February 15th: So Close! Almost Foiling — Finding the "Lift" Through Back-to-Back Sessions

After yesterday’s windless outing that ended in just SUP practice, the frustration was real. It pushed me to do something I rarely do: a "back-to-back" weekend session.

Truth be told, I still had a mountain of work waiting for me. I’d scrambled to clear as much as possible the night before and this morning, but plenty remained for when I got home. On top of that, my wife hasn't had much chance to go out lately, so heading to the sea for two days straight felt a little selfish. I felt a twinge of guilt. Still, the urge to ride was just too strong to ignore.

The Forecast Dropped, but the Spot was a "Hit"

The initial forecast called for 5 m/s—perfect for my level. However, the morning update downgraded it to 4 m/s, with the peak not hitting until 2:00 PM. It was a gamble. "Not great," I thought, but I pulled into Enoshima at 1:30 PM anyway.

The latest report still showed only 1–2 m/s, and my heart sank. But when I looked at the water, the reality was different. I could feel 3–4 m/s on my skin, and windsurfers were moving well—leaving clean wakes, not those sluggish V-shapes. "This might actually happen." My energy shifted instantly.

5㎡ or 6㎡? A Solo Practice Call

The big question: Which wing size? My largest 6㎡ or the 5㎡? In light wind, the 6㎡ is the standard choice. However, since it looked like I’d be practicing solo without my instructor, I chose the 5㎡ for a safety margin in case the wind picked up—a conservative call. There was another reason: I wanted to try the pumping techniques I’d been obsessively visualizing via YouTube, and the 5㎡ is simply easier to handle for technical drills. I rigged the 5㎡ and hit the water around 2:30 PM.

Finally, Real Wind

Out on the water, the wind was definitely there. For the first time in a while, I could cruise back and forth with full control of the wing. I was making progress upwind, consistently returning to a point further up than where I started. "Today is the day," I felt it.

I started incorporating the pumping. The wind was still a bit light, so I wasn't gaining massive speed, but I was getting the rhythm down. Then, out of nowhere—my instructor came gliding toward me on his foil, smooth as silk. "I was waiting at 1:30, but since you weren't here, I thought you weren't coming! I saw your gear later and came to find you." "Well, let’s make it a lesson then!" I replied. Just like that, I was back in "student mode."

Pumping Hell

I strapped on my helmet and mic, and we headed upwind for foiling drills. The plan: climb upwind, then turn downwind to build speed and start pumping. It was exhausting beyond words. Pumping is a full-body workout. After ten reps, my arms were like lead and my forearms were screaming. "This is brutal..." I gasped. Still, my instructor gave me some encouragement: "Your pumping has actually gotten a lot better." But then came the crucial correction: "Not enough weight on your back foot. Get further back and let the nose lift."

The First Taste of Lift

On the next try, I focused on that specific point. Pump, shift weight to the back foot... Suddenly, the board felt weightless. "I'm up!" But a split second later, my wing caught the water and—crash. "Wing's too low!" the instructor shouted. He was right; in the struggle to pump, I’d let the wing drop.

The Moment it Finally Flew

Next try. Keep the wing high. I waited for a gust, turned downwind, accelerated, and pumped. Weight on the back foot... The board rose. I was definitely foiling. But then the nose shot up too high, the foil breached the surface with a pop, and I took a spectacular header forward. "Shift weight to the front foot the moment you lift!" I understand it in my head. My body just isn't there yet.

One Last Go

I toughed it out for another 30 minutes. I managed to lift one more time, but it ended in the same forward crash. The wind was fading, and my arms had reached their limit. It was 5:00 PM. "That’s it for today." By the time I finished packing up, it was past 5:30. The Sunday sea was growing dark.

Almost There

If only the wind had been more stable. If only I’d rigged the 6㎡. Maybe I could have stayed up longer. But the takeaways from today are huge:

- The sensation of lifting through back-foot pressure.

- The importance of wing height.

- The immediate shift to front-foot pressure once airborne.

- The physical "feel" of the pumping motion.

Most importantly, "I am so close to foiling" is no longer a hope—it’s a conviction. Heading out late on a Sunday while drowning in work was worth every second. Next week is the one. If the wind blows, I will fly. Today was a day of definitive progress.