Laurie,

This is just an idea but perhaps your should have a foiling section in the forums, the buy and sell and the board sections of the buy and sell? Booming part of the sport, and could target some advertising for your too, mate.

PS. Bit of self-interest here. Tried it properly for the first time yesterday, and I am now addicted and looking for gear for the end of the month.

Cheers.

Yeah, nahhhhh.....!!!! Foiling is a a just a fad, it will die out soon.

Agree just check out other kitefoil forums .
I think its time as there is confusion where to post for foiling bonding and therapy

Just a stab in the dark Laurie but the last 7 posts on the kite racing thread are about foiling.

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shi thouse said..
Yeah, nahhhhh.....!!!! Foiling is a a just a fad, it will die out soon.

Yep, totally agree, but only after I've learnt it and flogged it to death to the point of mind-bending boredom .

Kiteforum.com has a dedicated Hydrofoil section. It has 23,595 posts. The Wake style section has 579 posts and Wave section has 1,110. This "fad" has got legs.

Hi DukeSilver,
This 'fad" has legs until we all master it.
I'm thinking at my learning rate, it would be a while, LOL

It's part of kitesurfing which this site is about. It's not just racing but developing into separate wave, freeride, & race disciplines. It's not for everyone but the efficiency, ride & challenge means it's not going to be a fad. If anything foils are spreading through surfing, supping, sailing, windsurfing & more.

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DukeSilver said..
Kiteforum.com has a dedicated Hydrofoil section. It has 23,595 posts. The Wake style section has 579 posts and Wave section has 1,110. This "fad" has got legs.

This just displays how much time Foilers spend on forums rather vs kiting.

So is the suggestion for a foiling section to cover all foiling types or a foil section within each of kite windsurfer sup etc.

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bjw said..

DukeSilver said..
Kiteforum.com has a dedicated Hydrofoil section. It has 23,595 posts. The Wake style section has 579 posts and Wave section has 1,110. This "fad" has got legs.

This just displays how much time Foilers spend on forums rather vs kiting.

- Touche

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bjw said..

DukeSilver said..
Kiteforum.com has a dedicated Hydrofoil section. It has 23,595 posts. The Wake style section has 579 posts and Wave section has 1,110. This "fad" has got legs.

This just displays how much time Foilers spend on forums rather vs kiting.

Nice try, but we foil on the days that everybody else gets out, and foil on the lighter wind days when nobody else goes to the beach. There's at least a 20% increase in the number of days you can ride.

You know how kiters feel sorry for windsurfers plugging away on their clunky old fashioned gear? Always sitting on the beach waiting for the wind to come up? Foilers feel the same way about kiters on TT and surfboards.

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RAL INN said..
So is the suggestion for a foiling section to cover all foiling types or a foil section within each of kite windsurfer sup etc.

First up, a foiling section within kiting, windsurfing and SUP'ing. I think the tribes are fairly defined. But given we want to make sure Laurie has enough from advertising for beers and burgers, a dedicated foiling section in the buy and sell sections of each division is probably more urgent. Given WA has had a week of doldrums, and look like heading for more, I especially think foiling has legs for those who want to get away from being pounded by seabreezes five days a week, and those poor bastards over east who suffer endless patches of sweet FA wind ;) ....

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alverstone said..

RAL INN said..
So is the suggestion for a foiling section to cover all foiling types or a foil section within each of kite windsurfer sup etc.

and those poor bastards over east who suffer endless patches of sweet FA wind ;) ....

Believe it or not, some of us poor bastards love those glassy days you can do what ever you like, besides being attached to a kite.

Well a few days have passed and only 6 or so wanting a foil section.
This could mean a few things:
No real interest atm?
The bigger numbers of foil kiters look at other forums?
Foil kiting in Australia is not as big as a few enthusiasts think?
What else?

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warwickl said..
Well a few days have passed and only 6 or so wanting a foil section.
This could mean a few things:
No real interest atm?
The bigger numbers of foil kiters look at other forums?
Foil kiting in Australia is not as big as a few enthusiasts think?
What else?

All of the above. TBH, other sites like Kite Forum have a far greater wealth of info on HFing than SB. Like many things, Australia is a year or 3 behind the rest of the world, and foiling is no exception. It may happen for us as well but a lower population and ample wind to pursue mainstream riding styles means it may never reach the popularity it's achieved in Europe. Go to shops in Perth, and they either don't stock foiling gear or have one foil sitting around gathering dust more as an oddity than something they expect to sell. That's fair enough too. If they're not selling in big numbers, why risk tying up the capital. If foiling doesn't ever take off in Australia, I'm ok with that. I like that it's different and doesn't appeal to the masses. Thats also one of the things I, and probably most of us, like about kiting in general.

I'd be keen on a foiling section with each respective sport for sure. I mainly read kiteforum foiling sectionmyself as other have highlighted there is so much more participation.

Looking around the world, I think foiling is here to stay. We already have it in mainstream sailing aka Americas Cup, and hopefully 2020 Olympics in the form of kitefoil.

I dont know anyone whose learnt to foil who then has given it away. I foil when it's light, when it's strong, and now in the surf. My mates pick their surfboard and I grab the foil and do the same downwinder. Just another way to ride the waves really. Guys are already pushing new limits in big air and freestyle-ish riding - look how many views Greg Drexler and Adam Withington are getting on YouTube - 50,000 or more which I think is a lot for arguably a pretty niche subject.

Here in WA I've not seen any windfoilers yet but I'm sure they exist and will grow in numbers.

I am am an admin for the "Perth Kite Racing and Freeride" group on Facebook (shameless plug) and we are about 40 foilers all based in Perth who race and ride regularly south of the river. The page itself has over 2000 followers now and more then 2100 likes- so clearly someone is interested.

What amuses me most however ever is how many manufacturers are releasing foil kites in 2017- I mean a Slingshot foil kite ? Who would have thought ???? I couldn't buy one locally in 2014 and now I'm spoilt for choice. WTF !

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toppleover said..

alverstone said..

RAL INN said..
So is the suggestion for a foiling section to cover all foiling types or a foil section within each of kite windsurfer sup etc.

and those poor bastards over east who suffer endless patches of sweet FA wind ;) ....

Believe it or not, some of us poor bastards love those glassy days you can do what ever you like, besides being attached to a kite.

Blasphemy!!!!!!!

I agree we should rename the kite "Racing" section to "Foiling", likewise in the Buy & Sell .. "Race Boards" ==> "Foils" ?

For or Against?

No responses.
I'll start Race boards over lap a bit I think but foiling is a much wider market so
'Against' for me as 2 different forums - I have absolutely no interest in race boards.

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warwickl said..
No responses.
I'll start Race boards over lap a bit I think but foiling is a much wider market so
'Against' for me as 2 different forums - I have absolutely no interest in race boards.

Warwick might not be keen to race but the last 11 racing topics are talking about foiling same same but different? And all the boards for sale are foils

For

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kiteboy dave said..
For

+1

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laurie said..


I agree we should rename the kite "Racing" section to "Foiling", likewise in the Buy & Sell .. "Race Boards" ==> "Foils" ?

For or Against?

Brilliant! The easiest, two-word change solution I have ever seen. Have a koala stamp.

For

Is there even a market for race boards now?

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Gorgo said..

bjw said..

DukeSilver said..
Kiteforum.com has a dedicated Hydrofoil section. It has 23,595 posts. The Wake style section has 579 posts and Wave section has 1,110. This "fad" has got legs.

This just displays how much time Foilers spend on forums rather vs kiting.

Nice try, but we foil on the days that everybody else gets out, and foil on the lighter wind days when nobody else goes to the beach. There's at least a 20% increase in the number of days you can ride.

You know how kiters feel sorry for windsurfers plugging away on their clunky old fashioned gear? Always sitting on the beach waiting for the wind to come up? Foilers feel the same way about kiters on TT and surfboards.

Agree Gorge, but those TT and surfboard riders are having a hell of a laugh at my expense at the moment. How long is this knob stage going to go on for

It took me months to learn how to go up wind back in 2000 with the old 2 line kites. foiling might be along the same lines. But enjoying it.

For

Definitely a foil section ,it's having a re birth, wake board , tow in , paddle in , windsurf & kiting. Don't like it don't look at it. It's more days on the water in low winds and good waves or behind a boat. Just another tool in your shed....

For

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bene313 said..
Is there even a market for race boards now?

Yep. For dudes who want a cheap board to convert to a foil board!....