My foil learning progression has just crossed into something towards capable...able to ride back and forth, up on foil for stretches of time, and stay upwind. YAHOO.
I did 8 or 10 sessions behind my boat, until able to ride fairly steadily. Today was 2nd day trying on the kite. I am a left foot forward surfer and have practiced that with the foil, but not right foot forward. Felt super awkward, so I only rode left forward, heelside/toeside. To start kiting I had to body drag out, ride in, repeat. Yesterday, long walk of shame, today a few walk backs and then got it.
A few thoughts:
-- definitely easier with kite, as you can control speed/power yourself. But I'd still start behind boat for learning. I wish I had forced myself to learn right foot forward there too.
-- found you could control lift on foil by sheeting in/out, but leaving kite stable...that's pretty cool.
-- kelp really really sucks...body dragging out I twice connected up, with board becoming an anchor
-- vicious wipeouts from up high....painful neck.
-- my carafino foil has some vibration while up....not sure if that's normal or just mine out of tune or damaged...I got it used
That's about it ... just stoked to have joined the club.