This is a post about something that may be happening at various times all over the planet but it happened at my beach and is worthy of a post and may encourage others. The foiler in question, lets call him Doug, has been a long time windsurfer, then a long time kitesurfer and then was drawn to kite foiling as the next logical step. As those who foil know, learning to foil can be a long, tedious and sometimes painful process and when you're 70 years old, you're not likely to approach the sport with a crash and learn approach like a teenager.

Doug did his research last season and bought some suitable foil gear, started learning to foil and watched the youtube videos we all probably watched, hoping for that magical insight that would have us up and foiling with a minimal learning curve. Doug continued the process this season, capably going back and forth on his foilboard very occasionally getting up on the foil but not sustaining the ride which often ended up quickly bringing the board back to the surface or in the worst case shooting the foil skyward, crashing the kite and then finally coming to shore, grabbing the twin tip and going out to do something that was relatively easy. This process continued throughout this season.

Meanwhile in the peanut gallery on the beach and on the water, kiters watched Doug with a mixture of hope and trepidation. Hoping that he would succeed in his foiling quest, but fearing he may give it up all together as an unattainable goal. There was plenty of advice given; "you're almost there", you've done the hardest part of learning", "move your feet to here" and "you'll really enjoy it when you get up and foiling like the rest of the foilers". In some sense Doug embodied the hopes and fears of us all when facing a significant challenge.

Then on Monday 24th February Doug foiled.

Doug foiled out to sea, got off, turned his board around and foiled back to shore. He repeated this process over and over, staying poised above the water riding the foil as if he had tamed it and bent it to his will. People noticed, "hey, did you see Doug, he's foiling!"
When he came out of the water after a good, long foiling session people met him like a celebrity, patting his back, shaking his hand, congratulating him. Doug smiled, as if relieved of a burden.

However this was just one day, could it be sustained? Was it just the perfect conditions, not much chop, a gentle nor-easter? On day two Doug got got to the beach as the north east wind was building and set forth again on the foil ... and repeated the previous day's effort with a touch more confidence and skill, building on the previous days efforts.
Doug foils

Now the pressure is on various other kitesurfers who were using Doug a a bit of a benchmark. "When Doug foils ... yeah I'll have to give it a go."
Doug took a while but he's now a kite foiler and frothing to get out there and keep improving. He never gave up, he persisted throughout it all and it's paid off. Being 70 is no barrier, and foiling at 70 will probably keep you younger than any other exercise. If you ever wondered if foiling is for you, stop wondering and just do it, (safely). If there are foilers at your beach, they'll usually be happy to assist new foilers get started. What are you waiting for

On ya Doug

Hey Dave
Thanks so much for sharing the insight into Doug and his dogged determination and passion
to learn this awesome journey we call foiling.
I have been going through the same learning curve at 64yrs.
Unfortuneatly I don't have an audience.
Or as I think probably better to save the embarrassment of crashing.
I now know the feeling of Doug having that sustained feeling of just flying.
like him only have achieved a few transitions.Lots of crashing.
Most of the time kitesurfboard riding or TTip in the surf with friends.
The foiling gig is a huge passion just wish I had someone to share with.
Thanks for your insight and help Dave.

Nice one Drsurf, we see it all the time at our local. Our foil population is growing with most are being 50+ years young and dedicated to foiling. Compared to other kiting disciplines it is really easy on the body, once you get past the learning curve that is and it will give many years of pleasure for us old guys.

Hahaha, let's call him Doug...We actually do call him Doug, or Douggie. Class guy and we are all thrilled that he is now up out of the water. This whole year I would follow him in his effort to learn, and would keep waiting for him to pop off the water, watch what he might be doing wrong etc. As Drsurf mentioned, we all gave him various advice. He just needed to skin up his huevos a bit, which he finally did and now knows the joy. I look forward to seeing him attempt his first transition!

Foiling is exactly Doug.
and will keep us with old knees going on and on.

There's hope for old knees & Hips .Replacements joints.
Left hip &Right knee so far, winter left knee then rehab Arrrh

Dougie isn't even the oldest foiler at our local either. One crusty dude here is in his mid 70's. Makes his own foils and masts out of plywood. Hat's off to him.

Wow Doug and I must be Brothers. age 71