I throw the board around and tack, but allow the board to fall ontot he water during the tack so that I have the stability of the board on the water while I put my feet onto the new positions.

Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:56 am
by BraCuru
Good one!

Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:07 am
by ronnie

Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:31 am
by cglazier
Thanks everyone for the tips and links posted above.

And Christoff, you are quite right that the jibing and tacking on the foil board is not very difficult if you touch down on the water. Right now it is a relief to be able to change directions without getting wet. I will continue to work on staying up foiling during transitions, but it is challenging.

I found to my surprise that the foil board feels more like a surf board (turns fast) than like a raceboard during my tacks (I am doing regular not roll tacks yet). And I agree that the jibe is surprisingly easy when touching the water.

I am on an Aguera board with a Spotz foil now. Very nice gear.

:wink: CG

Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:30 am
by ronnie
Another video from Adam Withington showing the kite during tacks and gybes.


Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 12:16 pm
by Peter_Frank
cglazier wrote:Thanks everyone for the tips and links posted above.

And Christoff, you are quite right that the jibing and tacking on the foil board is not very difficult if you touch down on the water. Right now it is a relief to be able to change directions without getting wet. I will continue to work on staying up foiling during transitions, but it is challenging.

I found to my surprise that the foil board feels more like a surf board (turns fast) than like a raceboard during my tacks (I am doing regular not roll tacks yet). And I agree that the jibe is surprisingly easy when touching the water.

I am on an Aguera board with a Spotz foil now. Very nice gear.

:wink: CG
I think (and find) it is way easier to tack "normally", and not doing a roll tack :thumb:

Unless of course, you are REALLY good at roll tacks now, on wave and raceboards - then you should just continue on the foil :rollgrin:

But most, except for the very best maybe, are not capable of doing roll tacks steadily and confident :roll:

8) Peter

Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 5:44 pm
by Laughingman
I'm confused... Can someone show me the difference between a roll tack and a regular tack using a directional?

Re: Tacking and gybing advice please

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 6:06 pm
by Peter_Frank
Laughingman wrote:I'm confused... Can someone show me the difference between a roll tack and a regular tack using a directional?
Certainly.

A normal tack is where you jump around back to the wind - whereas a roll tack is jumping around face to the wind :thumb:

Normal tack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Dmz3x8ZpIc

Roll tack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf1DLSdbqME


The roll tack looks easy - but the timing has to be incredibly precise all the way :naughty:

Can be carried out on raceboards and waveboards and foilboards and strapless or strapped.

8) Peter