ACCORDING TO ITS PRACTICE

 

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SURF FOIL & HOW TO GET STARTED?

THE ADVICE OF BRUNO SROKA, 3x WORLD CHAMPION IN KITESURF :

To understand the first sensations of the foil and to understand the mechanism, Bruno Sroka advises you to start the foil towed behind a boat.

The advantages of starting behind a boat are manifold. Firstly, the beginner will feel safe because he doesn’t have to worry about anyone around him and the height of water under his board. In addition, the boat’s wave is a soft wave that unwinds, so it is the ideal wave for understanding and analysing the take-off mechanism.

When it is not possible to start with the help of a boat, the practitioner must imperatively take precautions when launching the boat to avoid any danger and this is not to be taken lightly because foil accidents do exist.

Precautions to be taken when launching:

  • Choose a deserted spot or one with very few surfers around.
  • Provide a spot where there is sufficient background. (the longer your mast will be, the more bottom you will need).
  • Choose a spot you know to avoid the rocks.
  • During the launch, remember to position the foil upside down behind you and slide it over your back until there is enough bottom to turn the board over and start rowing.
  • Choose a small and soft wave that unfolds slowly, these waves generally correspond to those at the end of a sandbank. The ideal is to choose 40 cm waves of up to 1m for the experts.
  • Start with a 65 cm mast and then increase the size of the mast according to the level acquired.
  • Start with a medium sized fin such as the L 1500 fin from SROKA.

Start with a medium sized fin such as the L 1500 fin from SROKA.
To do this, the rear foot is above or slightly forward of the mast and the front foot is in front of the front fin. The distance between your shoulders should correspond to the position of your feet. Furthermore, Bruno Sroka advises you not to start with a board that is too small in order to gain stability. The 160×52 board from SROKA is more suitable for beginners. Below you will find details on how to choose the right surf foil.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWBEFORE BUYING A FOIL

Foil requires a minimum of technique and mastery. We advise for this sport to have at least an average level in surfing. It is difficult for beginner surfers to start with a foil directly. Practice requires a lot of accuracy in terms of positioning and errors cannot be made up for. Moreover, this same practice can be dangerous if you don’t take the right habits. The ideal is to take lessons with a qualified instructor in practice or to be supervised by a practitioner of a good level.

Nowadays, with so many foils on the market, you can quickly feel lost in your search. Here are a few tips to guide you in the purchase of your foil.

 

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOIL

THE CHOICE OF MATERIALS

100% CARBON :

The 100% carbon mast offers several advantages: it is strong, durable over time and does not delaminate, unlike masts that have foam inside and delaminate easily on impact. At Sroka, we have opted for a foam-free construction in our masts in order to achieve better rigidity and therefore better control of the surf foil.

 

ALUMINIUM :

Different qualities of aluminium exist on the market but are not equal. Today, the best aluminium on the foil market is T6061 thanks to its high resistance to seawater, its rigidity and the fact that it scratches much less.. The quality of aluminium from Germany is much better than that from Eastern Europe, where aluminium is made from elements that are difficult to trace. Because we are looking for the best quality, we opt for aluminium from Germany in the construction of all our foils. Aluminium foil requires rinsing after each session.

 

ANODISING :

Anodising on the foil is a surface treatment that protects the aluminium part from erosion.

Anodising (low range 10micron, mid range 20micron and high range 60micron) also plays an important role in the quality of the foil and its longevity over time.

How to differentiate between the different types of anodising? Easy! Anodising (low range 10micron, mid range 20micron and high range 60micron) also plays an important role in the quality of the foil and its longevity over time.

 

The fuselage :

A high-end (hard) anodising will be easy to spot because it will have a matt finish, whereas a low-end (light) anodising will have a glossy finish. An Aluminium fuselage will be more durable over time and will protect you from the problem of pulling out inserts. The fuselage, on the other hand, is more reliable and resistant when it is made of aluminium.

CHOOSE THE SIZE OF THE MAT :

Your level (beginner, intermediate, expert) and the spot on which you practice will determine the length of the surf foil mast you will choose. The shorter the mast, the easier it will be to start because you will stay closer to the surface. You will be able to catch smaller waves in lower water and especially the short mast will better forgive beginners’ mistakes on the supports.

That’s why a 65 cm mast is the best way to introduce you to surf foil. However in downwind, wing foil or surf foil once you have a sufficient level, you will be more comfortable with an 😯 cm mast.

The importance of the size of the front wing :

The surface area of the front wing depends on your level, your weight and above all on the waves envisaged. This is why it is important to have different wings in your quiver to be able to switch wings according to the waves you encounter. The front wing surface, profile, thickness and outline are of major importance to the overall performance of the foil. The larger the surface area with thickness in the profile, the more tolerant and faster the surf foil will be, however, it will be limited in speed. On the other hand, the smaller the wing, the faster and more manageable the foil will be, but with a more technical use. For beginners it is advisable to choose a front kite of about 1500cm2 and then, after progression, to choose a larger or smaller kite to increase the range of use.

Our advices to choose the right kite according to your size in soft waves of 80cm :

< 70 kg : S-Foil M 1250cm2 70 à 85 kg : S-Foil L 1500cm2 85 à 100 kg : S-Foil XL 1750cm2 > 100 kg : S-Foil XXL 2000cm2

comparison of S-Foil 6 in 1 wings according to practice and characteristics

THE CHOICE OF THE SROKA BOARD :

We have developed different board sizes. To start, we advise you to take a board with volume like the 160×52 SROKA board. The volume brings stability, this board is ideal for starting out in the practice of foil. In very small conditions and with a beginner’s level of practice, this board will know how to erase the errors of timing and positioning of the feet. In very small conditions and with a beginner’s level of practice, this board will know how to erase the errors of timing and positioning of the feet.

As you progress, you will be able to switch to a more technical board.

The pocket 125×47 will be ideal to have fun pumping from the beach, pontoon or behind a wake boat.