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Footstrap Positions
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mamero



Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Posts: 380
Location: Vancouver, Canada

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 2:19 am    Post subject: Footstrap Positions Reply with quote

I am about to install the footstraps on my new 2016 Futura 114 for the first time. What do you recommend is the best footstrap position for the Futura 114 keeping in mind it is more of a Freerace board? Up to now on my present board, a 2004 Carve 121, I have been using the "training" footstrap position. This position is the furthest inboard and furthest forward. Do you recommend I use the same inboard and forward position on the Futura? Or, seeing as I will need to get used to the feel of the new board anyway, should I put the straps further back and/or outboard right from the get-go? As someone who has been "learning the straps" I think I am more or less comfortable in the straps on my Carve in their current inboard/forward position.

Also in general, at what stage would you say someone is comfortable in the straps? When do you think it is time to move the straps to a new position? If a sailor were to move the footstraps from the training position, where is the next best position for progression? Back? Outboard? Back AND Outboard? Both my Carve 121 and my new Futura 114 can ONLY be configured as a four strap setup... just in case someone suggests I should switch to three straps. My Kode 94L is configured with three straps but it of course is a very different board than a Futura.

So the choices for my Futura (and maybe Carve) are:
1. Forward/Inboard (Current "training" setup on on Carve 121)
2. Forward/Outboard
3. Back/Inboard
4. Back/Outboard

Lastly, would it be a good idea to move the straps on the Carve 121 as well?
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bred2shred



Joined: 02 May 2000
Posts: 989
Location: Jersey Shore

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about just pick a spot, throw a screw driver in the gear bag, sail it, and adjust as needed.

Amazing how much over-thinking some folks can put into something as simple and personal as foot strap position. Some things you just need to figure out for yourself what works for you....

sm
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree w/B2S, with this addition you already know: Inboard for greater control and maneuvering, outboard for slightly greater top speed. IMO, anyone having to ask this question should be mounting his straps inboard, because that demands much less technical expertise. One learns to drive better and more quickly in a Camry than in an Indy racer.

On any new board, I just mount the straps as wide as I can ... F straps all the way forward, B straps all the way back. This gives me more freedom to adjust my own cg fore'n'aft dynamically as needed without getting in or out of my straps nearly as often. That may be too extreme on your particular boards; on mine this affects spread by only 2 or 3 inches, so I adapt within one reach.
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techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Learning to use the straps and a harness, and starting to plane - inboard straps.

Comfortable while planing fast in your harness with good water starts and making half or more of your gybes - outboard straps.

Assuming good power and speed:

A heavy guy may not want the full outboard strap location unless he uses a bigger fin.

A light guy may need the full outboard strap location and possibly a smaller fin.
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ss59



Joined: 10 Nov 2016
Posts: 104

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Futura's are a properly quick freerace board. Afaik, there are only two rows of footstrap holes, I would suggest starting with the middle holes in the inner row front and back - a spread of about 42-43cm seems about right for me.

Moving to the outer holes (keep the same row front and row) will enable you to find 6th gear on this board and will be significantly quicker. The outer row can be pretty dedicated and therefore harder to find than the inner row. I would suggest moving the straps outboard when you find yourself moving your foot out of the strap and further out over the rail when sailing - you'll know when it happens.

Wider spread enables move scissoring / levering action and therefore more ability to turn which is why straps on wave boards are spread wider. On your free race board keep them tighter together for better speed.

Having inboard straps on big freerides (100l+) is purely for learning, as soon as you are able to get into outer positioned straps - do it!

Your Carves outer straps are likely to be less extreme than your futura and therefore will be a really good stepping stone.

hope that's useful
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 11:14 am    Post subject: Straps Reply with quote

As stated earlier, too much over thinking. It is all about balance. When you find your feet wandering out of the straps towards the edge of the board to keep it flat you are ready to move the straps out.

Spacing between straps & forward/back position has a lot to do with preference, but your weight will play into it as well. Smaller riders can move the straps further back without sinking the tail vs. bigger riders but it still comes down to your preference with your board. For example, I favor my front straps facing more forward on my slalom boards so while the outside screw on my front strap will be in the third hole from the front the inside screw on the same strap will be in the second.

Coachg
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NOVAAN



Joined: 28 Sep 1994
Posts: 1544

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 12:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Put them out board and at the half way point. Adjust as needed. Some of the questions that you ask a very had to answer. We all very in the way we sail, body weight and sailing style. Not to mention location and wind conditions. You need to start thinking about what will work for you. The very best way to figure that out is to move things until it all working in balance. Also talk to the guys at your local spot that sail the same conditions that you do. Its great to get input from others but the bottom line is if it works for you, then its all set up correctly.
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To get the most out of the Futura, I would recommend immediately going with outboard straps in the rearmost positions. It will definitely be the fastest setup, and it will give you the best control over sailing trim, particularly being a smaller stature lightweight sailor. Why start out trying to de-tune its performance potential? If it proves too much for you, you can always make some adjustments to fit your comfort zone.

Regarding the Carve, I would recommend the outboard straps too. You already know what the inboard straps offer, so why not open the door to the board's higher performance potential.
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grantmac017



Joined: 04 Aug 2016
Posts: 946

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like your Carve has quite a few more lessons left in it.
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mamero



Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Posts: 380
Location: Vancouver, Canada

PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bred2shred wrote:
How about just pick a spot, throw a screw driver in the gear bag, sail it, and adjust as needed.

Amazing how much over-thinking some folks can put into something as simple and personal as foot strap position. Some things you just need to figure out for yourself what works for you....

sm


Rolling Eyes Well that was helpful.

I appreciate some of you were born with a natural windsurfing intuition. Others of us who have started recently are still trying to figure things out. Sometimes we figure things out the hard way; sometimes unknowingly and unnecessarily. Maybe it is overthinking to some of you. To some of us more recent sailors it is not overthinking. Some of us don't always know when something we are doing is right or wrong; working or not. I suspect this is true for some veteran windsurfers as well. Some of us don't always have sailors around that can provide immediate, experienced, and applicable feedback. That is why we come to forums like these.

I am a lightweight rider with about a year and a half of footstrap experience on a Carve 121. I am transitioning from a 14 year old Freeride board to a modern Freerace board. Different board design, construction, shape, size, footstrap positions, fin etc.

In this context asking about footstrap positions while I transition from an old design board to a new board seems like a legitimate question to me. I'm not just asking about where to put the footstraps. I am also asking what approach to the footstraps is going to promote and accelerate my general progress.

I plan to retire the Carve 121. The Futura is ultimately it's replacement and will be my main board. I may sail the Carve a couple more times but truthfully it's days are numbered.

Here is where I am coming from. And, I guess this is aimed more at the windsurfing instructors and coaches out there. While I transition from the Carve to the Futura there will be inevitable growing pains regardless of where the straps are. All I am asking is what would be the most logical place to put the straps? Should I put them in the "easy" position until I get comfortable with the board? Or, should I just suck-it-up and put the straps in the back outboard/position and include this as part of the discomfort of learning the new board? Am I ultimately hampering or accelerating my the transition to the Futura (an my general progress) by doing this?
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