We have all seen those videos: Kai Lenny doing endless loops pumping around small wave breaks and riding for miles on open endless ocean swells. And we’ve heard the claims; “It’s like flying!” But what is going with foil boarding? And could they be the perfect alternative for tiny shitty waves?  We asked two top foil companies and two surfers who have taken up the foil and fallen in love with them, Stokesy and Cotty, to find out.

ALAN STOKES

How do you start? What equipment do you need? Do you have to buy a board and a foil? Are there any specifics you need to be aware of – board sizes/foil sizes?
You need to be able to surf quite well to surf foil. Starting is hard, and you need to start in small forgiving waves with a helmet on. It’s a steep learning curve so take your time and be safe. You will need a foil board similar size to your regular surfboard or smaller. I love the F One 5’0” Rocket surf foil board. Plus a large foil wing like the F One Gravity 1200.

What are the best conditions for foiling?
To learn small crumbling swell in deep water.

What are your top tips for safety?
Go to beaches that are not crowded, wear a helmet and always move away from other surfers.

When you see people pumping around lakes or breaks … is that as easy as it looks?
Haha, no, trust me I’ve tried, but it’s fun when you get it right.

ANDREW COTTON

How do you start? What equipment do you need? Do you have to buy a board and a foil? Are there any specifics you need to be aware of – board sizes/foil sizes?
I went straight to the experts and asked for help, like learning anything new it’s essential that you’re on the right equipment and I had a clear progression planned. I was lucky, as I learnt behind the ski then took it to paddle in, as it’s harder learning just paddling in.

What kind of waves/beaches are best for learning to foil? Did you start in smaller waves and work up?
It’s all about small waves, or surging water. Tap into the energy that before wasn’t rideable

When you see people pumping around lakes or breaks … is that as easy as it looks?
I wish it were! It’s so hard it’s unbelievable, but regardless it’s a lot of fun, and once you try it I guarantee you’ll be addicted.

everything you need to know to start foiling

What speed does the board need to get to before the foil lifts the board?
For average weight riders, the board and foil need to reach speeds of around 4­-8 mph. Heavy riders will need to get more speed, and conversely lighter riders will need less. Riding regular surf (waves on the shoreline) will be easier to attain a foiling position as the wave is helping you.

Can I ride a foil if I have no experience?
Yes! For the first time foilers using a boat or jetski to pull you through the water at very slow speeds is the easiest way to learn. This will enable you to get the “feel of foiling”. Weight back on the board will lift foil up, and weight forward will bring the nose back down. Holding weight forward after “Lift Off” is the correct position or train of thought to maintain a proper foil glide.

If you don’t have access to skis or boats then when you’re in chest-deep water, start paddling out as you do on a regular board.

You can ride everything. Even the worst wave you’ve ever seen in your entire life. So the best way to get started is to find a spot with small waves in the one-to-two-foot range. The goal is to paddle into whitewater and, when you stand up, you’ll have all the power you need to ride the hydrofoil.

When you spot a wave coming, start paddling until you feel you’ve caught it. The take-off process on a foil board is identical to that of surfing. As soon as you stand up, apply pressure on your front foot, like if you were snowboarding on the slopes. The steeper the wave gets, the more you need to lean forward.

On your first rides, you’ll experience a different feel compared to regular surfing. You’ll need to adopt a squat stance while keeping your chest vertical and your shoulders wide open so that you maintain the right balance and you don’t fall.

The more you lean back on your back foot, the more the wing is going to tilt upright, creating more lift. In the opposite direction, the more apply weight on your front foot, the more the wing will dive underwater.

What kind of foil do I need?
For paddle-in surfing, you’ll want a foil with a relatively large front wing and plenty of early lift so you can get up and foiling easily on small waves. Slingshot’s Hover Glide FSurf foil comes stock with our Infinity 76 surf wing, which is perfect for all-around paddle-in surf foiling. The F-One Gravity 1400 wing is ideal to learn how to surf foil even in the smallest waves.

Can I use a surfboard I already own?
It depends. You’ll need a board with a dedicated foil box installed. Local shapers are tuning in to foiling, and many are starting to install track boxes for their customers, either in custom boards or existing boards with enough volume to be retrofitted with a box. If you look at a dedicated surf foil boards featured you’ll notice a few distinct design details that make a big difference. High volume and a thick, blocky tail are a big help in early takeoff and small, mushy waves.

What length mast is best for learning? (the mast is the length of the metal between the board and the foil.)
Start with a short mast. Shorter masts are easier to control, safer to learn with and will make a big difference in how fast you progress past the eating shit phase. For tow-in foiling or larger waves, a longer mast will allow for more speed and more vertical range.

How dangerous it?
Foils are sharp, and there’s no getting around it. They need to be, for efficiency and performance. So yes, there’s a level of risk that comes with it, especially when you add waves to the equation. If you take precautions (like wearing a full wetsuit, boots, a helmet and an impact vest or PFD) the risks are minimised, and once you get over the learning curve, they drop dramatically. Starting with a short mast in small, crumbly surf will make a big difference in keeping things safe and under control.

the equipment

FSurf Foil
Easy to catch waves and once you are up it rides waves effortlessly without the need for excessive “monkey pumping”. Unless of course, you want to pump, then go for it on the way out. There are plenty of foils out there with tons of lift, but they tend to be super slow and can’t keep up with most waves without pumping to generate speed. Faster foils, meanwhile, need more speed to get going and don’t work for the small, rolling waves foilers love so much. The FSurf package, equipped with our new INFINITY 76 wing, is the best of both worlds. A large outline provides all the low-end lift and pump-ability you’ll ever need, while its unique inverted gull wing shape allows for much faster top-end speeds than foils with similar surface area.

Features:

New Infinity 76 wing – tons of lift, tons of range. New carbon composite construction – more range and more efficient. Modular Hover Glide system. Shift fuse allows different connection for different performance. 61 cm (24”) Aluminum mast – sturdy, super durable, ideal size for surfing. Safe-T winglets prevent injury

RRP:
£1050

Hydrofoil: GRAVITY 1400
The F-ONE GRAVITY 1400 wing is ideal to learn how to surf foil, enjoy the smallest waves and also venture on a downwinder.

It has a low-speed take-off and is very stable with superior glide and a new and thicker section profile for an early and very progressive lift-off evolution of the arch and rake of the wing to best combine manoeuvrability and control

The design targets ease of use to surf and carve lines with an early lift for take-off, easy entry into the turns for some intuitive lines, manoeuvrability allowing sharp turns. Very fluid through the turns, allowing to draw tight or long curves with good speed control and good pumping to go after the next wave.

Targeted at people who want a wing to foil on a variety of waves from small and mellow to taller and faster.

Area: 1480 cm3

Aspect Ratio: 4.3

RRP: £940