Pivot Board Home Exercise - shortcut to learning foiling.

[fun2kite]

Hi All,

I have just learned to foil and I am hooked. I got great support and help from this forum and it definitely helped me in my learning.

Now I want to give back to the community by sharing a simple home based exercise that I belive greatly shortens the learning curve for those who will come next.

You can experience and learn the balancing skill needed to foil in the comfort of your own home.

It will not help you with the initial steps of learning of keeping the board in the water, but once you are getting the foil out of the water, you will be almost there if you do this before hand.
At least this was my experience.

You will still fall a lot, but much less since you already know how to balance.

Enjoy and happy foiling. Below is a short video I put up demonstrating the exercise:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDTtSzCkqPQ

Comments welcome

-D.

[jplmain]

Thanks for the tip about the pre exercise pivot board. I think I will diy my board this week for I have yet to start my beginners trail runs on my board. Got all my gear just need the health and time to start.

[Soren Gabriel]

If you are chalenged by an indo board I think you have a long way to go before you succeed on a foil.

I would rather go for this version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j30tkUX5O8

[Arcsrule]

i tried to do that too but i only had a 3" diameter pvc pipe. it bends down pretty good with my weight on it but still presents a balancing issue for me to practice. But you appear to have mastered the technique! and yopu were up and riding good at 3 sessions...i need tofind that hard cylinder, what did you use?

edit: thanks for the utube's. i just learned to fill a 2 liter soda bottle...and a board. i'll try again

[Peter_Frank]

Just curious if it works ?

I mean, how do you know it works ???

If you can foil in advance, you will have no idea if it helps beginners or not.....

Those who can not foil, and using such methods - how will they know if they learn faster with than without ?
As we are all very genetically and physiologically different, and learn with very different pace.

I've really been thinking about this, and can not see how one can know if it is any good or not - IMO the best thing is always time on the water before everything else...

Maybe it works and helps ? Maybe it dont ?

PF

[Hawaiis]

I agree with PeterFrank, the best way is to try the hydrofoil in the water.

[Europ2]

i tried to do that too but i only had a 3" diameter pvc pipe. it bends down pretty good
t learned to fill a 2 liter soda bottle...and a board. i'll try again

You can fill you PVC pipe with plaster or mortar
You can fill a soda bottle with mortar only has the skin IMHO is too thin for plaster.

Mortar has better mechanical properties that plaster (brittle)
let the thing dry for 5 days if mortar, 15 if plaster and it will do a perfect job

If you use a soda bottle, once dry, it is better put the cap back on.
Don't use too much water in the mix to lesser the retract.

I agree with PeterFrank, the best way is to try the hydrofoil in the water.

IMHO, after years of "twin tip corruption" I think that any device that forces you to deconnect and teach you how to apply equal pressure on both feet can only be beneficial and decrease the learning curve time on water.

[lezo]

Useful IMHO to get the basic idea that foiling is principally an exercise to stay in equilibrium, without forcing or pushing anything, which I understood only after a certain time while learning..

[revhed]

Yes Lezo!
I once heard a great mind set for down hill mountain biking,
let it roll while in control! If you have ever enjoyed this it will make sense to you!
Same for kiteboardhydrofoiling I think,
let it fly, keeping in balance!
I tell beginners often try to not over control, sometimes when you think you are ready to crash you will not if you just ride it out!
I did this overpowered toe side today by just relaxing and not fighting it, but working with it!
Just my thoughts.
As for rola bola, bowling ball balance board, unicycle, slackline, all should help both for balance and strength, BUT flying time seems to be the best IMHO!
R H