How To Dock Start on a Hydrofoil
In the first episode of our Hydrofoil How To series, Zane Schweitzer shows us how to dock start on a hydrofoil safely, and with maximum efficiency.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to select the ideal location, with a decent runway and obstruction free waterway, and then position your run up and body position to mount the foil. Once that is covered, you will see where to position your feet, and how to use your entire body to generate and maintain momentum through the pumping motion.
Here’s the breakdown:
To start off, it’s always essential to find the ideal location. I found a nice wall where I can have the board about knee to waist high across from me as I take a few steps to run along the water, and then take a nice step onto the board.
It’s important to note that you have to be running with your belly facing the board. I like to have the board either level with the feet, or ideally up by the knees.
It’s all about starting to get some momentum. Sometimes all you need is just the one big burst, but it’s going to be a lot easier if you have a little bit of a runway to take a few steps holding your board off to the side; creating that forward momentum, and then stepping off onto the board.
I find it most comfortable swiftly planting the back foot, and transitioning that last burst off the dock by planting the front foot, while throwing the hands and getting the body working your pumping motion.
As far as safety concerns go for dock starts, you want to make sure that you have a clear area in front of the dock, and make sure the water is not too shallow. There shouldn’t be anything submerged under the water that you can’t see and might hit. I’ve had a few bad wipeouts doing dock starts, so make sure you have a nice grippy runway, and you’re committed with your movements.
Finally, make sure you can find a safe place to get back in or up onto the dock, and have fun!
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