thought I would offer some balance here as to why I think foils are a fad.

In the same vein as they jumped on SUP even in zero surf areas (spend $50 on an old windsurfer long board instead of 2k), now they are trying to flog foils.

I used to waterski foil (airchair/skyski) for several years. I did it for a quite a while and whils no ledgend I was there from the early days and tuned foils etc. I also rode with the AUS and occasional world champ. the kiteboard foils are the same just bolted on to boards. Mike murphy introduced laird hamilton to foils and he rode them at jaws.

The sit down versions behind a boat can get fairly high air due to the leverage you get. Being strapped in to the board sitting down has it's advantages as when you crash it's hard for the hard, sharp metal foil to injure you. That said you still need to wear a helmet.

When the stand up versions came about it was a lot easier to get wounded by the foil. The stand up versions have never taken off.

Now they have kite foil boards and kite winsurfer boards. Sounds awesome but if you know the limitations and what to look for in the videos

The limitations are - the foils are very directional - you have to land in the exact same direction (the strut has a wide knife like surface area) so if you land slightly off you crash immediatly.
When you crash it's a dead stop as it all becomes a sea anchor. you dont skip, decelerate etc as you are strapped to it. you completely dead stop. this can hurt.
they have a terminal velocity, and a fairly limited speed range, although I think this could be developed. But the faster you make it the less lift and low speed performance.
They are not the rough water tool everyone thinks. you can glide over a bit of ripple. get high chop though (i.e. enough wind to kite in) and you have to keep the foil well below the water otherwise as soon as it cavitates or breaks the surface you loose all lift and sink down onto the conventional board. You sort of have to raise and lower it to keep the foil at the appropriate depth. Too low and the waves slap the doard part. to high and it areates and you sink straight down/ slow right down.

You need fairly deep water. Any scratches, nicks cuts in the reasonably soft aluminum are quite significant - water is much denser, and you can really feel this effect. So too as the foil tarnishes. a good polish does wonders.

Because you need deeper water if there is wind you are back out in chop.

The sensation for the sit down at least is like balancing on your school chair on two legs.
It's a bit of a sensation gliding over calm water for the first couple of goes, but once you have it down, it's nothing extrodinary.
But when you start trying to incorporate ariels, the combination of having to balance your weight fore and aft (to control the height of the foil) landing in the same direction with the foil at the correct elevation angle, and the resulting few seconds before the foil starts to work and generate lift again will mean it wil lbe very difficult and very unrewarding as a tool for an uncontrolled enviroment like the ocean. Noone does anything good on the stand up ones behind a boat at a constant rate fo pull in dead flat conditions. there is just too much to control.

So their only application is 10 knots? but you need deep water (dont scratch it). then as the wind picks up (it's fairly deep) so does the chop. Fun factor goes down. and at the end of the day you are mowing the lawn. you might be able to point high. MIght be ok for yacht style match racing (yaaawn).
For me in marginal conditions I think you are far better with a wide board in the shallows (flat water) and pulling moves having fun. Or do some jobs around the house so you can go when the wind picks up.

The surf retailers are always quick to jump on any new bandwagon because it makes them money and they are under pressure from the distributors to do so. even when it is an ordinary product. They are always trying to bring out new things to make a buck. I saw on here som dutch dudes with a kiteboat for $5k euro. It looked like you had to hold the boat from the ground to relaunch in strong winds. and it's 5k euro.

anyway I thought I would write this in case someone has their heart set on spending 2.5k or whatever thasking price is because they are in love with the idea of a kiteboard foil. The promise is just a long way from reality.

Here is another rook ranting and comparing kite foiling to wheelchair foiling behind boat Go downwind 30knts on a kitefoil and then reassess your opinion, to give you an idea its a bit like boosting 10metres high and then looping the kite. Ever done that matey?Even free ride on a foil is lots of fun. I have taught 3 people how to foil last week and they were all stoked.

Juddy said..
Bag of popcorn, peanuts, and an ice cold six pack in the fridge. Feet up, comfy chair.


Let's go peeps. This one's going to get fruity.....

Yep! looks like a set-up for some heated debate.
Every style of kiteboarding has its knockers.
Its just another aspect to the sport. If people are getting some enjoyment out of it, good luck to them.

keep sucking on your red thumbs lads haha

And everybodys Happy

Calling them a fad is probably a bit harsh - niche for sure, probably similar to raceboards.

I'm just surprised how many people are anti a new thing (on Seabreeze anyway - most people on the beach are pretty curious and interested). It's got a bit of the "road bikes when the mountain bikes came along" "Skiers when the snowboards came along" or even "windsurfers when the kiters came along" feel to the reaction to foils. `

I reckon any new crazy scheme deserves a crack and an open mind - hence people like Gary Fisher inventing mountain biking, The Legaignnoux brothers with inflatable kites etc.

If I had 3K to spend and I could spend it on a 17m Ozone edge kite or on a foil, I'd go the foil. But hey, each to their own - peace.

INTHELOOP said..
Here is another rook ranting and comparing kite foiling to wheelchair foiling behind boat Go downwind 30knts on a kitefoil and then reassess your opinion, to give you an idea its a bit like boosting 10metres high and then looping the kite. Ever done that matey?Even free ride on a foil is lots of fun. I have taught 3 people how to foil last week and they were all stoked.

not surprised a retailer who sells, races and instructs foils has something to say. Yes i have looped a kite at 10 meters probably (I dont carry a tape) certainly not far of it. I used to land and ride away various inverts on the foil and also land loops on a sailboard so I think I am qualified to comment.
Of course someone just learning to ride it will be stoked. It's relatively easy to ride . (you can get up on the waterski ones first go and not fall off) standing on a kite one is probably a fair bit more difficult I would imagine.
What I am saying is all they will be is a lightwind racing tool, good for mowing the lawn.
Worth a go if you can try one for free? definatley
worth several thousand dollars for something you can only mow the lawn with?

So, there's only one big problem to solve for the crew in the west now...
do they make a seaweed repelling version? Can't imagine foiling is much fun with .5 kg of weed wrapped around your foil (anchor).

So you saying dont expect to see a foil board in a final of a pkra freestyle event.... Not sure anybody anywhere ever is expecting a freestyle revolution from foil boards. :)

There are lot of other things that cost the same or more for going in a straight line on water which people enjoy equally... Is their fun less relevant than your fun? Not sure what you trying to get at?

If cost is an issue there are example of wooden foils on the interweb than ypu could build for under $100 as a weekend challenge. Diy project again fun for those who enjoy them, or thatmight be an issue aswell?

30 knots open ocean already happened

myusernam said..

Damo said...
I fail to see the connection between "waterski foil (airchair/skyski)" and kite foiling. Isn't that a bit like comparing knee boarding at a cable park to kiteboarding?

My point is if you think it will progress to something more, I dont think it will.

http://kitefoilgoldcup.com/index.php/schedule

High profile events world wide, and solid prize money.
internationalkiteboarding.org/index.php/course-racing/events/upcoming-events/kitefoil-events/details/120-GoldCup%20Australia
The fernch & euros have been smashing free ride racing all of the last season on foils - google redbull coast to coast

Not too many of you local invest comps keeping up with that sort of money ;)

westozwind said..
So, there's only one big problem to solve for the crew in the west now...
do they make a seaweed repelling version? Can't imagine foiling is much fun with .5 kg of weed wrapped around your foil (anchor).

i went over to Santa Barbara coast, and all the local crew were on foils.
that is the weediest place i have ever seen as well.
so i dunno.

Hey guys easy does it no one gets paid for posting ,he's just sharing an opinion you can disagree but he didnt say anything offensive.i thought he had some valid points especially about the injury factor. I'm sitting here with a bruised foot and cut leg and that's from surfing one mt waves today.,if I tried foiling I'd probably lose a leg

wdric said..

"Foiling" you better get used to that word

whats it called when you ride a foil board powered by a foil kite?
is that hard?
or kook?

dave...... said..

wdric said..

Is there anything wrong with a fad?
sports come and go people come and go
How many different sports have you done in your life? would you do it any different if you had your time over again? I bet you enjoyed them all no mater how long you spent doing them.

"Foiling" you better get used to that word

Everything comes from innovation.


If foils can jump they cant jump well. It has a centre keel and is too long for efficient jumping. Yet they rocket in terms of speed.

I could see lightwind twin tips get a lot better combining both technologies. Create a light wind fin that looks more like a wing off an F1 car still with a centre strut as well as the sides. It would have to be a directional. Once up to speed it would rocket, yet still provide a twintip feel toeside.

Build a foil like this so the board has no contact with the water on a flexible niche twintip, you would boost and break records.

Exactly, innovation will lead to new ideas, twintips have been done already, google twintip foil board..



Lets hope some new toys come from this experimentation.

SydPete said..

EDIT:
If you haven't raced and not interested in competition then stick to the surf board or TT and save your coin(COMMENTS) for something else.

Sorry Pete, couldnt help it.