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First foil contest held at Makaha, if you think this looks easy, make sure watch the wipeout reel at the end. This is video from the first day of the 2018 Mel Puu contest at Makaha Beach, Saturday, December 1st, 2018. Bradah Mel's Waterman Championship, featuring Austin Kalama- Go Foil, Zane Saenz, Sam Pae, Leleo Kinimaka, and others. Hydrofoiling in the surf at it's best. Foil surfing video by Robert Stehlik and Monique Sanez
Impressive technique (and board shapes!) displayed there!
However, is it only me, or is the spot not really a good foiling spot? Instead of a wide open wall to let the foils freely express themselves, the shoulder is very narrow, constraining most riders to stay in a small "kook zone" ahead of the curl, where the foil looks like more a drawback than an advantage. I think that the visual result is not very appealing (although very challenging with the chop & backwash), In my opinion contests should try to find better places to better showcase what is foiling...
This is one of two such competitions held at Makaha Beach on Oahu's west side. Makaha is known for its endless wealth of watermen and women, including Rell Sunn, Buffalo Keaulana, Bruce and Manny Desoto, many of the Aikaus, Mel Pu'u, and more. This event covers a wide range of Hawaii watersports, unlike the mainstream shortboard and longboard contests, including canoe surfing, SUP, longboard, and supsquatch.Some popular competitors in this year's contest were: Brian Keaulana (son of Buffalo, founder of C4 watermen, lifeguard, navy seal trainer, involved in with Hawaiian water patrol), Duane Desoto (world longboard champion, many time waterman award in Buffalo Keaulana's contest, crew on Hokulea), Jimmy Keaulana (son of Buffalo, lifestyle waterman), Max Holloway (Waianae Local, MMA fighter champion), Nalu Froiseth (grandson of Wally Froiseth Big wave surfing pioneer and founder of waikiki surf club), and Phil Rajzman (current longboard world champion).
The foil boarding was just part of a bigger event & it just goes to show what good waterman these guys are in tough conditions... Sure they can run a foiling event in 2 foot fat waves (like they did in Waikiki when I was there but they are pushing the sport & you're starting to see the good foilboarders push themselves in ever tougher conditions....
Here's Derek day 2...
What a great wave for foiling that looks like heaps of fun. That back wash added a nice element, we have been playing around in them here adds a whole new aspect to the wave .How come no one was prone foiling ?
Yeah Hilly seeing bigger moves everywhere now on foils and much bigger waves ridden . It's evolving so fast. Not long before guys start pulling into a barrel and making it. Also seeing a lot more critical take offs on head high + waves . (gutsy stuff)
Agree Piros. I was out in head high stuff but was catching mainly the whitewash, Although I had a couple that started to rebuild to just head high which had me screaming down the face with all my weight on the front to keep the foil from flipping out, then up she went as I was levelling out for some awesome rides! I just didn't think this was achievable just a week ago when I got my large foil. I don't normally take big drops, too scared. But I know a foil can easily handle one due to it being difficult to nose dive.
So yeah. I know as a fact that foilers will be part of the paddleboard & short board clan in most waves. And yeah, cannot see why barrels would be impossible. But will be a disadvantage height wise.
Oh, & by the way. I found my NeilPryde large foil isn't as quiet as they claim.
Well generally it is but not at max speed. Haaa! It makes a high pitch screach sound. Lol! 
Remember that all these guys ARE BEGINNERS!!!!!!!
The majority of Foil videos are of guys going straight. Then someone realized that 'You can turn'.
Now the guys in Hawaii are smashing the lip and getting air and doing 360's. But . . . . oh yeah they have only been doing it for less than 2 years.
Hence - ALL BEGINNERS.
You can't compare this display of skills to your internal perspective from 30+ years of short board surfing.
We'll have to leave it to the kids to figure out because they are fit, skilled and frankly "They are too young to realize what they are doing is impossible."
Some of the boys ripping in the "Prone" division...Great "exhibition" of what is becoming possible on a foilboard...
Just proning with straps is mindblowing. The technical level to get in the straps after a prone take off seems so high...
Yes. Where are the prones?
Part of me is torn on the whole "performance" foiling.....kind of like performance long boarding.....Im impressed by the skills, but wonder if it detracts from the aesthetic flow of it all.
Maybe part of the progression. Everyone just going as nuts as they can as it's all so new.....and the refinement will then follow....
But, who cares. If it's fun, it's good.
- Plus I can't do anyhting close to what's being done in those clips....Ha!
Thanks for posting the video JL. I only had a few hours in the morning to film this and i had to leave before the prone foilers were sent out, otherwise I would have included the footage, of course. Here is a nice sequence of Austin Kalama:
Yeah for sure that colas. ONE of the joys of foiling is more water-time- having ridiculous fun in waves I'd never consider going out in on a surfboard or SUP. But.... that shouldn't limit the sport to that- prohibit having more fun on a better wave / the freedom to use my responsible, informed judgement. Cheers brotha.
