Any ideas of how to fall safely off hydrofoil?

[ricki]

I put a request out on Facebook. Here are some of the responses starting with Nick:

"Nick O'Bea Go down with the ship. Don't jump away, it'll load and pop the board. Try to have the board stay on your feet when you crash and if you can get a surf wing, it'll prevent the tamahawk effect. The impulse wings just come to the surface and then sink back down. I wrote an instructional at https://kitehouseinstruction.wordpress.com/

Ty Luckett So you are saying foot straps, to stay with the board?

Nick O'Bea Yes at least the front strap. I need to up date the lesson since the surf foils came out. If you're on a impulse, onda, H4 style wings. You need the rear foot to be in front of the mast so just keep the front strap. High lift wings require more front foot pressure. Regular stance is way too far apart to ride comfortable

Nick O'Bea Keep strap lose enough to come out easily, you should be able to wedge your foot to the innner side of the front strap

Ty Luckett Nick O'Bea Good advice

Ty Luckett Nick O'Bea I had a student that brought his own board the other day that was strapless. And he had a hard time manipulating the board for water start. However Once he got going he was good. We’re talking about putting on the front strap which was not on the boat at the time

Nick O'Bea Front strap gives now control and sets a starting point for foot placement

Nick O'Bea He's going great. Front strap will help for the falls. Single strap in center to begin with. Make sure both hands stay on the bar to keep from going up wind too much in the beginning"

Discussion at https://tinyurl.com/yayggpta