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I know a few folks saw my hydrofoil project in its infancy so I thought I would share some of the finished product. It took a lot of glass to reinforce the joints and a LOT of sanding. I got my first few rides (for only a second or so) but it rose up out of the water to the occasion. Its very slow and has lots of drag and I already rammed it into the ground at Seneca. But I am repairing the crack and will have it out once more. I also have another foil I am building out of aluminum and will send this one along to see soon. At this point I find foiling to be very intimidating and frighting – but as with anything Im sure it will be fine with more water time. See yall on the water!!!
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So I have never ridden a foil anything, but here is my thinking.
It doesn’t look exciting to me. It IS fascinating from a design and technical point of view though. My enjoyment of windsurfing has evolved to a point where I like to feel the interaction between me and the water surface, ride down a swell face, carve, and then do it again. I imagine a foil windsurfer to be similar to riding big Formula gear, locked in and on a rail moving smoothly across the water. When you are on Formula gear, the water texture is relatively flat.
I’ve seen the windsurfing foil boards on the web, and they look awkward to ride. The stance seems pitched forward and the riders all appear pretty locked in as an integral static part of a balancing act. Sort of like the hand full of times I tried barefoot water skiing….”if I even twitch a muscle this is all going to hell”.
All that being said, I just read a blog post from Joe’s buddy Dave Nunn at Windance, and he says he has been riding foils in the gorge and that it is going to be a thing. We’ll see, Dave is a pretty cool and knowledgeable guy.
Lastly, I’m done with face plants and getting thrown over the handle bars (as it relates to learning something new….regarding sailing in big conditions, I’ll take a wipeout) while hooked in. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m trying to make the things I can do and love doing last as long as I can. Messing that up by getting hurt learning something new would suck. But then I am learning to Kitewing in the winter……hmmm.
I’d love to see guys do it, it just might not be for me. The riders I have seen on foils lately really look to be getting good at it and they are getting a bunch more sessions. I need that time right now to be at home with my kids.
Keep us up to date though Brad, okay?
Doug (the windy one)
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