North speedsters are priced at about $2300 for the package with the lighter board, which to me seems to be about as low as it gets for a new foil, and there are about three second hand foils online in the whole country.
I bought the speedster and had my first session on it. Wind was super inconsistent and gusty, but was good enough.
After two hours I'm able to ride the foil on my natural tack, but can't consistently ride the foil switch. I think that's because you shoot so far up wind when you're going natural that you have to do a lot of downwind on your switch tack, which is bloody hard. Getting downwind was a much bigger issue than getting upwind.
I had the foil trimmed all the way to the back of the board and the learner wedge in. I don't have anything to compare it to, but that setup seemed to work well.
Someone said above that you should use the same kite size you would use with a twin tip. in hindsight that was pretty terrible advice, I was definitely overpowered and that made it a lot harder.
I read pretty much everything there was to read about foiling before I went out, but the best advice seemed to be from the kiteboarding.com videos (the ones with the hulk figurine). Extremely helpful. Also some random guy on the beach telling me to get as low as possible when riding.
All in all, very happy with the speedster after one session.
I agree with Duke and Sal,
I'm 95 kg and would use 7 m Neo most of the time. Smaller is better (for surfing and carving) as you can throw it around quicker. I also find they drift better than bigger kites. If your kite can stay in the air, then you can foil.
I'm also on the page of standing bolt upright. The taller and more relaxed your stance, the better connection/contact you put through the mast and into the foil. Try and imagine your body is an extension of the mast and lean as one with it.
Keep it up though, you're doing great!
Cheers,
Ryan
I caution beginners about imitating the small kite sizing that more experienced foilers use. If you have to be working your kite a lot, it makes it very difficult for a beginner to concentrate on everything that is going on with the foil. I think I made this mistake a few times when learning. You want to be adequately powered so you don't have to think about the kite when on foil.
It is one thing to talk about the sizes of kite the advanced riders use which requires a lot of input from the rider and thus taking concentration away from riding the foil.
then there is going down a size or two so that you feel comfortable and not get overpowered once up on foil.
it will be an individual thing as new foilers will find out that foiling tests your kite control to new levels.
I think the North Speedster is a very good beginner foil. I've ridden carbon foils and have had a Blue Zeeko foil. I've progressed the most on my North foil as before I had the speedster, I wasn't able to change direction or keep on the foil for a long period of time.
I originally had a blue Zeeko foil 1-2 years ago and wasn't really a fan, I gave up foiling for over a year until I found a very cheap KFA Mako. That lasted a day before the sea claimed it and it was never seen again.
What drew me to the North speedster was the price (a few $100 cheaper then the others), weight and the look. My first go I was up and going as normal, I could also ride toe side comfortably after a few tries.
The only thing I don't like about the North Speedster is the amount of front foot pressure required, I have it as far back as it can go on my KFA board and it still requires a lot of pressure. It also feels a bit slow but I clocked myself reaching around 32-35kms, a more experienced foiler might be able to get a little more out of it.
Happy to write a more in depth review if needed.
You don't say if you are riding strapless or strapped of with foothooks .
You need to spend more hours on the board adjusting your rear and front foot position.
I was also online asking tons of questions first 10 hours of riding .
You just have to go out and keep riding . Put away your other boards . Just ride the Hf.
I'm 70 hours in, and now doing gybes and riding foil with proficiency .
I think I need another 700 hours.