DOCKSTART

Welcome to the captivating world of dockstarting, where every moment on the board becomes an opportunity to push the limits of surfing.

Dock start (or pumping), a new nautical discipline, allows you to launch a foil without the help of wind, swell or wave, but directly from a dock, i.e. a platform (pontoon, harbor slipway, boat, etc.). No need for air, just a stable, solid base from which to set off! The more experienced can even start from the beach. At first glance, it looks easy: you pick up speed, jump on the board and off you go. However, a little practice and the right equipment are required! But nothing insurmountable. This guide is here to help you choose the right equipment and make rapid progress with a few practical tips.
Which board for dockstart?
It’s always possible to make your own, especially via online tutorials. However, brands are now offering ultra-rigid sandwich-construction models, offering greater responsiveness and the sensation of being at one with your foil. These dockstart-specific boards are also often used in kite foiling. Avoid too fragile a construction, as it may take a few knocks at first. A dockstart board needs to be extremely maneuverable for easy starting, and stable enough to ensure good balance right from the start, when you start flying. Unlike kitefoil or wingfoil boards, a dockstart board is more compact, optimizing pumping and speed.

Volume and size
You can use your wing foil or surf foil board, but they are often bulkier and therefore take up more space. In dockstart, you don’t need to float on your board like you do in SUP or wing. It’s therefore advisable to opt for a board with a very small volume.
In dockstart foiling, board size and thickness play a key role in both performance and comfort. A shorter board is generally easier to handle and lighter, which facilitates pumping, essential for acceleration and gliding. In addition, a well-distributed thickness improves stiffness, offering a more direct and responsive connection with the rider’s movements. This optimizes control, responsiveness and precision. Another essential point: voluminous rails and a hollow hull give you greater stability when touching the surface of the water.
The ideal board for this discipline is around 20 liters and less than 1 metre long. Above 40-45 liters, it becomes complicated. A kitefoil board may also be suitable.
As with volume, length adds glide when you float… But in dockstarting, it’s no use! So you need a board that’s as compact and light as possible, as long as you can put your feet on it.

Weight and sandwich construction
The lighter the board, the more efficient the pumping. Carbon fiber models combine lightness and strength, offering greater rigidity and responsiveness. Construction and materials are essential for durability and performance. A lighter board requires less effort to pump and maintain speed. Note that a board with carbon reinforcements offers better resistance to impact and wear.

Shape
An optimized shape, with a well thought-out rocker, considerably improves the start and reinforces the board’s stability during pumping.

Pad
A quality anti-slip pad ensures maximum grip for better control. It should cover a very large part of the board.

Which foil for dockstart?
The choice of dockstart foil depends on several criteria: your level, your weight and the type of dock used.

Here are a few points to consider:
Front wing area
The greater the surface area of a wing, the more lift it offers. For beginner dockstarts, we recommend wings of at least 1300 cm². The greater the surface area, the less energy you need to maintain pumping flight. On the other hand, too much surface area slows down planing speed. The larger the front wing, the more lift it provides, making take-off and pumping easier. Conversely, a smaller wing will require more speed. Foil size and shape affect acceleration and control. A long foil (high aspect ratio) will be more stable but less maneuverable, while a smaller foil will be more agile, but will require more speed to take off. Choose according to your level and your goals for your next sessions.
Another factor is the chord of the front wing. A large chord provides lift and stability, which is ideal for beginners. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to High Aspect wings, offering more glide. Our Enduro range, with a size of 1300 cm² (or less), is perfect for dockstart progression.

Foil mast height
A mast of around 80-85 cm offers a good compromise between performance and accessibility. The longer your mast, the longer you’ll be able to pump. A shorter mast will promote a faster cadence. Its height depends on the distance between your dock and the water. For a dock close to the water, a 75 cm mast is sufficient. If the platform is higher, an 85 cm mast is recommended.
Given the importance of pumping performance, a carbon mast is recommended for its rigidity.

Stabilizer size
It should be around 140-150 cm². The larger the surface area of the stab, the greater the stability, but the lower the speed.

As for the fuselage, a short one makes the foil easier to handle, great for carving and tight maneuvers. On the other hand, a longer, standard fuselage provides greater straight-line stability and easier flight, but can be less effective when pumping, especially during take-off.
Where to start dockstarting?
The pontoon for safe departure
Dock start is therefore a pumping discipline, and one of its advantages is that it can be practiced almost anywhere! Ideally, it’s best to find the ideal platform! You’ll need a long enough pontoon (or harbor slipway) to run along and pick up some speed. Before you set off, make sure there are no ropes or obstacles in or on the water that could cause you to fall. Choose a safe spot! To find the right pontoon, Google Maps in satellite view is a good ally.
And why not right from the beach? Even if it takes a bit of practice…
Ladder or beach for the more experiencedYou may have seen it on some YouTube videos, it’s also possible to use “folding” ladders directly in the water. Not bad when there’s no pontoon. The downside is that it’s harder to get away with speed. So it’s a recommended choice once you’ve mastered pumping.
Little secret!
Practice and be patient! As with any new sport, the key to success is practice. Start with short distances, then gradually increase the duration and intensity as your confidence and skills grow. And if you don’t feel like struggling, take lessons or ask experienced riders for advice. They can give you valuable advice and help you avoid the most common mistakes.
Ready to get started? Take your time during the first 2-3 sessions, when you’re just starting out, to fully understand the pumping movement. The only thing that could stop you afterwards is your cardio.
How to make a successful dockstart?
Dockstarting requires a unique and demanding technique that takes practice.
Here are a few tips on how to get up to speed quickly after a few attempts:
Choose the right spot: a dock with good access to the water makes learning easier.Once you’ve held your board as flat as possible (one hand on the nose, the other on the back), run a few meters and launch your board with the foil slightly submerged. Like a beach start on speed!
Position your feet correctly: good balance right from the start is essential for taking off on the foil. Jump on the foil with your feet in line with the board (in surf position)!
Pumper with your whole body: use your legs, torso and arms to pump efficiently. Or whenever you lose speed in mid-air. And lower your center of gravity!
Training the foil beachstart: this technique allows you to get a better grasp of the pumping movement before moving on to the dockstart. Use a wing or paddle to propel yourself out of the water, then follow up with pumping while releasing the wing or raising the paddle! An excellent exercise.
Watch videos: many web-based tutorials explain technical gestures and give tips for rapid progress.
To avoid injury, start riding in safe conditions, such as shallow water, but deep enough not to touch the bottom and fall. Also pay attention to the condition of the pontoon.
Dockstarting is a new and demanding discipline that requires the right equipment to progress effectively. A good physical condition, a good cardio, a light and rigid board of quality, as well as a powerful foil are major assets to practice when the calm is there…