And so my new journey begins

[fatfish]

After some prompting from a friend in Maui and talking to folks on here and around some local spots, I decided to pull the trigger.  The below was awaiting for me when i got home from work.  Lot of hardware.  There are some excellent posts, videos and members on this forum to get going.  Not sure if I am excited or scared to get started.  Evan's video got me motivated to move tho.  My impact vest is coming tomorrow.

Will post up my progress.

[Evan Lloyd]

Right on.  I'm so excited for you.  Foiling is crazy fun.  Good luck out there and keep us posted on your progress. 

[Califoilia]

Let me know when you're going out, and I'll help you with as much as I can (ie. pass along what others really help get me going).

[stoneaxe]

Good Luck...one of these days...maybe.

[fumaster]

I am too starting this journey.
Took advantage of Lane’s Kenalu foil deal and just finished putting in foil tracks using ”scubasteve” plywood reinforced method in a 7’ 8” x 28w 88L board I made 3 years ago that’s been collecting dust. Was afraid the board would not float my 183 lb. body and the added foil weight, so wet tested it in the harbor. Was standing ankle deep but was able to paddle/pivot with no problem. May be different once wave action is introduced. If it doesn’t work out I’ll try my hand making a foil specific SUP board. After getting psyched reading all these foil post, I just need to get psyched up to but on the helmet, impact vest and rappel down boulders with this awkward handling board with paddle to the local beginners spot and JUST DO IT.

In honor of Flag day today, I post this picture!

[surfcowboy]

Never before has a sport elicited such joy and dread at the same time.

I think we need a beginner day one weekend where all the SoCal guys get together and kook it up with helmets and vests.

[surfercook]

Good luck on lift off!

My impact vest is coming tomorrow

What vest and where did you get it from?

[PonoBill]

I probably have ten impact vests in various states of modification trying to get them to work for paddling a SUP. This is the best one I've found--quite good.


ION Vector Front Zipper.

Pullover vests need to have enough flex to get them over your shoulders which means in a feet-first bailout they wind up over your face. Trust me on this. Been there, done that, too many times. A zipper is important, not just because we are inflexible geezers but because (hopefully) our chests are bigger than our waists which keeps the vest in place if it's zippered with a relatively inflexible material. With a foil, you WILL be experiencing some high speed, feet first landings.

[surfercook]

I probably have ten impact vests in various states of modification trying to get them to work for paddling a SUP. This is the best one I've found--quite good.

Thanx, Pono...looks good. This O'Neill has my attention.

https://www.skatepro.com/en-us/366-28633.htm

[Dwight (DW)]

Stay away from kiting vests. They have no padding at the lower ribs. That ion looks like a kite vest.

[Newps]

Hardest part about learning to foil.  If you feel like it's getting away from you jump away.  When you are new, it always feels like it's getting away from you....

[Evan Lloyd]

Hardest part about learning to foil.  If you feel like it's getting away from you jump away.  When you are new, it always feels like it's getting away from you....

Amen brother. I have found that if you try and save it, bad things happen. Better to just bail and try again.

[PonoBill]

The ion is definitely a kiting vest, but it fits and works well and the material is thick enough to absorb some substantial hits even if they aren't on the padding. It's also a lot easier getting back on the board if you don't have padding in the waist.

[SaMoSUP]

Never before has a sport elicited such joy and dread at the same time.

I think we need a beginner day one weekend where all the SoCal guys get together and kook it up with helmets and vests.

Let's do it. Got helmet and vest just need a foil and board. There's a few guys foiling at Sunset these days.

[surfcowboy]

SaMo, I saw a guy on the sunset cam at high tide tonight.

I'll be out at that spot near there tomorrow crawling around. I'll buzz you when I get this thing flying.