Maneuver Progression?

[junebug]

I started kitefoiling about a year ago. Prior to foiling, I rode a twin tip exclusively. I never set foot on a kite surfboard.

For better or worse, I decided to tackle the foiling maneuvers one at a time. I am (finally) getting foiling jibes sorted, and I am ready to start learning a new maneuver.

My question is this: what maneuver is easiest to learn next for someone with no experience on a kite surfboard? (i.e., I have never done a roll tack in my life) I assume the 180 is the next easiest, but is that correct? Is the 180 easier to learn than the 360? Is the 180 easier than the tack?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Starsky]

Can you switch fee both ways? If so, move on.

The 180 is basically a tack without switching feet. The 360 is just a continuation of the same move. A tack with the foot switch incorporated is harder unless your learning with a big ol foil kite, floaty board and footstraps. Then it might be easier.

[windmaker]

If I were you (but I am not) I would concentrate on useful manoeuvres. Jibes and tacks have a purpose 360 and 180's none although 180's as a progression plan are just a step away from tacks

[junebug]

If I were you (but I am not) I would concentrate on useful manoeuvres. Jibes and tacks have a purpose 360 and 180's none although 180's as a progression plan are just a step away from tacks

Doesn't the 180 have the purpose of going to toeside upwind?

I tried a few 180s yesterday. It didn't go very well. I was able to get the board dead upwind, but I couldn't get it around enough to feel comfortable diving the kite to ride out toeside. I assume I need to maintain speed, lean back more, and carve harder upwind? I read this thread, viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2395556&hilit=180&start=10, but looking for more insight.

[Pedro Marcos]

I started kitefoiling about a year ago. Prior to foiling, I rode a twin tip exclusively. I never set foot on a kite surfboard.

For better or worse, I decided to tackle the foiling maneuvers one at a time. I am (finally) getting foiling jibes sorted, and I am ready to start learning a new maneuver.

My question is this: what maneuver is easiest to learn next for someone with no experience on a kite surfboard? (i.e., I have never done a roll tack in my life) I assume the 180 is the next easiest, but is that correct? Is the 180 easier to learn than the 360? Is the 180 easier than the tack?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

For me the 360 is the easiest maneuver to learn, easier then switching your feet while foiling for sure.

[Mossy 757]

I am told (have never done it) that "sit foiling" is a pretty easy trick to learn...

[Pedro Marcos]

I am told (have never done it) that "sit foiling" is a pretty easy trick to learn...

Just sitting is kinda scary

[junebug]

I tried a few 180s yesterday. It didn't go very well. I was able to get the board dead upwind, but I couldn't get it around enough to feel comfortable diving the kite to ride out toeside. I assume I need to maintain speed, lean back more, and carve harder upwind? I read this thread, viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2395556&hilit=180&start=10, but looking for more insight.

I tried a few more 180s today. A friend of mine gave me a great tip: once you get close to dead upwind, pull in on the bar and lean back a little more into the turn. It changed everything. Before, I could barely get the board across the wind and I had to drop off foil and ride out heelside, defeated. Pulling in on the bar and leaning back allowed me to rotate the board easily across the wind. In fact, I had a hard time controlling the rotation and stopping at 180. On a few, I unintentionally went all the way around, although I stalled because I didn't want to do a 360 so I didn't downloop the kite. By the end, I was able to ride a few out toeside, although they weren't pretty and I was nowhere close to riding out on foil.

Looking forward to working on these more and getting the timing right. Thanks for the help.

[junebug]

I worked on these again yesterday. I was able to get a few and ride out on foil, but, so far, I can only do them riding switch stance. Riding regular stance they are much harder for me (although I did do an accidental foiling 360 in regular stance!).

Its really strange, but I have become a better overall foiler riding switch than riding regular. I assume that is because (1) I practice riding switch more because it's not as natural and I want to be equally proficient riding regular and switch, (2) I'm better on TT (and surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, etc) riding regular and it therefore is harder to unlearn my TT habits on the foil, and (3) I'm a better kite handler riding switch because where I live the wind comes from the right and I do my most aggressive riding--i.e. boosting off waves--in switch heading away from shore.

[junebug]

Question for the foiling masters out there: Which is harder, the foiling tack or the toeside 180? Now that I have heelside 180s and 360s sorted, which should I tackle next?