JUST STAND UP PADDLE
WHY IS FOIL BOARDING JUST TAKING OFF NOW? Hydro foils have been around for decades. Only recently has the design and technology come together to enable you to surf waves unassisted. The new low speed foils can be paddled into ocean swells or waves.
IS FOIL BOARDING EASY? Yes, if done properly. The pathway to Foilboarding is an easy one if you spend some time ‘unlearning’ and teaching your body to ‘hover’ or ‘fly’ the board.
IS FOIL BOARDING SAFE? Yes. Sure there are plenty of horror stories of people getting injured by not learning the basics before heading out into the waves. If you follow the Pathway to Foilboarding you are guaranteed a safer experience. A helmet and an impact vest are standard safety equipment for learning.
This is called ‘folding’. It is easy to avoid if your body knows how to foil before you venture into the waves.
by Andrew Allen
The biggest mistake you can make is to rush into this sport. The best tip I ever received was ‘learn to foil before you head into the ocean”. Get behind a boat and hone your foiling and hovering skills will save you months of frustration.
By learning to foil before you venture into waves you will gain the necessary skills to ride SAFE for both you and others.
I have been riding foils and surfing foils for over a year. I am no pro, but I have never badly bruised or broken skin with my foil. This does not mean that it is fool proof. Nothing ever is. But take it slowly and use common sense and it can be no more dangerous than normal surfing.
Always wear a LEASH and I would recommend a HELMET and IMPACT VEST for next level safety.
If you or others get hit by the foil it is going to get hurt. So make sure you find a quiet spot, with no one else out, with deep water for all your learning sessions.
I was lucky enough to get into the sport about a year after it really started. I watched my friends struggle for at least 6 months. I learnt a lot from them. Good advice from experienced Foil surfers who have NOT forgotten what it is like to learn, is a great way to start. GOOD ADVICE will save you hours of frustration and a whole lot of money.
Starting out on the right Foil and Foil board gear that will allow you to progress and upgrade will save you money in the long run.
The sport of Foil boarding is progressing rapidly and the smallest adjustments to your foil, board. mast and stance can be the difference between success and failure.
These two things are the key to success. No matter what size your board is, it is only there to get you up on to the foil. Once you are up you are standing you are basically balancing on a long skateboard and trying to ride it on a 4′ pole. Stance, weighting and foot placement are critical.
– You MUST be on the center line of the board. Maintain a centered stance, similar to snowboarding .
– Front foot pressure is the key to holding the ‘foil’ and not breaching ( crashing down nose first)
– Your rear foot must be over or behind the foil mast. Your front foot should be 55-60cm from your rear foot.
There is no point learning to fly if you cannot land. Your foil just wants to fly and keep going! Learnt to bring it down and you will learn how much front foot pressure you need to hold the ‘foil’.
For surfing these are your friend. The deeper the water the fatter the wave, the better. All you need is a crest to get onto the wave. Once your up all you need is a moderate soft wave face.
You will need a short SUP (6-8′) that you can stand on with a decent size (large/XL) foil front wing. I recommend a 5m Wing for most riders starting out. 10-15 nots is perfect for learning. Find yourself some flat water (a lake or inlet is perfect) and save yourself some frustration by making sure the wind is cross-shore. On shore is fine but as you have to bear-away to get going it is harder to start when the wind is on-shore. If you want more info or tips just give me a call – 041 542 225
DON’T forget your leash
DON’T kick your foil
DON’T rush the learning experience
DON’T foil surf near other surfers
DON’T go out in shallow water or reefs unless you are experienced.
PLEASE stay away from other water users so we can ALL continue to enjoy the sport
WHETHER PADDLING OR TOWING INTO OCEAN SWELLS, YOU CAN SEE WHY IT IS SO ADDICTIVE!