Hi! Winging/parawing, I've only used straps. Have you gone from straps to strapless and found it better?
Thanks
Interesting. I never rode with straps in my life (in my head the risk for injury is much higher). How would you describe the difference? What feels better with straps?
(excluding the obvious - jumping)
Select to expand quoteoptwo2 said..
Interesting. I never rode with straps in my life (in my head the risk for injury is much higher). How would you describe the difference? What feels better with straps?
(excluding the obvious - jumping)
Straps give a target for swapping feet. Can pull up on the straps when carving, pumping onto foil. And if you don't wear a leash, less swimming after your board (requires flexible ankles and knees though, so not recommended, lol).
I've done both, learnt with straps, then when i was learning parawing I was strapless.
Strapless helped me "finish" the footswitchs, I had like 70% success with the straps, being strapless made it easier because it removed that moment where you fall because you want your foot in the strap and you end up knocking your toes on it. but otherwise the freedom is so nice. I thought I would be strapless forever because of the freedom, but I like to try and go fast sometimes and that was impossible to do without straps.
Also its easier woth straps to pump the board onto foil in light conditions, and easier to carve. Only downside to the straps imo is that you cant move really well your feet when downwinding.
I think sometimes it depends where you started, as a surfer before foiling I'm not a fan of straps, I move my feet around a lot on the board depending on what I'm doing (certain turns or pumping)
Where as people that came from kiting/windsurfing etc tend to like being strapped in more.
If I was attempting lots of airs I'd have no choice but to strap in but for now haven't felt restricted by not having straps.
With straps the board is part of me, without I'm just sort of on top of it.
Super easy to learn with the straps, especially when having former windsurfing background and used to fine tuning the gear until it feels perfect. But then at some point it just clicks and the straps are no longer necessary. Depending on what kind of riding you are after of course.
For me, if I'm riding my hardest in waves, I have maybe 5 "get on foils" in me before I'm tired and my riding level steps down a notch. Sitting in the water, climbing onto the board, slogging, pumping onto foil. It's a lot of work compared to just staying on foil. The straps allow me to stay on foil when I would have come off and stay on the board when I would have fallen off. Even in some gnarly crashes I can almost always muscle the board back to the right direction to get back on foil. That means fewer times clawing my way back on foil and more of my session riding at my best.
I never switch feet ever. Even when I rode strapless years ago.
As far as jumping it's the same as strapless kitesurfing, I have to actively coach myself not to get bored and jump on flat days. I can't afford To destroy boards like that.
as far as injury I think board width is important. 24" wide is ok but any bigger I think is an issue. Modern skinny boards are great. It's just a matter of how Much leverage the board has.
If you want to go full Cash Berzola then you need straps. If you want to have the best downwind bump surfing ability then strapless is better.
Personally I don't ride straps on anything, not since I last rode a twin tip which was quite a few years ago. I really like the feeling of strapless, being able to adjust your stance for the best trim. I will move my feet a fair bit when foiling. Bring the back foot further forward for pumping and more drawn out glidy turns. Back foot further back for sharper more aggressive turns.
When you look at what Cash Berzola and the other pros can do you have to admit that riding with straps is vastly superior. But for the average cruiser, wave/bump surfer I think you're better off without them.
I've gone both ways and for me when the conditions are "gnar" and I'm my smallest kit, I definitely crash less with straps. Predominately front strap only, I stand and push against the back strap and only lock into that if jumping - which is rare for me, but its good to have the option for stripping weed or clearing a weed bunch.
Strapless rider checking in.
I've tried a front strap. When I had it dialed in I did experience an instant jump in control and pump up on foil ability.
That said, straps are horrible when poorly placed. The strap takes up a considerable amount board real estate. When I tinker with my foil or board setup (which perhaps I do too much), sometimes the strap will be in exactly the wrong place. Aargh!!!
And then there are the times I unintentionally hit a sand bar or ball of weed at speed and go ass over teakettle. Boy am I ever glad my foot wasn't in a strap.
Front straps for me. I rely on them for my foot switches mainly, getting my feet in the right spot straight away, and it also helps with the pumping. Tried the rear straps a couple of times and didn't like them, they were in the way when not in them and they were harder than I thought they'd be to get into (20" w board). Crashing with straps doesn't worry me, I've had big crashes at 35+kts windsurfing and never hurt my feet/ankles
Select to expand quoteStretchy said.
Crashing with straps doesn't worry me, I've had big crashes at 35+kts windsurfing and never hurt my feet/ankles
Just that windsurf boards don't have a big anchor beneath them that causes a ton of leverage.
Select to expand quotepacoz said..Stretchy said.
Crashing with straps doesn't worry me, I've had big crashes at 35+kts windsurfing and never hurt my feet/ankles
Just that windsurf boards don't have a big anchor beneath them that causes a ton of leverage.
I think board width is a bigger problem. My wing board at 20" wide will still roll fairly easily despite the foil. Previously windfoiling with an 85cm wide board was a bigger risk, particularly if hooked in.
Select to expand quoteStumbleweed said..
Strapless rider checking in.
I've tried a front strap. When I had it dialed in I did experience an instant jump in control and pump up on foil ability.
That said, straps are horrible when poorly placed. The strap takes up a considerable amount board real estate. When I tinker with my foil or board setup (which perhaps I do too much), sometimes the strap will be in exactly the wrong place. Aargh!!!
And then there are the times I unintentionally hit a sand bar or ball of weed at speed and go ass over teakettle. Boy am I ever glad my foot wasn't in a strap.
Oho man, bad strap placement is the worst. I 100% buy strapless boards and add inserts EXACTLY where My feet go like I ride strapless and take a grease pencil out and mark my feet and add the straps in the right spot.
Select to expand quoteTooMuchEpoxy said..Stumbleweed said..
Strapless rider checking in.
I've tried a front strap. When I had it dialed in I did experience an instant jump in control and pump up on foil ability.
That said, straps are horrible when poorly placed. The strap takes up a considerable amount board real estate. When I tinker with my foil or board setup (which perhaps I do too much), sometimes the strap will be in exactly the wrong place. Aargh!!!
And then there are the times I unintentionally hit a sand bar or ball of weed at speed and go ass over teakettle. Boy am I ever glad my foot wasn't in a strap.
Oho man, bad strap placement is the worst. I 100% buy strapless boards and add inserts EXACTLY where My feet go like I ride strapless and take a grease pencil out and mark my feet and add the straps in the right spot.
There is also the question of strap adjustability. New boards are now coming out with inserts for V-straps only, which are not very adjustable. Coming from windsurfing, I'm used to having high and narrow straps with the foot all the way in up to the ankle. Maybe that's "old-school", as I see pros on Instagram riding with flat, wide straps with only the toes sticking out past the strap, and V-straps are fine for this kind of setup.
Select to expand quoteTooMuchEpoxy said..Stumbleweed said..
Strapless rider checking in.
I've tried a front strap. When I had it dialed in I did experience an instant jump in control and pump up on foil ability.
That said, straps are horrible when poorly placed. The strap takes up a considerable amount board real estate. When I tinker with my foil or board setup (which perhaps I do too much), sometimes the strap will be in exactly the wrong place. Aargh!!!
And then there are the times I unintentionally hit a sand bar or ball of weed at speed and go ass over teakettle. Boy am I ever glad my foot wasn't in a strap.
Oho man, bad strap placement is the worst. I 100% buy strapless boards and add inserts EXACTLY where My feet go like I ride strapless and take a grease pencil out and mark my feet and add the straps in the right spot.
I don't know how I'd mark the positions.Do you remember where your feet were when riding? Neither of my boards has much in the way of visual landmarks.
Or maybe you're some kind of badass who can mark out foot position while riding. :)
I'll never use straps but I do care a lot about having a small deck pad. Easiest way to start to reference foot locations is to put a piece of masking tape with numbers 1-10 on the side of board. Then go for a rip and take out the action cam to snap a few selfies of your feet with the masking tape numbers in frame. After you've done it once you can use those measurements to reference off your mast position from there on out.
Long time wavesailor so very much used to straps, jumps, aireals of the lip etc but also surf and sup (strapless) and DW.
With wingfoil I tried straps but prever the more surfy "free" feel without them.
Not having them doesnt hold me back in turns and carving altough being 52 I don,t have the ambition to make Cash Berzola style foil slides or to jumps either.
ooh to add: 96kg rider on a Super K-V2 95l and Wingdrifter 5.4x22x56l.
Select to expand quoteStumbleweed said..TooMuchEpoxy said..Stumbleweed said..
Strapless rider checking in.
I've tried a front strap. When I had it dialed in I did experience an instant jump in control and pump up on foil ability.
That said, straps are horrible when poorly placed. The strap takes up a considerable amount board real estate. When I tinker with my foil or board setup (which perhaps I do too much), sometimes the strap will be in exactly the wrong place. Aargh!!!
And then there are the times I unintentionally hit a sand bar or ball of weed at speed and go ass over teakettle. Boy am I ever glad my foot wasn't in a strap.
Oho man, bad strap placement is the worst. I 100% buy strapless boards and add inserts EXACTLY where My feet go like I ride strapless and take a grease pencil out and mark my feet and add the straps in the right spot.
I don't know how I'd mark the positions.Do you remember where your feet were when riding? Neither of my boards has much in the way of visual landmarks.
Or maybe you're some kind of badass who can mark out foot position while riding. :)
I'm 90% prone and 10% wing so riding around without power and reaching down and fiddling with my feet isn't that big of a deal. Try it next time you're out you'll probably realize it's not that hard. The trick is the grease pencil. Getting the cap off and back on a marker is tricky!
My real tricky maneuver is picking up a lost hat without coming off foil. I can only pull it off like 30% of the time, but when I do, it feels pretty special!
Select to expand quote
Stumbleweed said..TooMuchEpoxy said..Stumbleweed said..
Strapless rider checking in.
I've tried a front strap. When I had it dialed in I did experience an instant jump in control and pump up on foil ability.
That said, straps are horrible when poorly placed. The strap takes up a considerable amount board real estate. When I tinker with my foil or board setup (which perhaps I do too much), sometimes the strap will be in exactly the wrong place. Aargh!!!
And then there are the times I unintentionally hit a sand bar or ball of weed at speed and go ass over teakettle. Boy am I ever glad my foot wasn't in a strap.
Oho man, bad strap placement is the worst. I 100% buy strapless boards and add inserts EXACTLY where My feet go like I ride strapless and take a grease pencil out and mark my feet and add the straps in the right spot.
I don't know how I'd mark the positions.Do you remember where your feet were when riding? Neither of my boards has much in the way of visual landmarks.
Or maybe you're some kind of badass who can mark out foot position while riding. :)
see guys, this is the beauty of using wax instead of deck pads, can just reach down and scratch yr foot outline into that nice grubby wax on the fly
I'm not jumping, but do come from lifetime of wavesailing, and I like having the strap option, esp parawinging 30L prone board in the rough stuff. Placement has to be spot-on tho, and both my straps are outboard of where factory rolled inserts would be.
Tis a bloody chore having to screw the buggers on and off tho
Select to expand quoteBWalnut said..
I'll never use straps but I do care a lot about having a small deck pad. Easiest way to start to reference foot locations is to put a piece of masking tape with numbers 1-10 on the side of board. Then go for a rip and take out the action cam to snap a few selfies of your feet with the masking tape numbers in frame. After you've done it once you can use those measurements to reference off your mast position from there on out.
Great suggestion
Select to expand quoteTooMuchEpoxy said..Stumbleweed said..TooMuchEpoxy said..Stumbleweed said..
Strapless rider checking in.
I've tried a front strap. When I had it dialed in I did experience an instant jump in control and pump up on foil ability.
That said, straps are horrible when poorly placed. The strap takes up a considerable amount board real estate. When I tinker with my foil or board setup (which perhaps I do too much), sometimes the strap will be in exactly the wrong place. Aargh!!!
And then there are the times I unintentionally hit a sand bar or ball of weed at speed and go ass over teakettle. Boy am I ever glad my foot wasn't in a strap.
Oho man, bad strap placement is the worst. I 100% buy strapless boards and add inserts EXACTLY where My feet go like I ride strapless and take a grease pencil out and mark my feet and add the straps in the right spot.
I don't know how I'd mark the positions.Do you remember where your feet were when riding? Neither of my boards has much in the way of visual landmarks.
Or maybe you're some kind of badass who can mark out foot position while riding. :)
I'm 90% prone and 10% wing so riding around without power and reaching down and fiddling with my feet isn't that big of a deal. Try it next time you're out you'll probably realize it's not that hard. The trick is the grease pencil. Getting the cap off and back on a marker is tricky!
My real tricky maneuver is picking up a lost hat without coming off foil. I can only pull it off like 30% of the time, but when I do, it feels pretty special!
Whoa. Outlining your feet on the fly and picking up hats on foil??? I doff my cap to you, sir. Impressive.
I use front straps and find masses of extra control with them. Over time ive found the perfect distance from the centre screw of a V footstrap to the mast, for my main foil. Whenever I get a new board/ swap boards I set the straps, measure and mark the mast position on the tracks. From this i already know how the mast position differs for my other two foils.
This method ensures im always set up right. Sometimes theres a tiny bit of adjustment depending on swing weight but not much.
