Help needed.

I am actively trying to pick up swell when riding and I keep breaching as I get on to the swell. ( I'm talking 2 foot wind driven chop/swell) I've tried to weight my front foot to keep it from breaching but I seem to nose dive and crash or I just get so much speed I outrun the chop.

Is this because it's not really a proper swell?
Is there a technique to controlling your position/speed when transitioning to wave power rather than wing power?

Any input will be appreciated

Thank you

Was going to ask the above question as well.
some points.

The faster you can turn onto the swell before you flag the better... this way you can flag straight away (almost as you turn onto the swell) and get yourself ready as you drop. But even more important is to:


try angling across the swell line As you go down it, rather than straight down. More gradual decline and also less chance of your tail breaching at the bottom trough of the swell line/wave.

Heliboy999 said..

Foilnut said..
Heliboy999 - what is your kit, board and foil?

Sorry for late reply.

I mostly use the Slingshot Infinity 84 (2000 cm2) with long fuse and the standard 42 cm stab.
I was using the Infinity 99 to good effect but the 84 is faster and gybes better.

When I talk about "Swell" I am talking about large chop as I sail on an estuary which doesn't really produce ocean swells.

Some have said that i need to go with a smaller foil but that would mean I would need serious wind to get that going as I'm 105kgs

I have just got a huge 2800 cm2 Gong Allvatorr XXL

I'm not sure how long the 'Long fuse' is on your set-up, but that can come into play when trying to ride these small wind driven swells. The longer the fuse, three main things happen: 1). Altitude adjustments require more dramatic forward/backward weight shifts to produce a change. 2). The amount of time it takes to make altitude adjustments therefor increases. 3). Turning radius is drawn out.

When swell riding little bumps, having a shorter fuse can help you 'course correct' in a much quicker time window, allowing you to rip the waves apart versus completely messing it up.

First step i would take is to shim your tail to lower the angle of attack (this will help with those surges when dropping in on swell. Second step would be getting a shorter fuse.

Longer masts way to go 85cm to 91cm will help big time,and more water time and if it's real windy moderate size front wing under water,sounds if your breaching at bit on estuary probably over winged under water,I'm 225lbs using Axis 1060 in pretty similar conditions but bigger ocean waves swells rarely breach from 15mph to 35mph+practice practice