What is the future? personally I see both as foiling is for ninja warriors. But I can vision a huge change coming competitively in Hawaii with the next generation (current teenagers) choosing a foil board over an unlimited.

In hawaii over the weekend stand up paddling had its first offical "foil class" for a distance race.
The "Poi bowl" on Maui maliko run.
Jimmy casey took a massive win over Connor Baxter in the main unlimited class but I think the real talking point is how a foil class was created.

6 foilers entered. Kai Lenny took the win.
I asked supracer on instagram who was first over the line. Jimmy or kai.
is reply.
Kai Lenny surprising absolutely nobody to take the win in 48 minutes. Young gun Jeffrey Spencer was impressive in finishing runner-up just four minutes behind the foil superstar.
The foil guys ran a different course to the unlimited. Foils started outside the gulch and finished outside the harbour to avoid the flats. Kai (foil)was 48:47 jimmy (unlimited) was 1:08:39. So as you would expect the foils were moving faster even considering the different course lengths the (race boards) probably did 1.5km extra. the wind wasn't optimal for either division, times could of easily been faster. And the 6th foiler to finish did it in 1:48min to highlight how tricky those things can be.

I hope foiling is, haven't tried mine down wind yet but can't wait too. Surfing them is fun in the right conditions, but I primarily want mine so go downwind on

Given that the foiling thing is only just really kicking off and we're already seeing on a crappy day average speeds differing around/over 20%, I think we're going to see more foiling in races to come. (based on Jimmy's time/15km and Kai time/13.5km. Obviously an estimate.)

Of coarse there is going to be races were the conditions just do not suit foiling and some races (as per Poi Bowl) were the coarse will need to be altered to accommodate, but often in these conditions the 14'ers are sometimes superior to the unlimited also.

Not to mention traveling with unlimited boards (mind you I have never done this).

my 2 cents,

Ride safe,

JB

It's quite possibly a sliding doors moment right now, when the sport chooses a pathway - one path leads to breakout success, popularity, mass media coverage and millions of dollars of sponsorship money pouring in; the other path leads to oblivion as a sport with great potential takes a wrong turn and basically windsurfs its way to irrelevance. I don't know which one is which necessarily, but both outcomes are very possible.

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PTWoody said..
It's quite possibly a sliding doors moment right now, when the sport chooses a pathway - one path leads to breakout success, popularity, mass media coverage and millions of dollars of sponsorship money pouring in; the other path leads to oblivion as a sport with great potential takes a wrong turn and basically windsurfs its way to irrelevance. I don't know which one is which necessarily, but both outcomes are very possible.

Windsurfing didn't have quite the same dilemma, in that it didn't face the same cross road. Divisions and disciplines came and went in an effort to re-invigorate the sport.

What lead to its decline was the inaccessibility of the sport, the top line went to technical and out of the reach of many. The cost and level of difficulty (it isn't easy to get very good at) pushed it off to the too hard basket for many.

My concern is that SUP is still heading the same way. Unlimited boards are not all that accessible, they are expensive and relatively fragile. Foils, while I have never tried one, seem inaccessible for the average person. They seem to remain the place of the super skilled young crew, this may not be the case, but perception is everything. Add to that they are not really accessible to try out for someone who doesn't want to commit big $$ to get set up and I can't see it ever being more than a niche.

The risk is that the niche elements of the sport cast a shadow on the sport as a whole, and the accessibility that has made SUP so popular will be at risk due to perception. Now this did happen in windsurfing, the niche elements made it not cool to sail the easy and some might say most fun gear.

Just my ramblings while a bit bored at work...

This is a tricky one - foils are not cheap (it's like buying two boards) and with the current foil designs really, really hard. Anyone I have spoken to about going downwind say it's really hard - and the few that have tried are really, really good and very fit "watermen" (SUP,surf, foil etc).

I'm slowly learning how to foil on the SUP and I hope to crack a downwinder within the next 6 months, and by cracking it I mean actually foil. The problem with a downwind foil is that if you are not getting up on the foil you are on a low volumed board with extra drag = going nowhere. And all I have spoken to say it's physically very demanding to get on a run. To crack that initial hurdle will take some grit and unless foils become a lot easier I currently doubt it will become excessively popular - the cost of entry (in Dollars and physical ability) is too high.

Hope I'm wrong...

i believe that it can go either way really

it will ultimately be up to the governing organization and the competitors as a whole

if the demand is there for foil races they should continue to hold races, but at the moment this is a very niche market, but it will become an expanding market, with the expanding r&d it will make it easier for people to do as companies figure out what works and what doesn't, also as this expands more and more people will be able to get into the sport with a second hand market being created and it becoming more affordable for the masses
unlimited sups are much the same with the price point, but again are expanding not through the big brands but more through customs atm, also with more people getting into longer races ie Hawkesbury classic etc, but what will also effect this is the fact that the races in Australia are not really geared towards unlimited but if the demand is there this should change creating an unlimited category in more races, instead of a first across the line scenario

with both they are horses for courses, as a reality i love an unlimited sup being 6'3 120kg, would love to foil and probably will one day but being realistic maybe not

time will tell

JArryd

Interesting debate.

I must say that seen from France (and I guess from outside of Hawaii), downwinding looks already like a chihuahua-sized niche (excuse the pun, niche in French means "doghouse"). I may be mistaken, but I think there are nearly no unlimited sold in France each year (even only 2 one year).

I also never downwinded. I can see the fun, based on my days windsurfing chasing bumps, but the logistics of doing it with a SUP were too much.

So maybe foiling will change it for the better: much cheaper than an unlimited board, less logistics, and I guess one can start on very short downwinds, because foiling is so tiring at first, you wont need 10 miles to begin to have fun. Heck, after a 300 meters wave foiling run my thighs are burning. Just like we saw beach races become separate events from the long distance paddle races, I can envision shorter (and safer) downwind foiling sessions where a boat would bring (or maybe tow?) foilers with small boards 1 mile upwind. Hey, even a pal with a Hobie cat or jet ski can do it and have fun also.

I think JB hit it on the head Sup foiling is still so new and for now it's pretty elite. BUT what is going on in the background for foils is pretty amazing. In just 6 months the boards and foils have evolved incredibly and the learning process has been slashed, if you can surf a Sup you will be flying on a foil in 3 to 4 weeks for the average punter and faster for better guys , we have also now have learnt to teach it properly.

The R&D getting pumped into this sport is amazing and I have been fortunate enough to test heaps of new protos. Give it a couple of months and you will see heaps of new foils with a great price point and multiglisse abilities like the Naish , Go Foil , Takuma , North , Lift , F1 , Slingshot & Gong to suit prone , Sup surf & downwind , Kite ,Windsurf and tow in , one foil will do it all. Just swap the wings like fins.

Where it goes from there I don't know . Like F1 car racing technology filters down to our sports cars the same will happen from the latest Americas Cup. My prediction is the foils will become lighter and more efficient with super stability. I've just watched the latest video of Keahi de Aboitiz (it's not up yet) on his JP Go Foil pulling off some amazing turns , it's far from boring and definitely not a fad. The sport is just a year or so old just like Sup was 8 years ago. It's going to open up a whole new world of what we can ride & put more hours on your legs.

I like the UL though I don't know about the transport & storage. Stand Up Foil if I had a prone surfing background. I do like to try the kite foil. Retail cost about the same for either sport though foil might be more than $1000+ retail depend on the brand.

This is a good topic. Both UL and foils are the future. Foils will probably steal away a lot of people who'd otherwise buy an UL though.

None of this has anything to do with mainstream SUP though. Mainstream SUP (at least here in Europe now) is mainly about families and inflatables, cruising flat water, yoga, fishing, fitness etc. Those are the myriad of ways that the masses are enjoying SUP. 95% of them won't even know that UL boards or foils exist, or even that there are World SUP Championships etc. Most won't be going in the sea, or if they are, won't stray more than 100m from shore. So I doubt that niches such as UL downwinding or foiling will have any impact upon the Costco family brigade.

The speed of change in foiling is incredible. 2 years from now things could look very different.

And dugout ULs everywhere now. Who could have predicted that a couple of years ago.

But these innovations are largely restricted to ocean SUPers, and although in places like Hawaii and Australia, these people are the vast majority, elsewhere in the world they are very much a minority. I'm not sure how quickly foiling and UL boards will take off in popularity in inland waters.

It's great IMO to see our sport evolving even more, and in a myriad of directions. People will pick the SUP niche that fulfils their need, time availability, and budget.

Area10 is spot on. SUP will have a fairly healthy future as a mass participation sport as long as the "mass" can participate. That means relatively cheap, lightweight, easy to transport and ride boards.

SUP will never be truly "mass" because of the perceived need to take your clothes off and wear wetsuits and fall in the water all the time. I predict there will be lots of heavy old SUPs appearing on council hard rubbish collections because they're too heavy and cumbersome for every day use.

The elite end of the sport is entirely irrelevant until a person appears that the public can form an emotional bond with. Consider the interest in the Tour de France with Cadel Evans fighting to win it, and the efforts to find another Australian to care about in the later races.

I think too much is made about the difficulty and dangers of foiling. I am 60 and kite foil all the time. I was probably a touch above average in kiting skills but I am certainly no super athlete. The other kite foilers are a wide range of the old, the fat and the decrepit. We're all doing just fine. I think I could coach any motivated kiter to get up and foiling in half the time it took me.

The only thing that would hold me back from going SUP foiling is access to suitable waves to do it on.

There is another aspect to mass participation but I'm not sure how you can communicate it to the general public. You can have experiences with nature that rival stuff seen on David Atttenborough movies. Just recently I SUP surfed waves with dolphins. Over the years I have kited and surfed with whales. I regularly play with soaring birds (especially foiling). If you spend enough time on the water all this stuff just happens. The best SUP is the one that lets you get out on the water, but more importantly, makes you want to get out on the water.

To address the original question, I choose foils. if you can add a foil to a moderate sized board to turn it into a surfing/downwinding monster then I'd be jumping on that.

Had a quick surf session this morning on the Naish 5'6 Soft Top Surf board with Malolo Foil.
Max Speed: 43.6km
I know which direction i'll be heading in the sport of Downwinding. FASTER IS BETTER

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Foilboarder said..
Had a quick surf session this morning on the Naish 5'6 Soft Top Surf board with Malolo Foil.
Max Speed: 43.6km
I know which direction i'll be heading in the sport of Downwinding. FASTER IS BETTER

Wait, you were on a SUP, with a foil, in waves, and you had a max speed of 43.6 km/hr ?!? And you weren't run over and dragged by a jet ski? How often were you moving above 25 km/hr?

Sign me up!

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Foilboarder said..
Had a quick surf session this morning on the Naish 5'6 Soft Top Surf board with Malolo Foil.
Max Speed: 43.6km
I know which direction i'll be heading in the sport of Downwinding. FASTER IS BETTER

speeding ticket please!

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cantSUPenough said..

Foilboarder said..
Had a quick surf session this morning on the Naish 5'6 Soft Top Surf board with Malolo Foil.
Max Speed: 43.6km
I know which direction i'll be heading in the sport of Downwinding. FASTER IS BETTER

Wait, you were on a SUP, with a foil, in waves, and you had a max speed of 43.6 km/hr ?!? And you weren't run over and dragged by a jet ski? How often were you moving above 25 km/hr?

Sign me up!

We were actually surf foiling (prone paddling in), no ski, in fact majority of the bigger waves had closed out out the back and caught the whitewater into the re-form. I was also riding a 5'6" (The Gerry Lopez 5'6" Retro Fish with Thrust Surf Large), but didn't have a GPS on which is a pitty as I was smoking Andy (LOL).

The speed is amazing, and I would say you're doing excess 25 km/h nearly every decent wave. As soon as you get up onto the foil you take off (in both meanings).

Looking at a few of the comments above, I feel many of them may have been made by riders that have either never foiled, or never actually ridden a competitive unlimited SUP (or both). Riding an unlimited board is actually not easy, you can not just jump on one and expect to go blazing downwind like a pro, there is also a sizable learning curve, as with Foiling. However I fell as we are all getting more and more experience in foiling, our ability to teach people quicker is improving, and I honestly feel someone with good water and board skills can be up and riding in 2 or 3 sessions provided they follow the lesson plan. Also the cost of an unlimited board is not that cheap, actually quite comparable to purchasing a foil and board, but the beauty is you can ride your foil board in far more conditions.

Again, we are only at the very infant stages of foiling for SUP, Surf and Downwind, and it's exciting, fun, fast and humbling, and there will be many more developments over the next years (like any sport) that make it even more accessible to the masses. But for now, it's actually easier than you think. Just don't rush the curve. Nobody learned to surf in a day, so why would you expect to learn to foil in one? It is an entirely new sport were your existing skills do not necessarily transfer directly across.

Enjoying the glide, ride safe,

JB
"Only a foiler knows the feeling"

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Foilboarder said..
Had a quick surf session this morning on the Naish 5'6 Soft Top Surf board with Malolo Foil.

608m elevation? Now that's a high mast! :-)

Man that is flying JB , we have been towing behind my boat at 40km and holding it in flat to get used to the speed. Pretty terrifying , so to get 43.6km free riding in the ocean that's huge well done , serious riding skills and really efficient foil.

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JB said..

cantSUPenough said..

Foilboarder said..
Had a quick surf session this morning on the Naish 5'6 Soft Top Surf board with Malolo Foil.
Max Speed: 43.6km
I know which direction i'll be heading in the sport of Downwinding. FASTER IS BETTER

Wait, you were on a SUP, with a foil, in waves, and you had a max speed of 43.6 km/hr ?!? And you weren't run over and dragged by a jet ski? How often were you moving above 25 km/hr?

Sign me up!

We were actually surf foiling (prone paddling in), no ski, in fact majority of the bigger waves had closed out out the back and caught the whitewater into the re-form. I was also riding a 5'6" (The Gerry Lopez 5'6" Retro Fish with Thrust Surf Large), but didn't have a GPS on which is a pitty as I was smoking Andy (LOL).

The speed is amazing, and I would say you're doing excess 25 km/h nearly every decent wave. As soon as you get up onto the foil you take off (in both meanings).

Looking at a few of the comments above, I feel many of them may have been made by riders that have either never foiled, or never actually ridden a competitive unlimited SUP (or both). Riding an unlimited board is actually not easy, you can not just jump on one and expect to go blazing downwind like a pro, there is also a sizable learning curve, as with Foiling. However I fell as we are all getting more and more experience in foiling, our ability to teach people quicker is improving, and I honestly feel someone with good water and board skills can be up and riding in 2 or 3 sessions provided they follow the lesson plan. Also the cost of an unlimited board is not that cheap, actually quite comparable to purchasing a foil and board, but the beauty is you can ride your foil board in far more conditions.

Again, we are only at the very infant stages of foiling for SUP, Surf and Downwind, and it's exciting, fun, fast and humbling, and there will be many more developments over the next years (like any sport) that make it even more accessible to the masses. But for now, it's actually easier than you think. Just don't rush the curve. Nobody learned to surf in a day, so why would you expect to learn to foil in one? It is an entirely new sport were your existing skills do not necessarily transfer directly across.

Enjoying the glide, ride safe,

JB
"Only a foiler knows the feeling"

Well, I definitely want to give it a go. Something new. Something fun. Something fast! 2-3 sessions are nothing.

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Piros said..
Man that is flying JB , we have been towing behind my boat at 40km and holding it in flat to get used to the speed. Pretty terrifying , so to get 43.6km free riding in the ocean that's huge well done , serious riding skills and really efficient foil.

I didn't have a GPS on, but yes there was some decent swell, all bomies were breaking at Long Reef, and the swell was moving really fast (17 sec. interval), very hard to catch which is why we were catching the whitewater on the big ones and surfing into the reform. There definitely were some fast rides and quite a few breeches, but in general Andy had it pretty dialed and was killing it.

Andy has also done some speed practice behind the boat which i think helped.

The Naish Foil is so stable, it really makes riding with speed quite easy (once you know what you're doing). I know a few people have ridden them back to back with another market leading brand and comment the same, the Naish is just easier to control, especially at speed.

JB

what the best way to manage speed on a foil?

I think I'm slowly getting used to it but I also have scared myself silly a few times recently.

If the take off is looking a bit steep I have just been keeping way forward and stuck to the surface to take the drop before then taking off. But if I get on a wave early and then it jacks up I end up going like a bat outa hell and go into a low stinkbug stance preparing for a breach or face plant. (Riding a takuma on 7'4 sup)

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charlieuk said..
what the best way to manage speed on a foil?

I think I'm slowly getting used to it but I also have scared myself silly a few times recently.

If the take off is looking a bit steep I have just been keeping way forward and stuck to the surface to take the drop before then taking off. But if I get on a wave early and then it jacks up I end up going like a bat outa hell and go into a low stinkbug stance preparing for a breach or face plant. (Riding a takuma on 7'4 sup)

Hey Charlieuk,

I know the stinkbug stance well, and it's pretty efficient. You have good technique with your steep take-offs, keep that in practice, but you will find that you'll eventually start playing with steeper takeoffs and getting it dialed.

Having never used the Takuma, I am not sure of it's tendencies, But I think a large part of the Naish' Success is the thickness of the front wing. Although it offers up loads of lift it also has plenty of drag. I honestly think Naish have it perfectly balanced with lift and drag. Some foils do not have enough drag and for surfing were the pressures change every second, they accelerate too quickly and sometimes in a very unstable way delivering heaps of lift without control, then you find yourself too far out in the flat and having to work for your lift. I find the Naish Malolo and Thrust very smooth and super consistent.

If you need to slow, then checking down is really the only way. Just be ready for a major speed drop without learning back (as you'll just launch back up).

Regards,

JB

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JB said..

charlieuk said..
what the best way to manage speed on a foil?

I think I'm slowly getting used to it but I also have scared myself silly a few times recently.

If the take off is looking a bit steep I have just been keeping way forward and stuck to the surface to take the drop before then taking off. But if I get on a wave early and then it jacks up I end up going like a bat outa hell and go into a low stinkbug stance preparing for a breach or face plant. (Riding a takuma on 7'4 sup)

Hey Charlieuk,

I know the stinkbug stance well, and it's pretty efficient. You have good technique with your steep take-offs, keep that in practice, but you will find that you'll eventually start playing with steeper takeoffs and getting it dialed.

Having never used the Takuma, I am not sure of it's tendencies, But I think a large part of the Naish' Success is the thickness of the front wing. Although it offers up loads of lift it also has plenty of drag. I honestly think Naish have it perfectly balanced with lift and drag. Some foils do not have enough drag and for surfing were the pressures change every second, they accelerate too quickly and sometimes in a very unstable way delivering heaps of lift without control, then you find yourself too far out in the flat and having to work for your lift. I find the Naish Malolo and Thrust very smooth and super consistent.

If you need to slow, then checking down is really the only way. Just be ready for a major speed drop without learning back (as you'll just launch back up).

Regards,

JB

I feared that may be the problem maybe we need a winged suit to act as a air brake! I'm guessing in time it will be come natural its just it feels like your right on the edge and that one wrong move you will breach and crash or nosedive and crash! The other issue I have is were I surf a lot is in a harbour with walls ether side which come up rather fast on a foil which is why I'm keen to get the speed under a little more control! I would be keen to try the naish but I would think the chances of that will be slim, maybe a little more chance of trying a go foil possibly. The takuma I can get through work which is why I went for that. I havnt quite mustard the courage to go for a dw'er in the fear that it may be the slowest one I ever do in my life.

So many good topics going on here..
The reason foiling will take off is because it is an intoxicating mix of speed and glide. It is the closest thing to riding powder or flying, that you will ever get without spending a truck load of money.
Of most interest to me is that kids are frothing on foiling. This is a very good sign. Having gone from coolest sport in the world - Snowboarding (in the 90's). To the un-coolest sport in the world, I can tell you this is a huge driver of a sport.
Foiling is so early in its development that no one can really predict where it will head.
The discussion is great though. Who would have thought back in the 70's that a sport as difficult as Windsurfing would take off, become so intoxicating and popular and then die such a famous death?
As for the difficulty of Foiling this a minor issue as far as I am concerned. The path that is being beaten now by the trail breakers is going to make it very easy for people to learn and take up foiling. In just 6 months we have learnt how to teach people without injury and major stacks.
Slow the process down and teach your body properly and you will be safe. Rush into it and yes, expect to get smashed.
As for the dangers, if someone invented the Motorcycle today they wouldn't let it on the road. Teaching methods and equipment will be developed got make it safe.
I agree, the future of SUP is locked in. As opposed to Windsurfing, its simplicity is its biggest attraction and the fact that it is not age restricted or ability restricted like so many other sports. It might not be the coolest sport in the world but just about anyone can do it. As the population ages it is going to become increasingly popular as more people find out that it is one of the best, low impact ways to get out and get moving.
As for Unlimited's I just have to look down stairs into Ocean Paddler and see the interest in $3600 racing skis to see that there is a market for this more versatile craft as long as there are the events and races to participator in. The beauty of Unlimiteds is their versatility. It is also easier to include them in an event where the conditions are not so perfect for racing a rudderless craft. Foiling is going to be 'big' and SUP will continue to grow (slowly). Unlimited's should grow, but remain niche and Windsurfing should enjoy a comeback!
Good news all-round for the Ocean enthusiast who likes to mix it up a bit.

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Foilboarder said..
Had a quick surf session this morning on the Naish 5'6 Soft Top Surf board with Malolo Foil.
Max Speed: 43.6km
I know which direction i'll be heading in the sport of Downwinding. FASTER IS BETTER

How did the others in the water at Dee Why take to it? I would have thought that it would be a relatively crowded place to take a foil.

Well Said AA,
Another session this morning, Only hit 41.8km's

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AA said..
So many good topics going on here..
The reason foiling will take off is because it is an intoxicating mix of speed and glide. It is the closest thing to riding powder or flying, that you will ever get without spending a truck load of money.
Of most interest to me is that kids are frothing on foiling. This is a very good sign. Having gone from coolest sport in the world - Snowboarding (in the 90's). To the un-coolest sport in the world, I can tell you this is a huge driver of a sport.
Foiling is so early in its development that no one can really predict where it will head.
The discussion is great though. Who would have thought back in the 70's that a sport as difficult as Windsurfing would take off, become so intoxicating and popular and then die such a famous death?
As for the difficulty of Foiling this a minor issue as far as I am concerned. The path that is being beaten now by the trail breakers is going to make it very easy for people to learn and take up foiling. In just 6 months we have learnt how to teach people without injury and major stacks.
Slow the process down and teach your body properly and you will be safe. Rush into it and yes, expect to get smashed.
As for the dangers, if someone invented the Motorcycle today they wouldn't let it on the road. Teaching methods and equipment will be developed got make it safe.
I agree, the future of SUP is locked in. As opposed to Windsurfing, its simplicity is its biggest attraction and the fact that it is not age restricted or ability restricted like so many other sports. It might not be the coolest sport in the world but just about anyone can do it. As the population ages it is going to become increasingly popular as more people find out that it is one of the best, low impact ways to get out and get moving.
As for Unlimited's I just have to look down stairs into Ocean Paddler and see the interest in $3600 racing skis to see that there is a market for this more versatile craft as long as there are the events and races to participator in. The beauty of Unlimiteds is their versatility. It is also easier to include them in an event where the conditions are not so perfect for racing a rudderless craft. Foiling is going to be 'big' and SUP will continue to grow (slowly). Unlimited's should grow, but remain niche and Windsurfing should enjoy a comeback!
Good news all-round for the Ocean enthusiast who likes to mix it up a bit.

Not so sure it will be huge. I think it will be a tiny niche, especially in WA:
> Very expensive
> Difficult to transport relative to a surfboard or a kiteboard. I had a kite foilboard and it did not fit in the car unless disassembled which was a pita
> Getting boat time to speed up learning will be difficult for most people
> Needs very specific conditions for sup and surf (kite not so much). Long rolling swell for surf, straight down wind conditions

I see the kite racing scene as being quite large. Like slalom windsurfing used to be. In Hawaii the surf and downwind scene will be big due to the conditions they have. But in WA I just do not see them taking off due to the short surf rides we get and the side onshore downwind conditions we have.

Great that people are frothing, just not for me.

Yeah fair points Hilly but I have found as you progress you can ride other waves , even on shore days will produce some good rides. I'm also now looking at short inflatables to mount a foil for travel , that you can prone or kite & maybe Sup.

JB said:- If you need to slow, then checking down is really the only way. Just be ready for a major speed drop without learning back (as you'll just launch back up).
I sent a message to Dave Kalama and asked how he dealt with the excess speed , his answer was a simple one simply ride off the back of the wave to slow down (he calls it kissing) , this also helps to set up the long cutback , if the lip is curling move out in front of the wave towards the shore to get out of the wave energy. Add to that the faster you go simply move front foot forward to help keep it down.

I thought foils had a much lower max speed but after looking at Supfoiler (Andy Davies) speed stats I was wrong it's simply rider ability , the better you get the faster you can go. Very impressed with the Naish performance and hopefully have one to test in the next few weeks. When I get it , I'll grab a bunch of foils with my foil crew behind the boat and will see how fast you can actually go, I reckon we can achieve 60km. Should be some good carnage, I'll have the cameras on board.

The higher speed we can maintain on the foil will let us ride bigger waves and on open ocean running on down winders will let you link endless bumps with far less leg burning pressure and no pumping.

Andy Davies run at 43.6km/h is faster than the surfers at Jaws and he was on a fat much smaller wave. The early paddle in on the foil will make this foil sport a game changer.

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Piros said..
even on shore days will produce some good rides.

I would add, especially on onshore days. The magic of having a smooth ride in crappy conditions is unbelievable...

i think there has been a huge miss conception that foiling is hard and only for the elete, its not! If you can surf to a competent level you will be able to foil. The hardest part I have found is getting going. Once up and riding they are extremely stable, yes you have to learn a few things like speed control that are quite different to surfing but it just takes a little time to get it in your head. I was never able to get anytime behind a boat but with a short mast I was happily flying around in about 4 hours water time. Yes they are expensive but not compared to most board that seam to fall apart in a few years, a well constructed foil should last a lot longer! having booth unlimited and foils I think there will all ways be a space for both in my quiver its good to be able to mix things up.

as far as burning legs I haven't found that yet but can see where it comes from, I have not got mine set up so I have a foot hook on the front and a centre line so my foot is always in the same spot and a adjustable tale pad and along with changing the angle of the mast weight is actually very even between booth feet and very relaxed.

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Piros said..
Andy Davies run at 43.6km/h is faster than the surfers at Jaws and he was on a fat much smaller wave. The early paddle in on the foil will make this foil sport a game changer.

That's BS I get 47km sup'ing on big waves. Jaws would be way faster. Are you mixing knots and km's