As the leader in foil boarding, we get asked a lot of questions about how to kite foil. We asked our customer service team to compile a list of the most frequently asked questions they get about how to kite foil.
Here are your How to Kitefoil – Top 10 FAQ
1. How hard is kite foiling to learn?
While foiling certainly adds a whole new layer of complexity to kiteboarding, learning, when done right, isn’t all that difficult if you have solid kite skills. If you can try behind a jetski or boat first, you’ll have a head start, and if you go through Foil Academy (www.foil-academy.com) and start Flight School’s shortest 15” mast, you’ll be feeling the freedom of flight in no time.
2. How dangerous it?
Foils are sharp, there’s no getting around it. They need to be, for efficiency and performance. So yes, there’s definitely a level of risk that comes with it. But if you take precautions (like wearing a full wetsuit, booties a helmet and an impact vest or PFD), the risks are minimized, and once you get over the learning curve, they drop dramatically. Starting with the three-mast Foiling Flight School package makes learning a ton safer as well. Using a short mast as you learn the basics is dramatically easier and safer than jumping right in with a full-sized mast.
3. What type of foil should I learn with?
As you have probably discovered, there are a ton of foils out there, with a wide variety of sizes, shapes and construction. In general, the best type for learning is going to be a slower foil with lots of lift and stability. That doesn’t mean you need to invest in a “beginner foil” that you’re going to grow out of, or that you can’t learn with a faster, more advanced foil. For most kiteboarders, a solid all- around design like the Hover Glide is all you’ll ever need. It’s stable but quite agile, super durable and it’s part of Slingshot’s modular platform, which features multiple front wings you can buy separately for different performance characteristics. The Hover Glide is also compatible with the three-mast Flight School package, which is by far the best learning tool available.
4. What’s the best board shape for learning?
Nice and wide, with plenty of buoyancy and a wide, scooped nose. When you’re learning, one of the most helpful tools is a board that will rebound or bounce off the water when you touch down, instead of sinking, digging in or nose diving. Once you get over the initial learning curve, the same characteristic will be super helpful for transitions, both on the water and on-foil. In the Slingshot lineup, we have three great options for beginners. The Simulator the largest and most beginner- friendly, with a full padded wrap for an added layer of protection. The Alien Air is our go-to board we recommend the most; it’s super user-friendly, but it’s a board you’ll love for as long as you have it. It’s not something you’re going to outgrow as soon as you learn the basics. If you’re an expert kiter and know you’ll progress quickly, we recommend the Dwarfcraft 4’6”, which still has plenty of width and volume but is tuned a little more aggressively than the Alien Air.
5. What size kite should I use?
Obviously, this depends on the wind speed, but a general rule we have found to be about right for your first few sessions are one to two kite sizes smaller than what you would go out on with a twin tip. Once you’re a proficient foiler, that will change dramatically, but while you’re learning you want enough power to be able to just park your kite high in the sky and focus on your footwork. You also want to be able to relaunch easily and body drag back to your board. Don’t be fooled by other foilers who are out cruising in light wind on tiny kites- you’ll get there soon enough.
6. What’s the best wind speed for learning?
While it’s true you can foil in just about any condition you can ride a twin tip in, there is definitely a sweet spot in wind speed that will help you learn easier and faster. We have found that to be the 15-25knot range, with about a 7-9m kite. Much lighter than that and you have to focus too much on your kite (and you run the risk of not making it back to the beach); much stronger and it’s too easy to get out of control once you’re on-foil.
7. Should I learn with footstraps or not?
This is a matter of personal preference, as there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Foot straps are a big help in keeping the board in position as you start out, and in riding out touchdowns and minor crashes. The obvious drawback is the increased risk of injury from crashing with your feet stuck in the straps. We recommend getting a set of straps or half straps (you’ll want to try them eventually regardless), but start strapless for your very first session. Body drag with the foil, get a feel for how it behaves under the water and see if you can get it in position and pop up. From there you can decide when you want to try straps. When you do, keep them as loose as possible and don’t wedge your feet in tight so you can kick free when you crash.
8. How good of a kiter do I need to be?
You don’t have to be an expert to learn to foil, but you do need to be a confident rider with strong kite skills. Having surfboard skills will help too.
9. What’s the difference between carbon and aluminum construction?
In two words: price and performance. Aluminum is quite a bit cheaper than carbon, and in contrast, carbon is generally higher performance. With that said it only performs better for experts, not good for beginners. If you’re just starting out go with or Hoverglide. Aluminum is heavier, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing since weight can add stability and a ton of momentum which is a good thing. Carbon is a lot lighter and stiffer, but also more sensitive. Aluminum is generally more durable- it can take a beating and is easier to repair, while carbon is more “slippery” in the water, which means faster and more efficient. For casual foilers, we usually recommend starting with the aluminum Hover Glide. This allows you to learn with the Foiling Flight School short mast system and gives you access to different front wings if you want something different down the road. If you’re
already a foiler, or you’re an advanced kiteboarder intent on learning quickly and foiling aggressively, our carbon Ghost Whisper setup is where we would point you. 10. Is learning with a short mast really necessary? Yes, yes and yes. You can certainly learn with a full-size mast, but you’ll save a ton of time, pain and frustration if you start with a short mast first. We compare it to learning to surf on a nice big longboard versus a tiny little shortboard.
10. Is learning with a short mast really necessary?
Yes, yes and yes. You can certainly learn with a full-size mast, but you’ll save a ton of time, pain and frustration if you start with a short mast first. We compare it to learning to surf on a nice big longboard versus a tiny little shortboard.