Liquid Force’s Last Video on Foilboarding With the Foil Fish

Final Liquid Force Hydrofoil Tutorial: Turning and Jumping

You've dominated the waters on your foilboard with the techniques given by the sultry-voiced Siskar and Sensi Graves in their first foilboarding instructional video. You've mastered commanding your board as seen in the second Liquid Force tutorial. Now you, the ever-vigilant-watcher-of-all-things-how-to, can check out Liquid Force's final installment of how to foilboard using the LF Foil Fish (it's sad, we know). This time they're kicking it up a notch with showing you heel-side turns, tacks, jibes, jumps, front rolls, back rolls, and more than you could possibly imagine could come from one video.

Heel-Side Turns

This turn is ideal for downwind, after you've mastered the toe-side turn. It's similar to the toe-side turn, the heel-side turn begins downwind with a carving "S" turn. Once comfortable, lead the turn with your kite transitioning it through the wind window. Be sure to follow the turn forward with your hip, keeping that much-needed front foot pressure. Then, you'll want to drive your foil through the arc of your turn. As you begin to get more comfortable with your body motions, you can begin to get more aggressive with the angle of the mast. By leaning, or heeling farther over the heel-side edge while turning, you can really begin to carve the hydrofoil with power. 

Another variation of the heel-side turn is the upwind version. Mastering this technique will allow you to unleash a whole new set of fun, carving turns. In this case, to initiate your transition, start bringing your kite upwards towards twelve-o'clock. At the same time, begin to carve your turn upwind using a circular motion. Once the foil rounds the upwind portion of the turn, re-weight your body over the foil. At this moment, you can decide to either diver your kite for full power and ride away toe-side, or continue the turn for a full 360-degree carve by following your turn all the way through the full arc of the turn. Getting acquainted with this turn will help you with tacks and jibes.

Tacks

The most basic foot switch is going to be a surface tack, similar to the surfboard version.  The maneuver starts by sending the kite to twelve o'clock with an upwind carve of the board. Using the moment of weightlessness, remove your feet from the straps to push the board through the turn as you dive your kite, put your feet into your straps, and ride off in your new direction. 

Jibes

The first step of the jibe is being able to smoothly remove your back foot from the strap while foiling. After removing your back foot, slow down the board to the water's surface. Once down, shuffle step your feet while rotating your hips into your toe-side body position, dive your kite in the new direction, while riding away heel-side with speed. The ultimate goal is to eventually be able to stay on a foil while jibing. 

Jumping

Similar to a twin tip, loading and popping off of the foil will give you the most control. By carving the foil upwind you can control the release of the wing and get a better hookup with the kite.

Back Roll

Learning the back roll can help you dial in the feeling and the motion of the load and pop. Ride with a moderate speed, carve upwind, and pop off with your back foot. Continue the carving motion into the air. Looking over your shoulder, spot your landing and focus on getting your foil underneath you. 

Tips and Tidbits:

- When carving more aggressively on your heel-side turn, be sure to dive your kite when exiting the turn to maintain constant, smooth speed.

- When practicing your jibes, be sure to make your foot switch fast and as light as possible. Also, the front footstrap is a great tool for keeping the board off of the water.