Aloha. Send us comments or questions! We are happy to help out. If you have specific concerns, try to get a short video so we can offer our guidance. Welcome to our channel!
I crashed way way out on the bay here in Tacoma Washington chasing a wave swell from ship. I was solo over a mile from any help, and I had 6 months of good skill. I crashed wrong going over the front of the board and got struck hard by either the board or mast. I ALMOST went uncontious with seeing stars and feeling "sleepy". Got a huge gash with 12 staples required. It troubles me with every Lift promo video no one ever wears head protection. I think I will shop for the bump cap since currently I'm in a full on kiteboarding helmet
OUCH!! That sounds horrible. Sorry to hear that story, but it definitely happens. This sport is so progressive and so addictive, we sometimes get distracted and think all is good. I have three years of experience on my efoil and other foil boards, but when I am pushing the limits, falls and crashes still occur. That is why the bump cap is part of my normal ride equipment. I may not like the idea of a helmet, but a bump cap is simple and always on. The life jacket is also an issue. I personally choose to wear one when I will be far offshore. Mahalo for your feedback and sharing your story.
Hi Alika, I hope you can help me with some size problems for my new efoil board. On this moment a have a 111L board, and its easy to rode. But I want 2 go more into carving and that kind of stuff. So I want 2 go smaller with the board. What is the smallest board that I can get into with 86 kg (190 pound) and still be able to waterstart but have al the + features of having a small board? Some say a 85Liter board is the smallest I should go 2, but what is your experience? Thanks for your help, Ronald from the Netherlands.
Aloha Ronald! Great question. With your efoil, you have TONS of power, so you don't need a large board; you just need enough forward movement to create stability. At 190lbs, you can literally ride the smallest board on the market, which is 4'2" from Lift, and 4'4" from Flite. The difficulty with smaller boards is that the board responds to your weight shifting very quickly as it is much smaller than you. With enough speed, and proper use of your body weight, you should practice skimming the board on your belly, then hands and knees, and back to your belly. When you can keep the board level in transition, then try to get to your feet. The issue is your control of your weight so you don't sink or skyrocket the nose as you transition to your feet. My advice is to go as slow as you can, while still achieving stability by accelerating the board. Once you are standing up, it is simple to accelerate to your desired speed. I hope this helps. Aloha.
Aloha Michael. Great question! I recommend to our students to use a leash for your first few sessions until they get comfortable with their control of the board. Once you are comfortable controlling the roll and pitch of the efoil, a leash would not be necessary when you are riding in calm water conditions. I hope this helps.
@@hawaiiefoil it does, thanks. Could you make a video that discusses how to handle crashing? I bought a foil recently and the idea of hitting the mast or the wing definitely worries me. Your video details how to efoil in more detail than the other videos out there.
Thanks for the suggested video topic. I like the idea. For you specifically, I would advise that you wear your helmet and life vest until your are completely comfortable. The protection will give you confidence to try little progressive steps. If you don't feel safe, you will never relax on the board. Relaxing is a huge part of entering a "flow state" so that you can feel the board (versus overthinking what to do next). I tell all my students that you have to get "out of your head" and "trust your body to learn" through simple repetition. Try one step, feel the change in the board, correct for mistakes, and try again. Once it feels correct, try the next step.
@@michaelvadney5803 You practice pushing the board away from you are going down. Fall the other way. Spend plenty of time learning the ride the board before you ever get up on the foil. Learn to turn and touch and go ,etc and you'll learn to fall. They get a lot more intense once you start to ride the wings more than a few feet at a time. Be patient and work up to that.
