hydrofoil Renaissance By Armie Armstrong What is this ‘new sport’ and where did it come from? Armie Armstrong talks to some pioneers in this exciting sport.

The first time I witnessed proper hydrofoil was when Daniel Kereopa and I were filming the original waterman, , foil surfing a big raw swell outside Raglan’s famous point breaks. It was for an Ultimate Waterman event pitch video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKJD4iYpCAs The huge smooth flowing turns, effortless speed and mad linking of sections for impossibly long rides was breath taking up close. Both DK and I were hooting and stoked. At that moment I realised it was obvious that foiling was finally going to catch on, especially with hydrofoils supercharging America’s Cup yacht racing.

The recent explosion of interest was further ignited by Kai Lenny paddling himself up on a foil to ride wind swell on Maui’s famous North Shore. That moment represented a maturing understanding in the development of hydrofoil design. But in fact, there is nothing new about hydrofoils. The first hydrofoil boat was designed and built in 1906. Foils have been used since on both power and sail vessels of all shapes and sizes, improving efficiency, stability and speed.

84//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#199 Armie Armstrong, Image courtesy Scott Stinton www.adventuremagazine.co.nz//85 Kai Lenny foiling pioneer, Image courtesy Naish

Kite and windsurf foil racing has great to see the way foiling has My first foil session with a kite aim of racing in the 2016 Molokai there was almost enough wind so rode with and talked to Kai Lenny ‘surf spots’, from open ocean If you are a kiter then that’s the also been taking off, with top evolved with kiting as it became was on a family sailing trip to 2 world champs on a sup I gave it a crack. The first mile was and Zane Kekoa Schweitzer - the channel crossings, to downwind easiest route. If not, then you riders breaking many world sailing completely self-sufficient. I’m not Coromandel. I provided much foil. Unfortunately, this year the flat and I was so far behind I could 2016 Ultimate Waterman winner, surfing ground swell, to riding need to tow behind a ski or boat records. Foils on boards to ride surprised peoples enthusiasm amusement to everyone with my organisers were not ready to hardly even see everyone on their about their take on the new foiling down rivers with a little bit of - wakeboard style - and get a good behind boats, and later, to tow for foiling got re-energized. I don’t shiny new carbon weapon, looking include DW sup foils and decided traditional 14’ race boards. equipment: energy and surface bumps. It’s hour of foil riding time under your surf into waves, have been used know where it’s heading. Who like a total fool crashing and there would be no foils on the Zane - “What I love about the amazingly efficient and they seem belt before going anywhere near for over 25 years by pioneers like would have thought Americas burning a lot before it suddenly course. When I finally found enough wind new evolution of hydro foiling on to ride waves that most people waves. Laird, Rush Randall, Dave Kalama, Cup boats would be foiling at 45 clicked and I was away. It has since swell to achieve take-off velocity, I sups is the opportunity to find the would not consider surfable, or For equipment the new, larger and Kiwi surfer - Campbell Farrell: knots?” become a bit of an obsession. Unperturbed, I headed to the couldn’t believe how fast I caught soul’s session that we all desire even a ‘wave’ at that…” more stable low speed foils with “When riding a foil standing up Gorge Paddle Challenge hoping to and passed over half the fleet as surfers. In surfing culture, shorter masts, are way safer was pioneered it was a big deal, The gliding sensation of silently I made my first foil sup in mid- ride the famous Columbia River before turning the dreaded corner most waves to surf are crowded Like sup, foiling has taken a while and easier to ride and are more and even more so letting go of slicing through water on a foil 2015 and was playing around wind and rattle some cages in the for the last mile of flat water to the with people and a lot of the time to catch on. I remember when versatile for wake, kite, windsurf the tow rope, using the energy of is extremely addictive. Even in with various kite foils, but it soon sup race establishment with a first finish. I was again overtaken by it seems like a battle to have a I started NZ’s first sup school, and surf. a wave to keep going by yourself. choppy water the sensation is like became apparent that these kinds ever foil versus traditional race sup almost everyone - but I was fired good session. I always try to avoid 2006 in Raglan, I couldn’t pay It’s summer, so get out there and But not many took to it. There’s riding a pristine powder run on of foils are too difficult to ride attempt, on a prototype 10’10” up. I had truly seen the potential crowds and people when I surf, people to even try it. Foiling’s have fun! no question foiling on a wave gives an empty mountain. Anyone who without the puppet strings. race sup/foil setup. for this new generation of lower because I care about grounding gestation has been longer but the closest feeling to flying free loves the ocean and enjoys water- speed more stable foil shapes we myself and connecting with now is the time. like a bird does, looking for lift. It’s sports of any kind will find their And so began my seemingly Unluckily it was glassy for days had been working on. nature when I’m in the water. magical and most who experience first successful ride completely endless mission of making before the race and the big river’s “With the new evolution of hydro If you’re keen to give it a go, there that feeling will want more. It’s unforgettable. multiple prototype foils, with the swell hadn’t built up. On race day While in for the M2O race, I foiling it opens up so many more are two simple ways to learn.

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