This way of getting started consists of having the foil completely submerged in the water with the board floating on the surface and jumping on it from the dock and was popularized by urbizingg.
To do it you need a place where the board will stay practically still in the water, that is, without wind or currents, or small waves.
The lower the dock the better. Ideally, a dock that is at the same level as the water will minimize the vertical downward force when landing on the board.
At first it may seem that a board with more liters can help, but from my experience it does not. It is better to use your usual pumping board that you are comfortable with, so that it is easier to get back into the air later.
You need a large foil that at least allows you to pump with it for a minute.
Steps to follow:
- Place the board in the water, at the greatest distance that you are able to jump comfortably. In this way we will maximize the horizontal speed and minimize the vertical when landing on the board. As a guide, I move the board away and give it a light push with my fingertips at the end of the board.
- We will sprint to land on the board with both feet at the same time, jumping up as little as possible, trying to make the jump forward.
- Land on the board with your feet a little further back than usual. If we land a little further forward the board will sink.
- When landing on the board you have to make minimal contact to take weight off the board again and so the foil rises.
A typical mistake is to move your feet too far forward in relation to your body to reach the board when landing, therefore when the foil rises we fall backwards because our body is not centred.
