by Clay Schmitz | May 19, 2023 | foil, how to videos, learn to foil, wing
How to control and manage a wing while wing foil surfing waves or riding bumps downwind. When only holding the wing with one hand it can drop and twirl and flip and spin, this video series focuses on why this happens and what to do about it. Five videos in this series: why the wing moves around, strategies to control the wing, what the best wing foilers do in waves at Fort Point, managing the wing on tanker waves, and managing the wing when riding bumps downwind.
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by Clay Schmitz | Apr 18, 2023 | foil, how to videos, learn to foil, projects, wing
Go ahead ding my board, it's waterproof and will be fine. I used to be afraid of dinging a board and would never let anyone borrow my super fragile glass encased sponge. I have seen the proof that waterproof boards don't soak up water and last for years. I am sold on the concept so I made myself two boards. Did I mention these waterproof boards weigh less than any of my EPS boards? What's the catch? Well, I had to make it myself. Considering how much I have learned it seems like a good catch.
This page shows the process of making a wing foil board from start to finish. Almost nine hours of video edited down to about two hours of video showing the entire build process and me explaining every step including making the vacuum bag. Also a list of the parts and materials and where to get them. This is not meant to be a master shaper or perfect build tutorial, my intent is to simplify the build and make building a board more accessible to anyone. I left all the imperfections and some rough edges as a proof of concept that a wing foil board can work well with a less than perfect finish. I also used plant cloth and plant based resin, it is important to me to continue moving towards 100% non toxic materials.
First video is a 5 minute fast time lapse of the entire build. Then videos showing: making the blank, shaping the blank, installing the boxes handle and leash plugs, making and setting up the vacuum bag, laminating the top and bottom and vacuum bagging, opening the boxes, sanding, and installing the deck pad. Then a list of parts and materials. I also talk about possible delamination of waterproof foam and the solution we came up with.
Here is shorter preview I uploaded to YouTube.
18 videos in this series.
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by Clay Schmitz | Mar 3, 2023 | foil, projects, wing
We built waterproof boards. Mine came in 4 pounds lighter than my eps board of similar size and volume. The swing weight is night and day difference, felt way more maneuverable, turns felt much quicker especially rail to rail. With waterproof foam dings aren't a problem, as in they don't suck up water and get heavy and cause the boxes to delaminate and fail, this has been the issue with many of my eps foil boards. Ding free means less material and resin to seal the board. Water ingress isn't an issue, pin holes don't matter. Jeff Clark made a prototype 2 years ago, and even with many dings it has not gained weight. I tested it for several months and was very impressed with the potential.
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by Clay Schmitz | Jan 12, 2023 | foil, how to videos, learn to foil
How to stand up paddle pump after kicking out of a wave and pumping to another wave further outside. Showing and explaining the technique with slow motion video of Derek Hamasaki, Mickey Murch, and Johnny Heineken. Side by side video break down of the technique with these masters and also people who have recently learned. Five videos.
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by Clay Schmitz | Jan 11, 2023 | foil, how to videos, learn to foil, wing
I often feel frustrated seeing the reports on the internet of popular foils, they seem biased or sponsored and leave out any problems. I am reluctant to say in public what I don't like about a foil, especially if a friend is making or selling that foil. So here in this post behind the paywall I will do my best to be completely honest and unbiased and say what I like and don't like about the foils I have ridden. In this post I give video and text reviews of these foils:
F-One Eagle 1090 and 990, Seven Seas 1200 and 1000, Strike V2 5.5m, Phantom 940, 1080 & 1280, 95cm HM mast.
Cabrinha Mantis 4.5m wing, H Series 1200, Code Board 5'4" 98L
Takuma Kujira 980
Axis Black ART 999, BSC 810, PNG 1150, red 900, 1000, 910
Armstrong 2400 low aspect
Naish Jet 2450 low aspect
F4 1250 & 1700, and 1325 low aspect
Slingshot / Ride Engine Infinity 76 & 84, Timecode / Arc 68 low aspect
Foil Science 1116, and 1600 low aspect
GoFoil
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by Clay Schmitz | Dec 11, 2022 | foil, how to videos, learn to foil
Slow motion close detail video of foil surfers paddling for and catching waves. Both Prone board and SUP board foil surfers. This video series focuses on the sequence of hand and foot placement that foil surfers do to catch a wave and get up on foil, both real time and slow motion so we can see the detailed techniques. The first 3 videos are of SUP foil surfing, and the next 2 are prone foil surfing.
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by Clay Schmitz | Aug 31, 2022 | adventures, learn to foil, member videos, surf videos, wing
This page is dedicated to whatever new stuff we happen to be testing and working on.
When I have something to report I will post here and update the posting date, kind of a preview before a tutorial is ready.
I added 4 videos of the F-one Seven Seas 1200, reviewing this wing both surf and wing foiling. Available on the foil reviews page.
Jeff Clark's larger wing foil boards came in and I have 2 sessions on the 118L (5'10"). I am stoked to report that the extra volume is well placed and right away I noticed the improved stability over my 95L. I am only 2 sessions on the Jeff Clark board, and yet schlogging was a pleasure, and touching down a non issue. It's been so long since I have ridden higher volume boards that I forgot how nice it is to be able to touch down or even plane along the surface with no issues or pearling or sinking. He only had 2 boards made and with the good feedback is working on having more boards made. I am not a jumper so I don't know if this construction can stand that type of abuse, for my everyday surf style they are great. Going into the light wind season I am so stoked to have a short stable board in my quiver.
One of the reasons this matters to me is that the 110-140L size board is what a lot of beginners and intermediate riders end up buying, and it's a huge benefit if these boards are stable to stand and schlog on. In my opinion stability is priority one for a higher volume board, for me this was the single biggest factor that made wing foiling easier to learn.
I added 2 videos of no pump acceleration take offs, these are helpful with small high aspect foils, and when one cannot pump. Can find the videos at the bottom of the small board knee start page.
Also added an update to weak side or switch foiling, 1 video on small body weight board and no pump take off.
I also added a video on how to flip over an 8 meter wing while sitting on a body weight board at the bottom of the wing handling page.
I demoed a full 2022 Cabrinha wing foil setup: wing, foil, and board. The camera died before I got on foil so no foiling, I did make a video review of my short test on this gear on the foil reviews page.
Also I added some more videos on foot hooks and a mod a made to more securely attach a foot hook...
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by Clay Schmitz | Aug 19, 2022 | foil, wing
Berkeley has direct line of sight to the Golden Gate Bridge and the opening to the Pacific Ocean. Powerful wind and swell enter the mouth of the bay and make their way all the way to Berkeley. Spring and summer winds are the most consistent and best time to wing foil in Berkeley. The best way to access and learn about Berkeley wing foiling is to visit the…
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by Clay Schmitz | Aug 4, 2022 | foil, learn to foil, wing
What wing or surf foil gear should I buy? Or rent or demo? I get asked this question a lot and I see posts online asking similar questions. Below is a beginner guide for foil gear.
Also please post any questions in the comments section at the bottom of this page and I will answer.
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by Clay Schmitz | Jul 25, 2022 | foil, wing
Treasure Island often has great swell and consistent wind, also the launch is small and the current can be strong so I recommend advanced skills, the buddy system, and a radio. Treasure Island has a pretty wild history including use of radioactive toxins, explosives, and other dangerous materials (Business Insider, Reuters, SFGate, SFBayview), and it seems toxic nuclear radiation still exits on the island.
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