I am up to my third session on the LF. I had two quick goes on my mate's Carafino which was a bit of a nightmare.
Lesson 1. Getting away from the beach. We used to walk out to chest deep water then start. That is almost impossible to do if there's any sort of swell or onshore wind. Now I sit in the water with a foot in the front strap (I only have one at the moment) and the back foot over the tail and edge the board so the foil sticks out flat. From that position I can slowly body drag out over the reef and sand bars into deep water. You must resist all temptation to power the kite because it will lift you up and drive the foil into the bottom (and send you over the top). Slow and steady application of power just like towing someone in.
Lesson 2. I ride a few runs. If things get out of control I lie on the board and body drag back to the beach. This saves energy, gets me back to my starting point, and is crazy good fun. I can usually get a bit of foil action doing this and I feel like a porpoise. It's also easier for a newb to go downwind. It only takes a couple of sessions to get to the point of going too far upwind for comfort.
Lesson 3. I usually give up fairly quickly, usually after an hour. Last night was only 30 minutes (I had to go out). Each session I have improved and learned something. It's good to make it fun to do and to avoid exhaustion or kitemares. So far it's working fine and all good fun. I have gone from being a bit hesitant to foil to frothing to do it.
Lesson 4. Initially we were using big kites to have a solid platform to hang onto. That's probably ok for the first couple of sessions but it's better to have a smaller kite and a touch more wind.
I am going to fit the rear foot strap to help in controlling the board when water starting. It can be difficult to keep it pointed in the right direction with the board pulling one way, the kite pulling another and the foil pulling in another direction (usually trying to rotate stuff). I won't ride with the back foot in the strap. I am still at the weight forward stage and still very happy to be taken away from the foil in a crash.
I wear full body armour. Helmet, life jacket, full wettie, booties. I look like a dork but I am not hurt so that's good.
Scary stuff. Twice the Carafino hopped through the lines ending up with the board on one side and the foil on the other and the kite looping in the middle. It's easy enough to fix if you have room and don't panic. I was "just having a go" so wasn't wearing all the armour. That would have helped a bit.
I tried riding toeside just to see what happened. The board flicked up and the strap twisted around my foot. It felt really bad but was so slow that nothing terrible happened. At the moment I focus on straight runs and half-height cruising on the foil. I have managed a couple of mostly foiling runs and can usually recover from the foil bucking too high.
Thanks for run-down Gorgo.. interesting hearing progression. What helmet do you use? I'll probably go full armour too. Couldn't give a toss about looks.
Just an old Gath that had been sitting in the cupboard for 20 odd years. I religiously put it on whenever I am learning a new sport. 
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..bigtone667 said..kiteboy dave said...
Young Dave, I have started learning on the LF and it has been challenging but I think really worth it.
I have been amazed at how much fun you can have in very low winds.
Best piece of advice I was given is keep a lot of weight on my front foot and just keep the board down on the water when you first start.
Ha! I'm old enough to appreciate when someone calls me young 
I'm definitely keen, but probably at least 6 months away due to life factors (surgery, baby, etc).
The horue lightweight foil would be a great 2nd foil I reckon, definitely not for learners. I like the simple, small, strapless board too, they're about to start selling them.
I've been in touch with Horue recently - they've got that board now up for sale for €595 on the website. He's recommended the GP instead of the H13 for all round cruising, and they have the GP board coming soon. In his words "the H13 is a really special foil designed for strapless and freestyle". Judging from his videos, I'll take his word for it.
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
I wear full body armour. Helmet, life jacket, full wettie, booties. I look like a dork but I am not hurt so that's good.
I had a little crash yesterday where the foil flicked out of the water so quickly, it smacked me on the arse as I went flying over the front of the board.
I think the only armour I missing is the booties. The helmet is a must.
Select to expand quotekkiter said..
This dude knows how to ride:
They have some truly inspirational videos
Select to expand quoteflyingcab said..kkiter said..
This dude knows how to ride:
They have some truly inspirational videos
HORUE is god! there amazing.
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..
Strange design new race board.
Loving the bar (broomstick)
next week i will be posting a review on the white board at the left of the pic . Custom board by TMV, simply called the fatboy as it is custom made for my weight at 98kgs . Once the board gets here i will chuck up a review of my MK3 KFA
I had my first ever try at kite foiling last Saturday and I’m so stoked I managed to fly about 100m one way and 50m the other way within an hour.
I crashed more in an hour than in 5 years of kiting and get harder wipe-out as I was going higher and faster.
I was wearing a radio helmet with cbulota giving me advices from the beach and that made a big difference. For those foil beginners in the Perth area who want to progress faster, I can only recommend to contact him for some lessons as his help was priceless.
Cheers
Luc
Select to expand quoteRomanouche said..
I had my first ever try at kite foiling last Saturday and I’m so stoked I managed to fly about 100m one way and 50m the other way within an hour.
I crashed more in an hour than in 5 years of kiting and get harder wipe-out as I was going higher and faster.
I was wearing a radio helmet with cbulota giving me advices from the beach and that made a big difference. For those foil beginners in the Perth area who want to progress faster, I can only recommend to contact him for some lessons as his help was priceless.
Cheers
Luc
That's a really great start Romanouche - getting up and foiling on first go is amazing - which foil were you on?
New foilers be sure to check out http://www.pkr.club and introduce your self to PKR foil crew
Group: www.facebook.com/groups/perthkiteracing/
Page: www.facebook.com/perthkiteracing
We've got an action packed calendar for next summer with something to everybody's taste :)
Casual Cruisers most welcome!!! 
All up we over 23 or more foilers now in WA (hard to keep track) and sounds like heaps more getting into it
Select to expand quotedaddycool said...Romanouche said..
I had my first ever try at kite foiling last Saturday and I’m so stoked I managed to fly about 100m one way and 50m the other way within an hour.
I crashed more in an hour than in 5 years of kiting and get harder wipe-out as I was going higher and faster.
I was wearing a radio helmet with cbulota giving me advices from the beach and that made a big difference. For those foil beginners in the Perth area who want to progress faster, I can only recommend to contact him for some lessons as his help was priceless.
Cheers
Luc
That's a really great start Romanouche - getting up and foiling on first go is amazing - which foil were you on?
I was pretty surprised to get flying so easily too.
I had a KFA MK1, I m not sure if the foil helped that much as the mast is as soft a chewing gum on this model.
Select to expand quotedusta said..
next week i will be posting a review on the white board at the left of the pic . Custom board by TMV, simply called the fatboy as it is custom made for my weight at 98kgs . Once the board gets here i will chuck up a review of my MK3 KFA
Dusta I'd love to hear your thoughts on this kit - Ive heard good things about KFA and these boards. Good paint job - 10/10 IMHO.
Select to expand quotejamesperth said..dusta said..
next week i will be posting a review on the white board at the left of the pic . Custom board by TMV, simply called the fatboy as it is custom made for my weight at 98kgs . Once the board gets here i will chuck up a review of my MK3 KFA
Dusta I'd love to hear your thoughts on this kit - Ive heard good things about KFA and these boards. Good paint job - 10/10 IMHO.
The custom sizes/volumes on the TMV are great for riders with different weight and different aims for their riding.For example a board with more volume/ size will be better for somebody that is heavier and long distance riding since the increased size will give him a bigger platform to balance on and be more stable and easier to handle when touching down especially during manoeuvres. @Romanouche good to hear you got going. The Mk1 was not the stiffest due to its small size- 100mm chord and 11mm thickness but is a pretty stable foil to ride and learn on since its low apse wings and pretty balanced.The Mk2 was stiffer but still same chord and the MK3 is now stiffer than anything i have seen out there. over 3kg of carbon on the Mk3 model solid carbon!Happy foiling :)
Select to expand quoteRomanouche said..daddycool said...Romanouche said..
I had my first ever try at kite foiling last Saturday and I’m so stoked I managed to fly about 100m one way and 50m the other way within an hour.
I crashed more in an hour than in 5 years of kiting and get harder wipe-out as I was going higher and faster.
I was wearing a radio helmet with cbulota giving me advices from the beach and that made a big difference. For those foil beginners in the Perth area who want to progress faster, I can only recommend to contact him for some lessons as his help was priceless.
Cheers
Luc
That's a really great start Romanouche - getting up and foiling on first go is amazing - which foil were you on?
I was pretty surprised to get flying so easily too.
I had a KFA MK1, I m not sure if the foil helped that much as the mast is as soft a chewing gum on this model.
romanouche where do you normally kite . More than welcome to check out my KFA mk3 , massive improvement on the MK1 as you would expect . Super Super stiff mast .
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..
some random
Thanks for posting that! Great counterpoint to the foiling tack videos.
Select to expand quotedusta said...
romanouche where do you normally kite . More than welcome to check out my KFA mk3 , massive improvement on the MK1 as you would expect . Super Super stiff mast .
Thanks for the offer Dusta
I replied to you by PM
Select to expand quoteKatz said..kiteboy dave said..
some random
Thanks for posting that! Great counterpoint to the foiling tack videos.
well here's another then 
Here's one in between. I've watched this at least 5 times. I had a dreamy session this arvo, which was shattered when watching seabreeze member cbulota nail a dozen flawless foiling gybes on my rig. Oh well. At least I know it can be done :)
For those wanting a cheap first foil, the kite foil have just started doing free shipping worldwide.
Their board has lots of volume, big concaves, big rocker on the nose, and inverted rails - so probably more foil friendly than the fish board.
Current price I work out at $2200 delivered. Pretty close to the foil fish price wise.
http://www.thekitefoil.com/#!online-store/cre6/!/manta-2015-hydrofoil-with-Pro-Race-board/p/46563788/category=12087149
So I've had 4 sessions now on my new Sroka foil. Limited success more connected to conditions / kite choice than anything else. Last session I got my front foot pressure right and started a good run with the board on the water. Then I crashed and couldn't relaunch. This is the common scenario till now.
I've tried an 8m 10m 12m all in marginal conditions.... around 13-15knts. Not being able to relaunch means pretty much end of session after usually only one or two water starts.
The obvious solution is to choose conditions in which relaunch is easily possible but that means above 15knts. But then I may get into over powered region.
What kite / wind conditions are people learning in?
I have only had my Foil for a month or so, and I reckon it took me 10 sessions (or 10 hours) to feel I was getting the hang of it.
initially, I found larger kites were much easier than smaller kites - basically they give you something to steady yourself with, whereas smaller kites offered no support at all.
So picking your conditions is key - I think if you can use a 15-17 light wind kite in appropriate conditions, you'll find it much easier. Park the kite and purely focus on the board. Or put it another way - ride the same kite you'd use on your TT. If you have to work the kite I think it's too much to deal with.
The ability to ride much smaller kites comes with time ( I'm told). I'm certainly not there yet, but I'm pretty happy now to be able to ride upwind, downwind and am starting to get longer toeside rides and heel to toe transitions whilst maintaining the foiling. Probably had 15-20 hours now on the water ??
