I usually sail with one foot under the hiking strap, and with the other I catch the strap with my heel so I have something to push against when sheeting, or the hull rises.
I sail a Wave and I do something similar. My forward food is under the hiking strap, but I keep my aft foot out and work the mainsheet cam cleat with my toes. If I have to hike hard, I will hook my aft foot under the aft beam.
When one of the more experienced guys saw how I was working the cleat, at first he started laughing, but after thinking about it, he said he was going to try it next time.
