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All our tips for getting started with dockstarts in surf foiling

All our tips for getting started with dockstarts in surf foiling "It's not for us old folks, it's for young people with energy and a good sense of balance." You often hear this kind of argument on the beach. It's completely false. In this article, we'll give you all the steps and information you need to get started with dockstarts . We'll discuss the equipment you need to begin, progress, or excel, covering the different techniques. Getting started with dockstarts requires a lot of repetition to overcome the initial difficulties. But you'll find it an excellent way to train when there's no wind for wing foiling. What is dockstart? Have you ever heard of dockstarts? It's that thing where you wipe out off the dock on your foil, pretending to be an athlete, and try to stay airborne by wriggling around like a worm. It's fun, eco-friendly, and great for losing belly fat. You don't need wind, waves, or a kite to go foiling. Just good gear , a light board, and a spot with a dock and fairly deep water. Dockstarts are tough at first , but you can learn . And it's fantastic for improving your pumping and getting ready for surf foiling. It's a great way to let off steam in a short amount of time. Muscle strengthening guaranteed! How to start the dockstart on a foil? 1 – Choose a suitable pontoon or quay To successfully perform a foil dockstart, it's crucial to choose a pontoon or dock that's wide and stable enough to allow you to run with the board in your hands. Avoid pontoons or docks that are too narrow or unstable, as these could throw you off balance. Ideally, choose a floating pontoon where your front wing can pass underneath and won't interfere with your running. A pontoon between 30 and 60 cm high above the water's surface is perfect. You'll need to adjust the mast height to the pontoon height. A high pontoon will require a taller mast, while a low pontoon will allow you to use a shorter one. Generating speed through current To successfully perform a dockstart on a foil, you need to generate speed by running along the pontoon or dock with the board in your hands (hold the board by the rails) and position the foil slightly underwater. Try to run as fast as possible while maintaining your balance. Generally, the smaller your foil, the more speed you'll need to generate. Some large foils, like our 2000 HA, require almost no speed to get going; our riders can even launch without a running start. So, adjust your running speed to the power and surface area of ​​your front wing. Once you've generated enough speed by running, it's time to jump onto the board. To do this, release the front rail of the board, place your front hand on the surface, and jump, landing with your feet properly positioned. You can use the position of your hands to help you position your feet as close to the ideal stance as possible. Foot placement is very important, as poor positioning is difficult to correct. It's up to you to determine your optimal stance. Generally, on a small board, the back foot is positioned directly above the mast, and the front foot is placed just behind the front hand, which is positioned on the deck. Staying in the air Once you're properly positioned on the board, it's time to start pumping and staying airborne for as long as possible. To do this, continue generating speed by pumping and oscillating the foil downwards, then lighten your weight so the foil rises again. Ideally, it's not just your legs that are working; you need to transfer energy to the foil using your entire body mass through the effects of imbalance. Keep your gaze fixed forward and try to keep your center of gravity above the board in the air. Flying as high as possible will reduce drag on the foil and therefore allow you to fly longer with minimal effort. Arm movement during pumping: initially, you can use your arms to help lighten the load; this also helps establish a pumping frequency and rhythm. As your fitness level improves, using your arms becomes less necessary. By following these steps and practicing regularly, you should be able to master the foil dockstart technique and take off quickly and easily from any pontoon or dock. Little extras to remember: Check that there are no ropes or chains under the pontoon to avoid damaging the foil Avoid constantly bumping your board against the pontoon to preserve your equipment for as long as possible. When you fall, try to catch your board to prevent it from hitting a boat if you are in a harbor. Opt for a rigid foil that automatically transmits your weight to the foil. You will gain efficiency. Advice from Bruno SROKA Keep your gaze fixed ahead and try to be as stable and "straight" as possible when landing. "Straight" means that your center of gravity should be directly above the board. If you're too far forward, back, left, or right, you'll start off with an imbalance that will be difficult to correct. What equipment should I choose to practice dockstarting? Still want to try dockstarting? First, you need to choose good equipment, otherwise you'll struggle. The most important thing is the foil, because that's what will make you fly or dive. The choice of foil There are different types of foils depending on their aspect ratio, that is, the ratio between the length and width of the wing. The higher the aspect ratio, the longer the wing with a shorter chord. The lower the aspect ratio, the longer the wing with a shorter chord and a shorter wingspan. Low/mid aspect foils Mid-aspect ratio foils are the easiest for beginners. They are simpler to handle and launch from a dockstart. A mid-aspect ratio foil is defined as having a smaller wingspan and a longer chord. With this type of foil, initial mistakes are easily corrected thanks to their maneuverability, which allows for easy realignment and excellent low-speed power. However, they don't plane for as long as high-aspect ratio foils (of roughly the same size) and therefore require a higher pumping frequency. Our best mid-aspect wings dedicated to pumping are the wings from the classic range, especially the 1750 and 2000. If you choose a foil that's too small or too technical, you'll likely fail. Therefore, you should accept choosing an easy-to-use foil that will glide a little less but will allow you, as a beginner, to pump for anywhere from a few seconds to tens of seconds. High-aspect foils High aspect ratio foils are the most efficient because they offer better glide and plane much longer and more easily with less effort. They are designed for those who want to cover long distances by pumping. However, they are more technically challenging to master initially and to relaunch after a turn, due to their large wingspan. Our best HA wings dedicated to pumping are the Lift 1350 and 2000 . The 1350 will be perfectly suited to smaller riders (under 70 kg) or advanced riders who want to go faster. The 2000 will be suitable for riders over 70 kg or anyone who wants to glide for a long time with less effort. A wing with a large wingspan will give you much more glide but will turn less quickly. So if you're aiming for time or distance records, we recommend using this type of front wing with a high aspect ratio. Choosing the mast height The mast in the water generates drag. So if you have a long mast and want to ride very low in the water, you'll have a lot of drag. To be efficient when pumping, you need to fly high above the water to minimize the mast surface area in the water and thus reduce drag. Therefore, a mast between 70 and 80 cm seems perfectly suited. The higher you are in the water, the shallower the foil is, and therefore the less drag there will be around the mast. This mast height is also determined by the height of the dock. If the dock is high, then you'll need to increase the mast height. If the dock is low in the water, or if you want to do a beach start, then a 70 cm mast is recommended. The choice of fuselage length Pumping is making your foil oscillate up and down. The fuselage length will influence the pumping frequency and therefore the ease of oscillating the foil along its longitudinal axis. The further the stabilizer is from the front wing (longer fuselage), the more it will stabilize the foil along its longitudinal axis, thus reducing oscillation (oscillation will be more difficult). However, beginners will have more time to improve their pumping efficiency. We created a special pumping fuselage where the mast is set back 3 cm compared to other SROKA fuselages. This allows for better weight distribution on the front and rear legs, thus optimizing flight time. A shorter fuselage will facilitate oscillations and on the other hand it will be less stable but more playful. So depending on your level, you can make your foil easier or more playful when pumping. The stabilizer By definition, the stabilizer is there to stabilize and restore some lift to the foil. A large stabilizer will make pumping easier at the start, by slowing the foil down a bit and providing more support. However, it will also restrict the foil's oscillation and slow it down more. A smaller stabilizer will increase the foil's glide but provide less stability. Consequently, it will make the foil more prone to oscillation. It will require more precise control and will therefore be more technically demanding. (Recommended for experienced riders). We have developed a 290cm HA stabilizer with a high aspect ratio. It allows for long flights with less effort. However, it will slow the foil down. The goal of pumping is to fly for as long as possible and/or cover the greatest distance. Therefore, high speed is essential and won't allow you to fly for very long periods. If you're starting out in pumping or aiming for extended flights, we recommend choosing a larger stabilizer (the 290 HA). Choosing the board For pumping, choose a board that is light, compact, strong, and rigid. Rigidity is key to transferring energy to the foil. Otherwise, you'll just be pumping in vain (the board will flex and tire you out unnecessarily). A compact board under 4'0" is better suited for efficient pumping. What size board is needed for dockstarts? A low volume is recommended. You can use your foil surfboard, but high volume isn't necessary. The less volume, the easier it will be to pump. A volume around 14-17 liters is a good alternative. What length board is needed for dockstarts? A board that's too big will be a disadvantage compared to one that's too small. For dock starts, you don't need a long board. If you choose the 4'0 pocket (125 cm) or the 3'3 mini pocket (97 cm), you'll have the two best options. Beginners will opt for the slightly larger board. It will offer more ease and space to position yourself. The mini pocket is better suited to more demanding riders who want a more compact and lightweight board. See the mini pocket 3'3 and the pocket 4'0 What is the best spot to start a dock start? The pontoon, the best option to start with. Dock starting is a sport that can be practiced almost anywhere. No special conditions are required. All you need is a place to start and your equipment. The pontoon is ideally the best place to start with dock starts. It's stable, easy to find, and allows you to easily get back on the pontoon after each attempt. Ideally, you should find a pontoon with some length to allow you to pick up speed. Be careful of obstacles in the water: lines, buoys, or anything else. If you're using a kite with a large wingspan, this can be detrimental and cause a fall. To find the perfect pontoon near you, use Google Earth or Google Maps; this will allow you to find the best option for you. The ladder planted in the sand, or starting point from the beach for experienced practitioners. If there isn't a dock nearby, you can create your own "dock" using a folding ladder that you position in the water. This opens up endless possibilities, but you'll need to perfect your technique to get going with minimal momentum. So practice on the pontoon to reduce the running distance so you can succeed in starting without a run-up. The second option is to launch from the beach; this is called a beach start. If you choose this option, use a mast around 70 cm high and ideally choose a beach where the water drops off quickly. This will prevent your foil from constantly hitting the sand. Starting with a dockstart isn't the easiest. If you're already wingfoiling , we recommend getting used to pumping by holding the wing by the front handle (in freefly mode) and trying to pump as much as possible to stay airborne. You can do the same in wakefoiling by gaining speed behind the boat and then releasing the handle. Surf foiling is also a good method, but it requires mastering the take-off, which is no small feat for a beginner. Pumping is a very good alternative when there is a lack of wind at our spots. All of dokstart's equipment What are the benefits of dockstart? Dockstarting and pumping aren't just for fun, they're also good for you. Here's why: A good pumping technique will allow you to take off earlier in wing foiling. You can also avoid some falls when you pass through a lull, by pumping until you regain air. It's useful for connecting waves in surf foiling or for freeflying in wing foiling. This strengthens your cardiovascular system and the muscles in your legs, back, and abs. You'll use your leg muscles to propel the foil, your back muscles to maintain posture, and your abdominal muscles to stabilize your torso. It also provides a cardio workout because you need to exert constant effort to move forward. It's a perfect solution for training when there's no wind. It's very fun once you get past the initial learning curve. It's easy to create friendly competition among friends. The main advantage is the minimal equipment required. All you need is a foil and a board.