Heavy back foot pressure - front foot coming out or being forced to point toes up to stay in the front strap.

I presume it's a set up issue but I don't know what causes it or if I should accept it as normal. Can it be tuned out?

Oh and we're talking about an Exocet Scross 115 freeride board and cammed sails 6.5 -7.5m (40-42 cm freeride fin).

Had a similar problem with one board in particular last session.

It was very sensitive to boom height, mickey whisker to high and the front foot would be continually coming loose or out, tried tightening the foot strap up, make it narrower, Nothing worked Till........

I made the foot strap looser than what I'd normally run, not so much that your foot slides right in but, you know- looser than normal.

No problems since no matter how high the boom goes (within realistic limits)

When all the things which should work, fail. Try something which shouldn't work

I've had this, and it's very disconcerting!
Wasn't because I was overpowered, but it's certainly more pronounced the more powered up you are.

I think it's a geometry thing, the centre of effort of the sail is too far back, putting all the load on your back foot and lifting your front foot.
Lowering the boom, means the rig can be more upright, shifting the centre of effort forward.
Moving the mast track can do the same thing, but it's usually the opposite to what you might think, moving it forward, probaly results in it being racked further back, making the problem worse, I'd try moving it back for a start.
Depending on how the board trims, you could also move the straps back.

Not sure about Elmo's method, but theory doesn't always work in practice.

I agree with Mark, in that an overpowered fin will make you point your toes and increase back foot pressure, but don't think that will make your foot want to come out of the strap.

Common problem many speedsurfers have.

Watch his toes.

Fredstyles said...

Common problem many speedsurfers have.

Watch his toes.

Bleeding hell that's a seriously small board!

decrepit said...
...................................Moving the mast track can do the same thing, but it's usually the opposite to what you might think, moving it forward, probaly results in it being racked further back, making the problem worse, I'd try moving it back for a start.
Depending on how the board trims, you could also move the straps back.

Totally agree with Decrepit's comment. Whenever overpowered (and usually overfinned) and the front foot wants to come out of the strap I move my track back which works wonders. Unless I'm missing something I can't quite figure this out as it goes against convention i.e. moving mast track forward for better control in overpowered conditions.

Agree with the boom height comments also.

yea drop your boom and a smaller fin can help


keep tuning it till its feels right