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The Foil Zone => Foil SUP => Topic started by: Evan Lloyd on December 18, 2018, 02:30:26 PM

Title: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: Evan Lloyd on December 18, 2018, 02:30:26 PM
A hefty swell has passed through CA the past few days.  I was in Del Mar and found myself paddling out over 8-10' faces.  I was on my 9-6 x 30. This board has been my go-to for big-ish waves for years.  The thing is, I have not surfed a SUP since April, as I have been fully committed to learning how to foil.  I found that my balance was all messed up.  I could hardly stand on a board that historically was one of my most stable.  I got a little more comfortable as the session progressed but I felt like a kook. I was falling off the board frequently while simply paddling around.  I thought I had pretty awesome balance in the past.  I generally Surf a 7-4 and 8-6 SUP, so going up to 9-6 was supposed to be easy.  I'm thinking the foil has reprogrammed my brain and now my muscle memory is all off.  Have any of you experienced this?

Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: 805StandUp on December 18, 2018, 02:48:31 PM
My take is yes, it throws off the timing!  When I started foiling, I swapped back and forth every few sessions with no issues but over the past 1-2 months only foiled until last Thursday when the waves at my foil break were non-existent but a 1/2 mile up at the point it was pumping.  I took the foil off and surfed my 7'4 Hypernut and found that my timing was off on balance/bracing and I forgot how to surf!  Kept trying to turn off my front leg and burying the nose.  Took 3 waves to remind my muscle memory!
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: PonoBill on December 18, 2018, 04:09:17 PM
Absolutely, completely. It takes a least one session to be able to surf again. And if your foiling is not firmly set in muscle memory it will screw your foiling up for a session. I went out on my always-challenging Ku Nalu 12'X25" and flopped around like a newb. Embarrassing. So I took my huge Foote 10'4" X 33" out in some moderate surf and sucked wind for half an hour. I got back into it pretty well after that and had a good session. The next day my foiling sucked for about an hour, then got a little better. All better the next day.

Brains are strange.
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: Dwight (DW) on December 18, 2018, 04:41:48 PM
It totally screwed me over.

It doesn’t upset me too much because I only care about foiling.



Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: Beasho on December 18, 2018, 07:46:44 PM
Affirmative!

The last week we have seen waves ranging from 10 to 50 feet. 

I have been out at Mavericks and Rockies cove on my 12 foot PSH gun (did not go out yesterday Dec 17th for fear of my life). 

I found my balance particularly BAD right before takeoff.  Super unnerving to be launching on 2X+++ type waves and be all wobbly.

My balance was OK standing, terrible from the 6 to 12 mph range, and then better once in surfing stance and riding.

The lack of balance permeated my MOJO and I am wondering if my nerves are getting TOO frazzled for the big stuff.  I am hoping that like KAI the cross training will ultimately only make me stronger.
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: eastbound on December 19, 2018, 11:08:31 AM
what's wrong with you guyz??

kai transitions on/off all sorts of watercraft without issues......


Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: goodfornothin on December 19, 2018, 12:31:15 PM
Hahaha, kai=in his 20's, his mitochondria still firing like a furnace,,,,us=old as dirt.  Wuch you gunna do ;D

Swells can be scene a few days out, might be worth the time to get on the board the day before and dust out the cob webs. 
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: PonoBill on December 19, 2018, 08:43:02 PM
what's wrong with you guyz??

kai transitions on/off all sorts of watercraft without issues......

Old, slow, and in the way.
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: eastbound on December 20, 2018, 02:47:41 PM
nuttin!

hey----we're still kickin!!!!
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: SUPeter on December 20, 2018, 03:30:29 PM
A definite Yes from me!  Its not that my balance gets worse but I think it is the rhythm and rate of board movement.  With the foil on, the movements side to side are slower and I find that I can not keep up with the much faster wobble of a wingless board.
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: Califoilia on December 20, 2018, 05:53:43 PM
A definite Yes from me!  Its not that my balance gets worse but I think it is the rhythm and rate of board movement.  With the foil on, the movements side to side are slower and I find that I can not keep up with the much faster wobble of a wingless board.
Perfect descriptions of how going from one to the other feels to me a well.
Title: Re: Does foil surfing ruin your balance
Post by: goodfornothin on December 21, 2018, 07:42:54 AM
Yes we are East, just kicking a little lower these days, Hahah
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