Foil board: footstraps, no footstraps, half straps?

motogon · Joined: 19 Aug 2000 Posts: 376 Location: Philly

Racers and freestylers obviously need footstraps on foilboard, but for freeride do we need them? I have seen guys (including pros) foil great without them. I had already at least 3 occasions when my foot stock in footstrap after crash. I guess I'm been lucky so far not braking any bones. Anybody can share opinion on half straps? Does they make sense? ... or I better switch to strapless foiling?
I use Fanatic Falcon 136 as a foil board.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Your personal choice.
I've been slung over the front hooked in at almost windsurf speeds at least 6 times, cartwheeling my board over my body and head. No problems.
OTOH, I've sailed Backyards 50+ days, so straps are fine by me.
Either way, if you enjoy it and it works, use it.

grantmac017 · Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946

Not required with surfy foils on wider boards with small sails. Remove any of those variables and I want at least fronts, wouldn't touch half straps.

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3553

I've not used the half straps & have little interest. As for using straps I find it greatly depends on the setup. On the freeride foils I have used-Naish, Slingshot & Fanatic-I find the fronts to help pump the board & have used the front straps since day one. On the Flyer I used no straps as I had to move all over the board to set trim.

Coachg

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

The tutorials', instructional videos', schools', and self-proclaimed experts' recommendations are all over the map on the issue. Define your own criteria, experiment, and evolve with your skill level.

I'm none of the above, but one thing I did was use LONG, WIDE, TALL straps to give me real time safety and control options. Even with booties I had quite a bit of choice moment-to-moment whether to USE the straps actively or just to get my feet roughly where they probably should be. My first criterion is usually "First, do no harm". i.e., my most important objective is minimizing the risk of unnecessary season-ending or crippling soft-tissue injuries.

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1551

Several of the guys here tried half straps. Nobody really liked them. Some of the better foilers are using front straps only. I didn't use any straps for the first year and a half. Now that I use a board with an adjustable foil track, I'm
able to set the balance so I'm very comfy in both straps. Seems like I made better turns strapless. Easier to move the feet as needed..

LUCARO · Joined: 07 Dec 1997 Posts: 661

I use em (inboard front and center back) but as Iso said they are very loose.

Gwarn · Joined: 22 May 2013 Posts: 124 Location: SF

To each his own