Never been at all interested in kitesurfing,but this new form of it looks like real fun.

Do they plane faster than a race board kite? How many knots do they plane in?

Guess you need to be pretty highly skilled--or could get cut up bad from what I've heard.

Hi mate,foils dont plane they foil. You can foil up in in low speeds but foils tend to stall if speed is too low. It all depends on the aspect ratio and design of the hydrofoil.It takes some time to get the hang of it but anybody can learn to hydrofoil and a few cuts are quickly forgotten.You will see a lot more people getting into hydrofoiling in the next months/years because they are the most efficient toy in the water and feel amazing to ride.

A mate bought a used hydrofoil recently. We are taking it slowly at first to avoid injury or damage to the foil. I am sure it will be easy when we've put the time in to get it all under control.

The main problem we have at this time of year is getting the weather to try it out. Too light and there's no power to get going and you're fighting to keep the kite in the air or relaunch. Too onshore and you get washed up onto the beach or bounce the foil off the reef. Too strong/cross-off and we're not brave enough to risk dicking around with unfamiliar gear in dodgy conditions.

Never been at all interested in kitesurfing,but this new form of it looks like real fun.

It is great fun - been at it since about September last year. Built my own, on version 3 now, all have worked well. I think the only reason there aren't more around is the cost. I've never kited so much in the off season as this year.

Do they plane faster than a race board kite? How many knots do they plane in?

I don't know about plane faster than a raceboard - if you were good, probably - the foils seem to clean up most of the San Fran races in the states now. I probably need about 10 -12 knots with an 8m kite - if you can get enough wind to yank you up onto the board and out of the water, that is more than enough to get you foiling - once on the foil, the apparent wind helps keep you going. It's actually more of a problem when you stop to turn around - any sort of lull, and the kite drops out the sky, and a relaunch in the lights winds is unlikely. I've had some epic long swims. One other thing that's essential is enough water depth - probably about chest deep as a minimum.

see this video for light wind potential:

Guess you need to be pretty highly skilled--or could get cut up bad from what I've heard.

No - difficulty is overrated, probably a bit harder than learning normal kiting (although I'd say a year or 2 of kiting would be prerequisite), but you start progressing immediately so it's pretty encouraging to carry on. You actually have to unlearn some kiting habits. The crashes are fairly bad, but as long as it's body onto water, not so serious. The wings do have the potential to chop you though - but probably not any worse than a race board fins. You quickly learn to fall away from the foil. Like kiting, you probably set your own risk level by your equipment, the conditions you go out in etc.

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Phezulu1 said..
Never been at all interested in kitesurfing,but this new form of it looks like real fun.

It is great fun - been at it since about September last year. Built my own, on version 3 now, all have worked well. I think the only reason there aren't more around is the cost. I've never kited so much in the off season as this year.

A mate and I would like to make a foil board, would it be possible to post instructions?

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KiteDesigner said..

Phezulu1 said..
Never been at all interested in kitesurfing,but this new form of it looks like real fun.

It is great fun - been at it since about September last year. Built my own, on version 3 now, all have worked well. I think the only reason there aren't more around is the cost. I've never kited so much in the off season as this year.

A mate and I would like to make a foil board, would it be possible to post instructions?

No problem, I'll try and put something together, probably over the weekend. There was a similar article posted by another seabreezer, but it seems to have disappeared.

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Phezulu1 said..
Never been at all interested in kitesurfing,but this new form of it looks like real fun.

It is great fun - been at it since about September last year. Built my own, on version 3 now, all have worked well. I think the only reason there aren't more around is the cost. I've never kited so much in the off season as this year.

Do they plane faster than a race board kite? How many knots do they plane in?

I don't know about plane faster than a raceboard - if you were good, probably - the foils seem to clean up most of the San Fran races in the states now. I probably need about 10 -12 knots with an 8m kite - if you can get enough wind to yank you up onto the board and out of the water, that is more than enough to get you foiling - once on the foil, the apparent wind helps keep you going. It's actually more of a problem when you stop to turn around - any sort of lull, and the kite drops out the sky, and a relaunch in the lights winds is unlikely. I've had some epic long swims. One other thing that's essential is enough water depth - probably about chest deep as a minimum.

see this video for light wind potential:

Guess you need to be pretty highly skilled--or could get cut up bad from what I've heard.

No - difficulty is overrated, probably a bit harder than learning normal kiting (although I'd say a year or 2 of kiting would be prerequisite), but you start progressing immediately so it's pretty encouraging to carry on. You actually have to unlearn some kiting habits. The crashes are fairly bad, but as long as it's body onto water, not so serious. The wings do have the potential to chop you though - but probably not any worse than a race board fins. You quickly learn to fall away from the foil. Like kiting, you probably set your own risk level by your equipment, the conditions you go out in etc.

This is possibly some of the best advice I've seen given to anyone, and I agree 100%. Read up about it and make sure your kite skills are up-to-scratch, practice practice practice with a kite.
Not knowing how to kite might actually be an advantage as you don't have to 'relearn' anything :) you just get it from zero. Takes time and effort? Sure, but so does everything.

Go or it mate. Go onto my profile if want to see some photos from a couple of weeks ago in Aitutaki. If that doesn't want to make you learn nothing will

V

There is only one major problem with hydrofoils; having to tell your mates that you are a homosexual

Polies used to say the same thing about kiters but, we all grow up sooner or later.

Wow I actually thought I was going to witness a troll free seabreeze forum. It alas my dreams were shattered

You must be American - land of the Dream lol

I can supply moulded carbon hydrofoil sections, in Perth.

www.fastacraft.com

www.facebook.com/Fastacraft

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Gazuki said..
There is only one major problem with hydrofoils; having to tell your mates that you are a homosexual

Lots of experience huh..... do tell

Thanks Mark - the instructions are clear enough.

www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Kitesurfing/How-to-make-your-own-Hydrofoil_8649403.aspx

Totally random question,

Can a foil be designed so that it can go both forward and reverse?
I was wondering if its possible to design something that can be mounted in the centre of a TwinTip and be able to plane both ways?

Good question suniboy21 - now that would be interesting

Looks like the euros have allready thought of it!