Author Topic: Tips on going upwind surface riding  (Read 2375 times)

Phils

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Tips on going upwind surface riding
« on: March 27, 2020, 03:24:25 AM »
Had a difficult session yesterday with dead onshore winds and low tide.  I had to prone paddle a fair distance to get some room.  Do all the beginner messing around and by the time I am standing and trying to get some speed, I am back to shallow water.....rinse and repeat.  Exhausting.  I am not at the point I can pop up onto foil quickly so I thought I would try to get more room by going upwind surface riding as soon as I stood up but found this really hard.  So any tips on going upwind on the surface?  I yaw my board and try to power up the wing by sheeting in with back hand but was not able to go up wind.  Any help appreciated.

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2020, 03:54:55 AM »
Hi Phils,

We had that (straight onshore) a few days when we were just in Baja.  Was the wind really light for you?  It is a PITA when it is really light because the board won't want to point easily.  In those conditions it may be easiest to knee out if possible.  Get as far out as you need to get a good runway between you and the shallows and wait your puff.  The key is not to waste yourself on wind that won't get you started.  I had to swim out to the windline a few days.  When it is windy enough pointing on your knees or standing gets much easier.

Phils

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2020, 04:06:13 AM »
Thanks for the response.  It was light for my skill level.  Is it easier to get room upwind kneeling or standing?  When doing this, should my wing be towards the front or the back of the window? (sorry, kiter speak)

Phil

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2020, 04:22:30 AM »
There is a point when it is light enough that the wing isn't really giving support and you are partially holding it in place.  It is easier for me to kneel out when it is like that.  I try not to mess around with standing until I know that I have enough wind to get foiling.  You can twist your torso upwind and your knees and the board will follow while you leave your hands back.  If you are completely holding the wing up then its time to swim out.   Pointing when standing is pretty straight forward when there is more wind.  I am guessing that you were just under the threshold and maybe on a small board. 

Solent Foiler

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2020, 07:12:20 AM »
The mast is the main lifting surface that's going to get you upwind when lowriding (not foiling). Using the handles closest to the leading edge (handles 1 and 3 on my wing) puts more wing behind the mast keeping the nose closer to the wind. I can get upwind like this as long as there is enough wind to fly the wing, and I tend to stand.

EDIT - also to add that you need some forward movement before you try go upwind otherwise you just go sideways. The forward movement attaches the water flow around the mast meaning it can work as a lifting surface to get you upwind.
« Last Edit: March 27, 2020, 07:15:22 AM by Solent Foiler »
I'm 5'10", 66kg riding:
Swift Foil Boards custom 4'10 x 19.5" 35L
Gong Lethal 4'6 65L
Axis ART 799, 899, 1099, HPS 880 US & CS Adv fuse, 85cm mast
Gong Fluid L-S, XXL-S on 85cm and 65cm mast
Takuma RS 5.1, 4.3, 3.5

peterp

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2020, 07:46:56 AM »
A friend of mine with good sailing background showed me a trick for light wind upwind riding (ie when not foilable).

He places the wing tip on the board and sails it upwind like a windsurfer - works a charm even in the lightest breeze.

It does require min. 1/1 volume board and decent balance.


VB_Foil

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2020, 11:18:51 AM »
They way I would describe going up wind when schlogging along is to get the wing toward the rear of the 'vessel' while maintaining good balance and forward speed.  Think of it like this: You know the 'dab' motion kids do, with their front elbow wrapped around their forehead and their rear arm extended behind, that's what I do in a nutshell.  It allows you to turn the nose of the board at an upwind angle while keeping speed up.  It can be a bit of a pain on the shoulders, but those muscles will get stronger with practice. 

Whenever I come off foil and I'm waiting on a puff of wind, I resort to this method to keep upwind or at least holding ground depending on conditions. 
I’m a 5’9” 65kg rider:

Boards:
   4' 27L Armstrong FG Wing/Surf
   4’5” 34L Armstrong FG Wing/Surf
   4'11" 60L Armstrong Wing/Sup
  
  

Foils: Armstrong HA525, HS625, HA725, HA925, HS1050, HA1125, HS1250, HA1325
Wings: BRM 2M & 3M, FreeWing Nitro 4M, OR 5M & 7M Glide

Phils

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2020, 12:08:35 PM »
I really appreciate all the responses....very helpful.  If I understand correctly, the suggestion is to try and keep the wing towards the back of the board??  Hard for me to understand how this works....it seems like I would be pushed more downwind??

Solent Foiler

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2020, 01:27:38 PM »
https://youtu.be/hgpYr-6830I

I really apologise for the terrible voice over but it shows nicely how it works in the first 30 seconds.

If you want to understand the physics rather than just doing it on trust, then probably easier to Google 'physics of sailing' and use the online resources to explain.
I'm 5'10", 66kg riding:
Swift Foil Boards custom 4'10 x 19.5" 35L
Gong Lethal 4'6 65L
Axis ART 799, 899, 1099, HPS 880 US & CS Adv fuse, 85cm mast
Gong Fluid L-S, XXL-S on 85cm and 65cm mast
Takuma RS 5.1, 4.3, 3.5

Wetstuff

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Re: Tips on going upwind surface riding
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2020, 06:12:12 AM »
I have only wing'ed on a SUP, so far, but SF's vid shows it.  It is radical how far you can get the nose of the board upwind by twist your core and holding the wing aft of the center of the board.  I wasn't going anywhere fast, but the principle was clear in 30sec.

Jim
Atlantis Mistress .. Blue Planet MultiTasker ..   Atlantis Venom

 


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