Wing Foil interview with the Oahu Crew- BluePlanet Show Season 2, Episode 17

Aloha friends, It's Robert Stehlik.  Welcome to season number two of the blue planet show. If you're watching this, you probably already know that this show is all about wing foiling and the personalities behind the sport. I try to go a little bit deeper, find out more, get the good, juicy stories and just learn more about the people and how they live their best life.

So I hope you can join me for another season. Today's show is a really cool talk story session, with four of Oahu best wing foilers. We just give each other advice, you know, for more advanced stuff like wing foiling in onshore wind, how to handle your wing without getting in your way. And then also jumping off the top of the, off the lip then landing back in the wave.  But we also talk about more entry-level stuff. Just like how to get up on the foil and tips for beginners, like how to get started in this cool sport. So I hope you really enjoy this conversation.

I just wanted to apologize that, you know, it's been a while since, last year's 16 episodes.  I got really busy opening a second location for Blue Planet that we now have a new shop in Haleiwa,  it's running pretty smoothly now.

And then around Christmas time or COVID, and I was really feeling low energy and not that good for several months. So about a third of the people who get COVID actually feel the long-term symptoms. So I hope you're not one of them, but I'm happy to report that my energy is back. I feel good. I'm excited to produce more shows.

So I'm going to, re-interview some of the people that I talked to last year and also talk to new people, and I really appreciate everyone's suggestions, comments on blog. Um, keep them coming and I appreciate the support. And, uh, so yeah. Hope you enjoy this cool conversation with my buddies. All right.

Thanks for joining me guys. Today I got core Eli, Derek and Lucas here with me to do a little voiceover on a video that we shot a few weeks ago. And I wanted to talk a little bit about winning an entre when like riding waves and entre wind. Cause it's something that I always find a little bit tricky with the wing handling and stuff like that.

So, uh, Luca was the drone photographer, um, that day and then Koa, Eli and Derek, and I were all in the water. So I'm going to screen screen-share here and we're going to play this video. Can you guys see the screen? Okay, cool. So yeah, this was kind of a rainy overcast day and you went to another spot first and that was.

Raining. And, uh, we're unsure if the wind was going to be good. So we kept going and, um, and then the wind seemed really light and we weren't sure if it's going to be windy enough. So we ended up sending out, um, or. To see if it was windy enough. So tell us a little bit about that call you are the first one to go out.

How was it just to get going? Yeah, it was a bit nerve wracking just because it was my first time being there and I was just like, oh no, what if I go to the sand bank and like hit the sand and like, just get stuck and hoping that the wind was there. Yeah, it's kind of a tricky spot because if you can't get up on foil, you end up getting, you know, pushed downwind into the bay and like basically on the, on the shallow sand.

Um, but once we saw you, um, able to get up and going, we all pumped up and went out as well. And then this is actually, um, at my second session, I came in and got the camera, my back mounted, um, GoPro max. But yeah. Um, I w what I wanted to talk about a little bit, like, one thing I struggle with is when you're, when you're riding the wave going, you know, going with the wind, I never know where to place it.

So it does like, cause if you put it in front of you, you end up getting, um, kind of dark winded, and then sometimes when you put it behind you, then it gets like stuck on the water. So, um, maybe Eli, tell us a little bit about how you, how you handle the wing, um, and entre conditions. Um, what I had when I try to do is have it luffing behind me with enough momentum.

So before I set it behind me, I'd make sure though Ling has momentum and, um, and is moving enough for it to float, because if it, if it doesn't have that, um, movement or momentum, it'll kind of drop, like you mentioned. Um, also sometimes I'll let the tip, touch the water for a little bit. Um, and when I turn, I usually try and swing it around.

Um, and that, that swinging energy really helps keep it floating a little, but yeah, you're right. It's really challenging with onshore conditions. Uh, yeah. What about you, Derek? Do you have any pointers for the I'm writing an entre conditions? Um, I think because I use that Y handles to, well, when I'm surfing.

Um, I don't really feel any like w even if it's on shore off shore, it, I kind of keep the weight on my shoulder. Like, like a shield that prevents any bad windy or any kind of stuff. Yeah. It just, I don't know, wherever my shoulder goes again, it helps. But, um, if I was to hold the front end, Definitely would have to take a different approach to yeah.

I mean, yeah. I've noticed that too, even in, um, well, I guess if it's tied off shore, it's kind of hard to do that, but you kinda like to keep the wing really close to your shoulder and then hold it by the Y handle. Yes. Yeah. You know, and with that, that allows me to kind of use the wing. A wing tips, like as a pivot point, you know?

Yeah. It seems like with that onshore conditions, how Derek codes, it, sometimes the one that's on shore, the wind will kind of power up the top of the wing and he'll get some power and speed from that almost.

Yeah. Like kind of pushing you to kind of like call you back. You know, when the guys put the wing behind him and he just riding for miles. Um, I can use that as kind of, as a advantage and get me to fats, um, spots or, um, project you to a turn to make it look like your attorney even harder, but actually what's happening is the wind.

Pushing you and you just, you just surfing a foil, you know, you said about mitigate what happened. Yeah. But what have I, what about you called away? Um, was this the first time you, we know you winged in Kailua and other onshore conditions before? Yeah, I would just say, um, just keep the speed going and. The wing will just do its own thing.

Yeah. I don't know. I guess I think it just takes some practice to like, I, I guess I just hadn't had that much practice writing and entre when it's just different. When, uh, insider conditions, you can just kind of flag it out and it'll stay, stay kind of next to you, but it's definitely different when it's on shore conditions.

Yeah. You just, you just have to make sure that it doesn't end up in front of you when you're going faster than the, than the wind. Yeah. So like, if you're going down the line on the wave or with the, um, sometimes you can, you can get back winded and then that's like, you definitely don't want the wing between you and the, and the wave basically, but I I've noticed.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. You end up, you end up running over it. You're going to run over you. And land on it. Um, like the rafting or something, or it's going to come in front of you. And then, um, if there's other surfers or all your other winger friends, you're not going to be able to see anything at all. You know?

So you just got to, um, I think if you go and you probably spend a few hours, you should be able to figure out what a word. Yeah, but it's definitely not something where you just go over there and you show up and you, and you comfortable and you just gotta work it out or surf other spots in that similar wind range and just figure out what our expense.

Right. Cool. Um, so the, the one, the one thing that was really fun that day was like just jumping. On the kind of like jumping off the top of the wave and landing back into the wave. And that that's seems like it's pretty easy to do when the winds blowing on shirk as the wind kind of pushes you back into the wind wave.

So you, do you want to talk a little bit about that technique of like jump jumping off, off the top of the wave and landing back into maybe.

You were doing a lot of those, those jumps. I am regular footage. Um, so the wind is a little side onshore, um, kind of favorable, uh, for being regular footed. That means jumping going left would be he'll side, um, with his light on short conditions. You know, anytime it's on shore, it's a little easier to stay on the wave.

Um, but these conditions were really light and onshore. So it makes it a little more challenging. You definitely want to project your momentum forward and not too much to the side. You don't want to fall out the back. You want to make sure you land in front of the wave so you can, um, continue writing it.

But yeah, anytime it's on shore conditions, it'll kind of help push you into the wave a little, uh, yeah, look it out. And I was a nice one in landed right in the white wash and came down. That was a nice one. Any tips we're pulling off the landings more consistently? No, it's all up. Um, it's really helpful if you land in front of the wave so you can keep your speed and momentum up.

Um, also the way you point your foil in the water, when you come down can be helpful. And when you kinda bring the foil up, that kind of helps stabilize it a little, you know, like a little Railey or, um, kind of bringing it up a little that helps it's helps me anyway, stabilize it. And it helps me stay. Um, she did in with the wing.

You can see Barrick bringing up and landing it right down there. Yeah. I find it helps to, um, put your weight a little bit on the back. So you don't nose dive on the landing. And then what seems to work for me is like touching down slightly with the board, but then trying to bring it, pop it back up right away on, back on the foil.

Um, What about you, Derek? You got any tips for the landings yeah. In that, um, you know, watching a video. And so you would, when you come in to your approach to, you know, do an air, you kind of hit that top section, but you whole, your wing kind of it kicks so that the wing, the wind is in your cell and it's pushing you.

You know, not, not necessarily just going straight up and holding it. Cause if you put your wings straight up, it'll take you up and in a way will pass by you. So you got to kind of go up and angle your wings or the like the direction that the waves are going and it'll help you push you and the land you towards the wave fate.

And then from there you can surf it out. So I think if, if you was to just hit it like a regular. And I'm like years going out. It'll get all your score, take you straight up. The wave will pass and you land behind somewhat in some of the videos, you can see some of the guys land behind the oh, but they didn't mean to do that.

It's just that the projected objection and the way to win, you gotta travel. You gotta take your errors in the same direction that the wave is, is slowing. Yeah, that makes sense. What about you COA? You got any pointers for jumping? Uh, I would usually just pump my wing, get enough air. And once I do, I try to go like on the edge of the wave and once I'm in the air, I try to like snap it onto the wave.

So if I'm going, here's the wave. And then if I'm going like of it, I try snapping on it so I can go back down. It. But my dad says always like pointed down and then you'll come back up. But usually that doesn't work cause I usually just nose dive. So I like keep it flat when I land. Yeah. I've noticed that too.

If, if I, if I landed to flatter, then once the nose catches, then you kind of you're done with it. So I almost try to lean a little bit on the tail, keep the weight on the tail so that doesn't happen. But yeah, here you can see Derrick really. Getting the wind behind you. So it's almost like the winds pushing you, right?

Like the winds pushing you from behind. And then I ran to, I mean, I played this one again, cause that was kind of a good one. Um, see

where yeah. You get to being kind of behind you where it's kind of pushing you and then swing it around. That's pretty stylish.

I haven't figured that one out yet.

Yeah, no, no. It seemed like watching the videos and then, you know, from when we were there, it seemed, didn't seem like you have any issues, um, with the onshore, I guess it was, um, um, that's what you felt when you, when you was writing, you felt like it was kinda, um, Hampering your style a little bit, Rob. Yeah.

I mean, I hadn't felt like I could either go left or go. Right. But then like the transitions between like going like back and forth, weaving back and forth, I just haven't figured out to put the wing behind me like that yet, you know, like where we're at and where it's smooth, you know? Um, that's kind of still something.

And let's say coy, you can still kinda, you're still working on that too. A lot of times the wing wants to flip over like here. Yeah. Like it catches and subs over.

Um, so, but yeah, I seen you too. Like, um, you and Eli, both, um, sometimes you, you drag the, the tip of the wing a little bit, so it kind of comes behind you and when you turn. She not

trying to help you get help. It help it flow. And then they can this one too. It kind of helps for me. If I switch hands on me. That one, I came over my head. Um, but sometimes when I'm turning to keep it directly behind me, almost like in my draft, uh, past the leading edge handle behind, behind my back and switch hands.

Um, sometimes that'll help keep that swinging momentum. There's almost, uh, almost like there's more rotation, you know, inertia coming out of the. Uh, especially with those bigger wings. Yeah. I think I was riding a seven meter. There's a lotta, um, a lot of meat and mass to it, but those wings, those wings move through the air pretty well.

I like the momentum that develops from those, um, from those wings actually flying through the air. Yeah. I mean, having a big wing is nice too, when you do jumps, because it's so lofty. Yeah. You can kind of really cold, like it they'll pull you up right. About using a bigger wing too.

All right. I think that was it for this video and the stuff stop sharing here. You see, uh, yeah. Everybody working that day. I mean, you know, Well, I didn't impressive of what everybody, you know, to the performance it was doing. And, and just, um, you could see by the look in the, um, the people that was proning or longboarding, and even the guys in a parking lot, you know, they just looking at us.

Why aren't we doing that? You know? Yeah. I mean, it's always fun to go out with a group of guys that then everybody's kind of pushing each other and you watch the other guys doing stuff and then you try to, and stuff like that. Yeah. So definitely makes it more challenging. But, um, yeah, I wanted to, um, talk a little about this one.

Where I'm Derek. I think this is the first time you, you pulled off a back loop. Is that right? Um, have you pulled up other ones? Um, just one before, but this is the only one on, you know, like film and stuff like that. Yeah. So tell us a little bit about like your technique. Like what do you do? What do you try?

What do you think about. How does it work for you? Um, my dad. So when I attempted a few, I noticed my wing was gained. Uh, and then I remember once you mentioned, um, trying to do to, uh, you watching a video and you said, oh, you, it seems like I don't get enough air time before I start my rotation. I try to flick it as soon as I hit the waves.

Um, so watching other guys' videos, um, I noticed that Dinko project themselves up first and then they complete their rotation. So, um, earlier that day I tried to do one and take taking the wind caught and I felt like, gosh, I got to change that up. So when I was going out, um, a few other times, not even jumping off, just project the wing with my leading.

On the leading edge side, just going straight up and jumping straight up, kind of do kind of deal and not necessarily rotating, just getting that field to, okay. I got to go up first. Then once, once I'm up at the peak, then go ahead and rotate a man on that one. That's what that's kind of what happened is just, you know, kind of went up and then did a rotation and lucky thing.

Luckily. None of the tips or, or anything else, um, and pulled me back down and then I was able to, you know, just land it, still trying to working on writing out of it. But, um, the last time I attempted the wings caught anyway, even on when I came down and it caught on the back of the wave and my foyer. True to wing and other way.

Oh man. So I knew I never do. What's supposed to be done, you know, so that's part of it. Right,

right on. So I'm just playing, uh, another video. Um, this is on the north shore. Where I'm with Derek and Isla and I, so, and actually I wanted to ask you Luke Lucas, um, talk a little bit about the challenges of, um, filming a wing furthering with the drone.

Yeah, absolutely. Um, Um, probably about mile off shore with you guys. And this has been a learning experience for me as well. I did get some good shots, but a lot of it was learning how to keep everybody in frame. This video that we did was actually probably one of my best, best two better ones. Um, but just trying to keep everybody in frame and especially if there's multiple people.

Like this clip right here was awesome. Was probably one of the best clips I ever did. Um, but just especially if there's like two, three people trying to keep everybody in frame was the hardest on trying to stay, stay and make sure that I'm high enough, that nothing's going to happen. I'm not going to run into anybody or catch away of myself.

Um, but just like with foiling practice, We can get better. So, yeah. Yeah. And, and what's interesting too, is that like this, for this seven minute video, we, we were on the water pipe for several hours and I think you used like, used up like nine batteries, right. Like flew in and out nine times and it is pretty far out, so yeah.

Um, it takes a lot of work to get that footage. Yeah. But yeah, I wanted to talk a little bit about the difference. Like here, you can see the winds blowing more like side off shore, so it's really different the way you hold the wing that you can just hold it out to the side. And it pretty much just, um, it's, I, I find it easier to handle the wing when it's just blowing off site off shore.

Uh, w w what do you think Eli.

Yeah, definitely. It keeps the wing, um, to the side and behind you, nothing in the front. So you got a, um, clear view of the wave or where you need to go. Uh, also when it's on shore, the wing is in front of you and you're always battling the tip from the tips falling down in front of you and touching the water.

So it's definitely much easier. Uh, but this place in particular is pretty tricky where we were at a win is really up and down. Uh, once you ride the wave further and the wind gets really late. Um, so it's pretty tricky is kind of challenging. Yeah, for sure. It's a tricky spot. And if you fallen in the impact zone, sometimes there's like no wind and you can't really get going again and you can't get back out again.

Uh, but I think Derek, sometimes you try to still kind of get the wing behind you, even in the side offer conditions, right? Um, yes. Yeah. With that, with that Y handle, um, um, shoot position. Um, I can just, you know, it's, it's kind of beneficial cause I can go into the wind and. Back against the wind and just still hold the wing and it will really affect, um, the good thing about the size storage, like, you know, where the wind is, where the wing going to be.

Cause the wind is just blowing. Um, versus the onshore condition. You, you kinda okay. Um, I'm writing, right. And I'm going fast. So the wing is going to be behind me, but as soon as I turn, everything would drop in and you know, all of a sudden you have the weight in front of you. So with this one, no matter where you're going, you should be in front of because you have that super strong gusty close the window, as soon as, as soon as you.

It's going to be that side, whatever west side of Euro. Right.

But yeah, with that, with that little white stuff, because it's not on the leading edge, I feel like I can hold it and manipulate the wing a little more too. Kind of conform to, you know, to the waves. Like sometimes when you on the wave and if it gets deeper, it's a lot of times a week, the wind will come up the face and blowing up and then, you know, if you're not ready for that, you, you, um, the loss handle would just starts spinning on you.

Cause all of a sudden it's going from side shore, um, position until it. And when you get to the C part of the wave, it's going to go start going. Um, from your feet up here ahead, and then you're going to be, you know, trying to fight that. Yeah. Cause while you're holding that Y handle it's your forearm and your shoulder is also in contact with the wing, right?

So you got three points of contact. It seems like it would be a lot more stable than just holding the left handle. So then you can kind of stabilize it with your shoulder too, I guess that. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it just, it just, it becomes another part of your, um, yeah. So another part of your body, you know, you just got to get ready for that little push of winning Tibet when you, or, or, or whatnot.

Yeah, let's talk a little bit about like, like the wing size. Like I know I kinda like using a little bit bigger wing and I know Eli, I guess it just depends on your body way too. If you're, if you weigh more, it's definitely helpful to have a bigger wing. It's also easier to handle a bigger wing, I guess, if you're tall and, uh, and build a stronger, bigger, but, um, I've noticed Derek most of the time, it seems like you're almost always on your four meter wing.

Huh? Yes. Yeah, of course. Yeah. I tried, unless the wind is almost dead. I'll go ahead and use a five meter. But as far as, um, I find the four is just fine, you know, it's enough to going, um, mobile 1 45, 1 50 pounds, 150 pounds. And, um, My board is like, I think it's about 75 liters and I'm using a thousand, most times you're getting a thousand, um, oil.

So it's, it's enough to get, get me going, you know? And usually when you start, you, you get up on in the standing position on your board before you lift the wing out of the water, right? Like you stand up on the board and then you lift up doing. Yes. Yes. Yeah, no, not on the knees or, or I'm sinking or whatever.

Yeah. Is, do you do it that way to call? I know, I know your dad, Eddie does it that way too. Right? Standing on the board. Yeah. He's the one that taught me how to do it. So you do it that way too. Yeah. I never did a knee start before. And what about you? I am here. I use, uh, my board has a lot of leaders, so I stand on it first leaning on the wing and then I'll pull it up.

Yeah. Yeah. I, I recently started using a pretty small board. It's only like, um, I think as a run 55 liters or something like that. And like, there's, there's no way I could stand, stand up on it. So I pretty much have to knee start, but I've, that's how I've been doing it all along anyways. But. But yeah, I guess that that standing technique is probably a little bit easier on your, on your knees and back to, you know, you don't, you don't have to kneel on your board as well.

It can be a little tip here. Cause when you're up out of the water, it's a little less stable. Right. So I think there's pros and cons to both, both ways. So let's talk a little bit about getting up on foil, like, um, the technique for like pumping or like if, if the wind's not quite enough to easily, like have it pull you up onto the foil, like what do you do to kind of, uh, get moving and get up on the foil?

What are some pointers?

I think you have a lot of trades for this. Yeah. Yeah. As like the light wind master. Huh. And I think a lot of it has to do with the type of foil too. I know the higher aspect wing. Uh, front wings with less cord, longer wink at a longer wingspan. Um, in my experience, those files like to, um, speed is your friend when you're trying to get up.

So when I try to get up with those enlight, when I really focus all of my pulling and pumping. To go forward, gaining speed and a speed helps you get up. When I use a lower aspect wings or the mid aspect wings, um, I tend to, uh, direct my pulling and pumping upwards. So I try to pull my weight up and I try to bounce the board to get it up.

But with the higher aspect wings, I try to pull my weight forward and looking for any kind of, especially in the wind is looking for any kind of current or little bumps that might be going your way of trying to get on that bump and use that to build your speed as well. Yeah. And I think like for gaining speed for high aspect, for like that has like a kind of a high.

Planning speed. Um, it really helps to have a board that kind of, uh, Glidewell tour kind of generates that speed easily. Right. Um, But I guess the other, the other check is in light, wind is just to not fall in. Right. So as long as you up fine, if you don't come off the floor, usually you can keep it going.

But once you come off, then sometimes you just have to wait for gust or whatever to, to pick you up again, right? Yes. Yeah. And, uh, um, you know, initially when we all was learning, we just would stay out until. Oh, shucks, without a paddling, you know, but now as, as you progress, I think every winger, you see the signs and you recognize there's a, there's a rain cloud, or there's not, there's not too much texture.

And we recognize now is, well, we've got to go in, you know, and we fly to other people. I mean, in our circle, we fight through other people like, Hey, Set in. And usually we make it in, you know, it's the most signs when you try to, um, push the limits is when you get stuck out there and you gotta, you know, get a ride in or some, somebody would just come down to the beach and pick up.

Yeah, but I mean, I find that, well, here in Hawaii, anyways, like even though in the wind's dying, it'll, you know, they'll still be like a couple more gusts coming before it completely dies. You know? So sometimes if you're just patient instead of paddling and you can wait and eventually there'll be another, another gust to get you going.

And then you can usually ride back in. I dunno, like to me sometimes it's, it's worth it to be patient and wait a little bit before. Take that long paddle and yeah. Yeah. But it, it, it's, it's part of the learning curve where you recognize that and you go, okay, the next one we're going to, you know, I'm going in, in, in the beginning, it used to be like always we're we're we're we're a good wind.

Again, let's go, you know, and you just keep saying out. Ken 15 minutes and all of a sudden it's like for real, that when it's gone and then you're, you're going, oh, I, I really think I kind of paddle now and you know, yeah. Sometimes when the last Gus comes, you, you just as best as go in right in with, with that last guest.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. And then I found, um, I noticed for, for myself on getting up on wing when it's lighter, when, um, when I'm first starting to holding a wing in my hand and I'm waiting, um, it'll be hillside, which is, you know, little bit easier for most people. Um, I'll have my feet. Y at a white scent in this, in my straps.

And was it fueled a little bit Gus coming, I'll give a couple pumps with my arms, couple, you know, pump my legs. And then as I'm going forward with the, with my arm momentum and getting that little pool, I'll go ahead and slide my foot forward in the straps. And as that little moment, um, movement of my foot coming forward will be enough to like scoop the foil forward.

And oh, and that'll help me get up on foil easier than, you know, just standing in a, like a lock position. Hmm.

It's hard. It's, it's kinda that. I know that's kinda what I do. It's hard to kind of picture it, but this time we're at the beach, I'll kind of show you, you know, just to like, kinda like holler, um, the don't, uh, prone paddlers, when you do Flatwater. Same momentum. He just kind of scoot the board for you.

Slide your feet in the straps forward and that'll, that'll help propel to foil forward and up as you, as you're pumping your arms. Yeah. I mean, one thing about pumping the wing too, is like sometimes I see people pumping kind of almost too hard where they're pulling so hard that then there's like the wing just like flops on the way back.

So they, I think the trick is to kind of have more of a smooth, um, kind of more of a. Um, like it's, it's more like a rotation and you, you still, you don't want the wing to get back winded or, or flat. Totally. Like you want to keep a little bit of power in the wing, but it's like generating a little bit of extra pull.

And then at the same time, as you're kind of pulling on the wing, you kind of lift up on your feet a little bit and sometimes that's enough to release the board and get going. Yeah. But, um,

It's tricky, but that's a, and that's, that's a similar, similar concept towards, um, you know, when you say you want to do two for one, there are you pumping into ways you got to have that schooled cadence that, that, that pumping, um, cause if you kind of go like too much off rhythm, you, you won't be able to do.

Maneuvered at foil and then you'll come off foil and then drop down. So same thing with, with, like you said, with the wing pumping, you, you need to have that, you know, that boy, that nice cadence going. Okay.

Yeah. Corey, do you have any tips on, on getting, going or getting up on foil? So, like, as you said, I do that around motion and if I go too hard, that's going to come back at me and that just makes it slows me down. So what I do is, uh, once I see a little bit texture in the water, I get on my board, I started doing that rounded a rotation.

And then what I do is I jump, like I jump in the water, like I'm jumping, jumping. Uh, without the board, I just like jump up and while I'm just pumping, pumping, pumping, and once I feel that pool, I just like pull it and then I jump into it and that's how I get up. Oh, so you kind of almost jumped with your feet off the board completely to unweight completely kind of thing.

Yeah. Do you have your feet in the straps when you do that? Uh, sometimes or like, yeah, sometimes I keep it off and then I just like, go on it and I slide the board. More to get the motion going. And then I jumped and then the board will come up and then I put my feet in the straps, or just, if it's, if it's windy, I just put my feet in the straps and I could just get up.

Yeah, but yeah. So something to mention for kind of people starting out, like when you, when you're starting out, you, I guess you depend more on having either really strong wind or just a bigger wing, um, bigger wing and a bigger foil to get going, but yeah, as you get better and develop that technique for pumping and so.

Then you can work your way down to using a smaller foil and a smaller wing and, and a smaller board and, and having, having that equipment, it just makes it everything else nicer if you, because basically if you're using a big board and a big wing and a big foil, Once you're up on foil, then it's kinda, you have everything it's like more than you need.

Yeah. As you're overpowered, you have too much from the foil and the board's kind of in your way, because so big. So as, as you get better, that's kind of the goal to kind of use the smallest equipment you can use basically. Right. And, you know, core brought up a good point. He said that when he sees a Gus coming or he sees the texture on the water, Um, it's really important to know the area you're in, uh, depends how the wind is blowing.

If the wind is more off shore, you get a shorter, um, a shorter glimpse at when, um, the gust is coming. Sometimes if it's side or on shore, you can see the gusts coming from far away. And it's important in my opinion, to, to be able to visually tell. Kind of like the wind speed. You can see the texture on the water and you can be thinking like, oh, that's not enough wind.

And you see more texture on the water, you think, okay, when that Gus comes here, that's going to be enough wind. So you can start prepping when you see it coming, you can start getting a. Pulling a little build up your momentum, build up your speed. Then when that Gus does hit you, you're halfway there you need is a couple of pumps or a couple little hops.

And that's especially important when the wind is light and the guts are coming, um, you know, really quick and short little puffs. I think that's a really good point. Yeah. Um, to, and also to kind of save your energy. Sometimes you've aware themselves out before the good Guskey comes and then they fall in right.

When, when the wing wind is strong enough to just pull them out without doing anything. Right. So, um, yeah, sometimes just being a little bit patient and waiting for that, the right moment to take off is really key. Right. And watching, looking for it, looking up when, and see what's coming. And the other thing too, is if you're trying to pull yourself up and the wind is not strong enough, if you're going, um, away from shore, you could be pulling yourself far away from shore and you're going to have to paddle in, um, farther.

And you can also be pulling yourself away from the windier spot tool. Like if you kind of know your area. So if you're just standing up. Um, you know, and the, when is too late to get up, it could, you could be sailing away, you know? So it might be better to sit down until you see a good Gus coming. So you're not losing ground or anything.

Yes. Yeah. I agree with that. We seen that a bunch, a bunch of times where, um, it'll be strong enough to keep you moving on the surface, but not, you know, gun. To get you up and flying. Um, so we see, you know, a bunch of times where guys are just trying, try and try and guys and girls actually. And, um, there ended up going like way down the coast or way out, you know?

And, um, luckily there's a, you know, a steady Gus and they can get up and then fly back in. So, um, yeah, I also recommend, you know, if, if you looking on the water surface and you see as kind of glassy and still. You look behind of it and you see texture, you just kind of sit and wait, or you just kinda hold your wing, uh, put your wing in the water, like an anchor and just, you know, wait till you see it, um, to that texture is coming closer.

And once you come in closer, then you get your balance, get your stance ready, and then you get ready to go and give that couple pumps and hopefully you get up. Right. Exactly. And then I've noticed too, like sometimes. Um, even, even when you have a really big wing, you still have to wait for that. Gus it's like, not like you can just get going at any, any moment you want, right.

Even with the seven meter weighing, you still have to wait for that Gus to get going. But, and I think one of the big advantages of having a really big wing in those, on those light wind days is that you can cut. Um, make it through the, through the laws. Like if there's a spot where there's almost no wind at all, with the big wing, you can just kind of fly through it without too much trouble.

Whereas on a small wing, you kinda wear yourself up pumping and maybe not make it through that law. Um, so that's kind of, I think one of the bigger advantages of having a big wing and light wind is just that you can keep going easier more than getting it going earlier. Right. Um, so, and Derek, I know you've been teaching a lot of people.

Like what, what kind of stuff do you see? Like, do you have any tips for beginners people starting out? Like, um, what do you, what kind of mistakes do you see a lot? Like what, what kind of tips do you give people that are starting out and learning?

Um, a lot of things I see is they're going, they're trying to be, um, take bigger steps than they should. Like, can you be more at bats? You know, oh, I'm better than this. I foil, I tight. I do all of that. And they just use two small boards, wings. Um, they're trying to pump and pump their legs and pump their arms at the same time.

Um, and then trying to go to too much of an advanced spot, you know, I mean, there's nothing wrong with going to a little kiddie pool or, you know, learning area. Get it down and, um, advanced from there, you know, like, like everybody else that did, did it, you know, and it's always good as, especially when you, you, when you do it back then you, you want to, um, learn something else.

It's always good to go back, work on that thing means that little kiddie pool and then, you know, apply it to, um, the breaks and the cell phone guy. So Donna, don't try to advance to quickly go and like Flatwater locations first. And I find it, it really helps to have a place to where you can just go downwind, right.

Where you don't have to worry about staying in one spot. Like you can just keep going down wind or get picked up at somewhere down downwind or something like that, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cause a lot of times, um, it's a mental thing too, so you know, when you're flying and you're going further down. And, and you looking back Ingrid hole, how am I going to get back to my car or, or back to the beach or my friends or whatnot, that kind of puts a damping audit.

And then you end up coming in to shore and you end up walking back and 15 minutes with all this B gear. And then when you, you go out twice, but a third time you go into the way that I'm done, you know? So if, if you can get somewhere where, um, You can go a few miles straight down when that, that would be ideal.

Or if you can go with somebody that has a, you know, um, escort boat, jet ski, or something like that, then you, you don't have to worry mentally. You don't have to worry, how will I get back? You know? So that, that really helps any other big, good beginner tips.

Um, don't give up cause you know, once you get it, it's good. Yeah. I, yeah, I see that too. Like a lot of people just kinda, um, they, they think they're going to learn it in a couple of days and then when they don't, they get frustrated and they give up on it, right? Yes, yes. Yeah. And, and, and, you know, if you, I mean, it's no shame in asking.

Assistant, um, for, you know, tips from anybody else and even taking a lesson or two, you know, cause it's, um, it'll just help out in the long run because if he try, uh, you know, you, you see people around, whether it's, um, all over the world and they try to do it on their own and it's, it takes them it, they might get it eventually, but it takes them longer than if they went to, uh, you know, like that middle, proper routes.

Yeah. What about you call? You got any pointers? I know you've only learned to wing for like about a year ago or how long have you been, have you been doing it? Uh, I would say a little less than a year. Like it's like the second week that I started to like, learn how to hydrofoil itself, like soap and, uh, some beginner tips, I would say.

Yeah, just don't get. Just no shame and asking for help, ask for tips and yeah, that's it. Would you say, um, some foiling is easier or wing foiling was easier for it to, for you to learn? Uh, I would say wing foiling, just because self-fulfilling, you have to like, actually get on the wave, but with weighing, you just need, when we can like control the board, however way you like, then.

And like have some support, uh, like the wind holding you while you're moving your wing. Cause when you're on a sub, you're just like balancing it out by yourself. Yeah. I agree with that. What about you? You lying? You got any more tips? And I'd say, um, when learning it's really helpful, if you make it easier on yourself, uh, get the right gear, especially if you foil before either sub or prone, um, you're gonna want a boy.

With enough leaders for you to comfortably stand on. Um, you probably gonna want a little bigger foil than you're used to just, um, more lift in general. Um, that'll make things easier, more lift, more stability would definitely help. Also practicing on land is real helpful because once you're in the water, you know, you're gonna, you're gonna be worried about balancing or be worried about getting up on foils.

If you've already got your, when handling basic stone from playing around on the, on the land, just passing hand to hand, um, practicing little jibes or whatnot in the wind. Um, that'll save you a lot of time and also practicing with a skateboard on a nice flat area. Um, that helps. That really helps with transitions too, like jiving and tacking, learning the emotions to that.

Cause so it easier to do it on a board skateboard then on the water when it's on the forest, staying up on foil and all that right now. Cool. Well, um, are there any, is there anything you guys want to say to the people getting into the sport? Like in terms of like the community or like any message you want to give to everybody getting into the sport?

Alicia?

No, I was just saying where Leisha is. Check your leashes, always check your gear. You know, if a wing leash breaks, you know, one flip and the wing is about 10 feet away from you, you know? So like two flips, three flips before you know it, it's going to be like 30 yards away from you. Make sure you check your leash.

And, um, also communication is key because as you get up on foil, say you're with two people. Once you get up on foil and you're gone, uh, the conditions aren't always conducive for you to come back and talk story and coordinate and plan. So before you even get into water, kind of have a game plan, which your crew or your partners about where you guys are going to end, which direction you're heading and whatnot, communication and safety rule important.

Yes. Definitely. Definitely. And, and, and as well as, um, um, where was I going with this? Um, yes. Letting other people know, you know, like even others in the surf, when you do get out and start going to the surf, we don't need to be going through a super crowded lineup. I mean, we can just stay outside. Like, um, a lot of times on the agriculture here, we have miles of ways that we can catch to the area where the surfers are and we can kick out.

And we just told them guys go, you guys, go ahead and we'll fly back out and just, and just enjoy, you know, and, um, the community right now, you know, winging is so new. Um, there are. Awesome people everybody's willing to help. Um, if you do have questions, reach out, you know, either on social media, on to your local break.

Um, too, however, dude, don't feel, um, a shame of asking any questions, you know, any tips, as soon as you see somebody doing really cool stuff, they more than likely just being in Europe. Six months ago, eight months ago, you know, a year like when Wayne falling is not old. So you're going to ask a question and yeah, I'll go ahead and say, Hey, maybe you should try this, or you should try that.

You know? Cause we, we were all there before, you know?

Yeah. And it's like, it's kinda up to us to make the community the way we want it to be, you know, like. And like surfing is kind of a lot of times like surfers are so aggressive or like they kind of have to be to be able to get away, you know, and yeah. And wing falling. You don't, you don't really have, we don't need that really.

Right. You can just have fun and Sharon and enjoy it together and not have to be like aggressive. And, um, like we can just share, wave and smile. Right. We don't have to get all mad at each other or something. So. But I was just thinking another tip. I kind of,  saying like, if, if your board ever ends up being upside down with the foil sticky, And your wing is close by like that's like emergency situation, especially if the board is upwind of your wing, just do whatever you can to flip that foil back underwater and away from your wing, because it happens so quickly that the thing just tips over it gets blown into your wing, and then you have a big hole in your wing and you're out of action for a few days and have to get up checks and so on.

So that's, I think that happens to beginners, right? Yeah, it happened very quickly. Also. I also see people sometimes like having their board on the beach with the first sticking up and then they tie the leash, the wing leash to the top of the foil or something like that. And then the first Gus that comes it's like blows it over and w the foil falls into the wing or something like that.

So just be very aware of your foil. And not falling onto your wing, you know, that cause that damages your wing very easily. Right? I think we've all. Yeah. Yeah. What was that from experience or was that from something you saw? Oh yeah, it never happened to me. Of course. I just saw other people doing that.

Yeah. As Brian dicey knows.

Yeah. All right. Any, any other last words to anyone? All right. Thank you. Thank you. And everything. Sorry. Caught you had something else to say? Yeah. I just want to say have fun. Be safe. Communicate. Uh, no, the wind directions respect the community. All right. Big tips. Alright, that's great. All right. Well thank you all for your time.

And I know you have school tomorrow morning and we all probably have to work and stuff like that. It's free. It's like 10 o'clock at night. So thanks for joining me and thanks for everyone watching on YouTube and, uh, take care. I'll see you on the water. Aloha. Thank you. Thanks. So good.

All right. Thanks so much for sticking around to the end. And I know some of you listened to it as a podcast and probably have listened to every single word, but those of you on YouTube, uh, if, if you watch it all the way to the end on YouTube, you're one of the elite 5% who watched the whole thing from start to end.

So congratulations for that. And thanks for sticking around. Uh, so please give it a thumbs up if you liked it and, you know, leave your comments down below. And, uh, and thanks for the support, uh, for blue planet. Basically the show is sponsored by people like you, that support our business blue planet. So I always appreciate that.

Um, we're keeping it free. I'm not charging anything or you don't have to make any donations or anything like that, but if you can support Buchanan next time you're buying some new foil equipment that's really appreciated. And that's what supports this show. So thank you and have a good one. See you on the water.

Aloha.