G'day All, I know it's a big ask as they are an impressive bit of kit and expensive, but does anybody have a board and foil that they'd be willing to let me have a try? I realise they are probably totally different to ride but I'm a previous short board rider my whole life and now on sups due old, fat and dodgy shoulder.
I'd love to give it a go before commiting to any purchase as the $$ are tight. I've been watching and reading all I can. I'm located on the Northside of Brisbane nearer to sunny coast, but willing to drive down the goldy if available.
Cheers Whitey.

I really doubt anyone will give up a foil as a demo unfortunately, all the risk is in the first two hours of use so they would be lending it to you for the most dangerous part of learning. Even places offering lessons would need to be super careful as to do it right you would need the driver to have a cox ticket and boat to be certified other wise the risk of getting sued would be crazy.

You can see its fun and if you like all the other water sports then foresure you will also like foiling so just buy it as you know you are going to anyway!!

If someone does lend you one then stoked and make the most of it!!

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yt04 said..
G'day All, I know it's a big ask as they are an impressive bit of kit and expensive, but does anybody have a board and foil that they'd be willing to let me have a try? I realise they are probably totally different to ride but I'm a previous short board rider my whole life and now on sups due old, fat and dodgy shoulder.
I'd love to give it a go before commiting to any purchase as the $$ are tight. I've been watching and reading all I can. I'm located on the Northside of Brisbane nearer to sunny coast, but willing to drive down the goldy if available.
Cheers Whitey.

Jas and the crew at Briskites/SUP Centre Brisbane do a beginners foiling session - might assist in seeing what you think of it while getting excellent tips and without having to borrow someone's personal board -

www.briskites.com.au/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2262

Addendum - I have no commercial interest in Briskites/SUP Centre - it's just where I've purchased all my SUP gear and I've found them excellent in every way. Great advice, top-notch gear, and just great people

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Gorgo said..

That is gold!!!!! I love it. Sorry, stealing this and putting it everywhere. This explains foiling 100%.

JB

The safest and fastest way to learn is to go to the Gold Coast Wake Park and book a private 1 hour lesson . They supply everything and you wil be foiling in that lesson . Best $37 bucks you will spend.

Thanks guys for the advice and the yoda, I pissed myself. Thanks Piros, great advice and I'll do that.

Yup, I never lended my foiling gear to "just try"
- all the time, the guys didn't bother looking deeply into all the advice and tutorial first. This means their first hours on a foil will bear high risk of either breaking my gear, or worse, hurting themselves (or others), or both. And then, are they going to accept their responsibility or trying to blame me, or sue me? (and refund the broken gear)
- I do not see how you can get an idea of what foiling like like from a just a test
- not wanting to commit to buying gear is not a good sign for learning to foil that needs quite a commitment to it.

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colas said..
Yup, I never lended my foiling gear to "just try"
- all the time, the guys didn't bother looking deeply into all the advice and tutorial first. This means their first hours on a foil will bear high risk of either breaking my gear, or worse, hurting themselves (or others), or both. And then, are they going to accept their responsibility or trying to blame me, or sue me? (and refund the broken gear)
- I do not see how you can get an idea of what foiling like like from a just a test
- not wanting to commit to buying gear is not a good sign for learning to foil that needs quite a commitment to it.

I'm keen as colas, have been for years but just don't have the $$ to buy straight up. Loved watching your vids with the great advice, thanks for that. I totally understand the concerns you raised too. I'm pretty confident that I'd be able to ride them as I haven't found a Watersport yet I can't do. I'm going to give piros' advice a go and book a session at the cable ski park to have a taste. Im guessing I'll be saving like mad after that. Cheers Whitey.

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yt04 said..
I'm going to give piros' advice a go and book a session at the cable ski park to have a taste. Im guessing I'll be saving like mad after that. Cheers Whitey.

Yup, $37 a towed session is the best investment you can make. Plus it seems to be like for biking, once you manage to ride a foil your body remembers how even if you stop for weeks.

Also, foils are going to get down in price. Already chinese companies are producing full carbon foils for US $300 (that some SUP brands resell with their name on them at 800 euros / US $940), which is pushing the current foil companies to leverage their R&D effort into future cheaper offerings. I would advise to stay clear of these chinese foils however, a well designed foil is paramount for learning, and unlike boards they are not easy to repair if they break and the brand is not prepared to have a good support of their products.