75 Sessions on a Hydrofoil - Learning to Foil Surf
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2018
- clayisland.com/learn-to-foil/
75 days of foil surfing in 16 months, from the first time I ever tried a hydrofoil to where I am now after 75 sessions (50+ of those session are shown in this video).
Hydrofoils flown in this video (in order of appearance):
Ride Engine Manta 84
Go Foil Maliko (the original)
Foil Science FS116
Jeff Clark Prototypes
Music by:
Evan Fraser and Vir McCoy - Kalimbana
virtunes.com/track/kalimbana - Sport
Hi, Learn to Foil:
clayisland.com/learn-to-foil/
More videos:
clayisland.com/category/member-videos/
Whoever filmed this for you from the beach deserves a shout-out. They obviously are your biggest supporter and fan to watch so intently all these times and film. Really great video and very valuable to see the progression.
Thanks! That's awesome, mostly a robotic camera aka Soloshot back when I was able to get it to work.
Cool video
Everyone likes to present themselves as if they’re proficient from the outset.
That is no one’s reality.
You may be able to foil behind a boat after a few hours, but the ocean is another thing entirely.
Waves do 2 things. They accelerate quickly making the wing want to lift quickly and sharply. That changes with each and every session as the waves change-steeper, longer period, etc.
The other thing is now you’re at a slight incline if you’re dropping in, even if you’re roughing in.
I’m no expert, but i have days where you would think I’m pretty competent, making most waves and carving. Then there are days where the waves are steep or has more energy and I can’t stop breaching to save my life. I finally figured out a smaller wing helps on those days but of course then I sacrifice my pumping.
Props to you for going through the reality of surf foiling. People get discouraged too quickly thinking they ‘don’t have what it takes’.
No one is immediately successful surfing with a foil.
In fact surfing brings with it an incorrect weight bearing approach that promotes breaching. It can be hard to retrain those habits.
I’ve seen young kids do pretty well. But no one is a natural foiler. It’s a process.
I agree
This must have took so much dedication to film! really appreciated and exactly what I was interested in. Thanks!
thanks for the video , it is actually nice to see some average Joe (no offence) battling it out , there are so many Instagrams and CZcamss where its only Kai Lenny and guys from out of space doing it , it shows the real struggle and at least I can relate ... I am now 1 month into Foiling , started pulled behind the boat and am now consistent surfing the boat wake without the rope , I took it out kiting , and now starting to play with bungee and pumping , and even dock start pumping ... I'll keep watching your videos as it is good for Normal people !!!
Well presented and great to watch. Really enjoyed your developing perspective. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this and your other videos. My first day on a foil board was today. Many more to go. It’s nice to see someone else’s journey and have an idea what I have ahead. Thank you again
Sick foiling,😎👍.
I'm always stoked on your video's. Great process.
🤙🏄♂️
Thank you for the video, Clay, I keep returning to watch it again and again :)
You're welcome.
Great attitude, thanks for sharing
Hey, I'm a guy from Switzerland, and kitesurfer. This year I thought about learning to Foil with my kite. But I spend about 3 weeks each year on a board each year, and after seeing this vid I recognized that I wouldn't get anywhere, without some serious change in dedication. Thanks for this vid, I thought it was fun seeing you learn!
Hey, i think you are wrong. Its much easier to learn with the kite. I had the first 100 m flight in the first day. Important is, to use a beginner foil, for example the cabrinha double agent i use (a used early one is cheap).
You will be happy if you try it, believe me!
Greetz from north Germany
Awesome way to get the idea about HydroF, cheers
Love the video. Great commentary on the process!
Thanks! I would love to try one of your kits...
I was conflicted about SUP before I tried it, but now I'm all in 100%. I feel the same about Foil without trying it. My thought is that if everyone Foiled and then someone came along and started surfing waves traditionally by skimming along the surface of the water that we would be just as enamored. Just a thought. Keep up the videos brother, I appreciate what you do.
Really enjoying your videos thanks man my next step is the sup foiling
Really great videos and insight into this difficult sport. I have a foil and it's been sitting in my garage for a year. It will probably keep sitting there. I don't have the means or the knowledge to utilize it safely. I'm 62 and my window has passed. After an 8 year absence from the surf I found I can't even get to my feet, I tried a SUP. I found I can do it in the harbour or lake but on the ocean I just fall off. I have tried surfing dozens of times this past year with little progress. I surfed for 40 years at a very high level. It's not like riding a bike it takes commitment. 75 sessions that's commitment. Well done.
Thanks! Sounds frustrating. There were many times where I thought I would never get it figured out. The new slingshot 76 and 84 wings are so stable and easy to ride, I suspect if I started on those I could have cut my learning time in half or shorter.
Loved it, thanks. 👍
Thank you to show me I need to try again even if my first supfoil session was so scarry.
I had a friend introduce me to the foil with a kite.
I thought, ‘I can kite, I can surf, this shouldn’t be too hard’...
My first attempt I got ripped off the board, the board turned over so the foil was sticking straight up in the air and I was somehow flying completely airborne (suspended by the kite) towards it with exposed shins aimed straight towards the wing.
Luckily I tucked my legs in as I sailed over the foil with the kite unscathed. But I seized up for what I thought was an imminent impact.
I quit right then and there and didn’t try it again for almost 2 years.
Now I’m loving it. Wish I’d never quit that first go round.
It helps to manage expectations. Understand that you’re not going to get it right off and that’s not a reflection at all of your ability or potential to foil.
Although my son infuriates me. I would go out 4-5 times a week and slog, eat it, and maybe get a handful of decent rides after hours in the water. Then he comes out casually with only minimal experience under his belt and then proceeds to do better than me.
Learning is scary. I watched a couple videos on how the foil tends to fall and that really helped.
After a day or 2 you can anticipate the fall and can avoid the worst case scenarios even as a novice.
But there’s no shame in wearing a helmet and some rubber initially.
I wore a wetsuit for a year-all through Florida’s broiling summer, because I was scared of hitting the foil.
But you do eventually begin to predict what the foil is going to do. Riding waves adds another challenge. And for those occasions where you’re not sure where up, down, right and left are, I cover my face and head with my forearms.
Because everything other than the head can heal.
Very.inspiring! Thanks for the advices
Right on! Glad to hear you are feeling inspired!
The best way to start the day is with a ClayIsland video. 😄👍 Seeing your journey with foiling is really fun and instructive to watch. Have you tried any open ocean foiling, like downwinding, yet? I was also curious about the gimbal you had on in a previous video. Have you kept playing with that at all? I really love your pole cam shots. They really allow us to see you on the wave so much better than having the cam attached to the paddle. And it's especially helpful for instructional videos. I also noticed that the bamboo pole cam made a brief appearance. Keep up the amazing progression and the fantastic videos. Aloha 🤙.
I took a couple lessons on a converted SUP. But it was much larger than my normal SUP, which is 7’4”x25”. I couldn’t get a feel for when the board was lifting or where the proper foot placement was.
I’ve since purchased a 4’6” prone surfboard foil and will see how things go.
Good video. 🤙🏻
Amazingly interesting ! i've been trying surfing and pumping to, it's a long learning curve. For me what made the biggest improvement on my ride was to actualy limit my stance (distance between foots a lot shorter). Honestly i think having your front foot 5-10 cm closer to your back foot would bring you much much more stability. Or at least it worked out for me.
All the best, and keep it up !
Thanks and I agree.
Great video,
Man have I got a learning journey to go on...
Got my first surf foil, went out for my first session-come back with bruised ribs😬
Behind the boat for me then....
Ouch, hope you feel better.
It helps, thank you
Cool vid and great advice! Ill be making sure Ill buy a big foil prior. Maybe like a Blue Planets Easyfoil set up.
I learned on the medium Blue Planet Easyfoiler, and it was so great to learn how to foil! However, when I got the hang of it I got on the small size foil, and I think it is better when you already know how to maneuver and pump well! Starting on a medium or even large Blue Planet foil is definitely a good idea though!
Great inspiring and refreshing story for a change to see a real life man we can relate to, not just kai lenny on the foil... I bet you would love to try efoils, they are really amazing. Im still little scared to go to the actual wave with it and stick with flat waters.
i love your videos , becouse you always show a different point of view , the most scary, the most frustrating , and then after all the effort you make it ,you reach the target . This makes me feel i can do the same ;D ( sorry i hope you understand, my english is quite rusty)
Awesome, sounds like you are inspired. I appreciate the good words.
can you please share some of your learnings on how to handle altitude control and limiting breaching? great job on rhe video and congrats on your progression
Thanks. I'm working on more tutorials and tips videos.
Forget the haters, not everyone learns at the same speed. Great to see you stay with it, nice vid! Foiling does need education. But it is not as unsafe as many surfers believe. I remember when SUP first started and a lot of surfers wanted them banned!
Here is a great foil surfing group on FB for info if anyone wants to join.
facebook.com/groups/foilsurfers/
Seeing someone flying who weighs more than 150lbs makes me think I could have a chance.
For sure, I needed to see big guys foiling at my local spots to believe I could do it to.
Thanks for this, man. Did you have previous surf experience before this?
You're welcome. Ive been surfing for 20 years and SUP for almost 10.
HI! great video (again)!
If I want to start with SUP foiling- how do I choose the right gear?
I suggest finding someone in your area who already knows how to foil, or traveling to a foil clinic. It's easier and cheaper to learn from someone else then try to figure it out alone.
How does one start in the standup position? All you vids don’t show how you get up on the board. Look súper Fun
Yes, super fun. Here are some takeoffs: clayisland.com/steep-take-offs-and-noserider-take-offs/
Hey Thanks for sharing, just picked up a prone setup. Any recommendations on a good Bay Area beach for a first paddle out?
Hi, I answered your question here:
clayisland.com/what-foil-gear-do-i-need-gear-questions-answered/#comment-9007
Mate, I'm in Perth, Western Australia and have been foiling with the kite since last October. I tried a 'surf' foil for the kite two weeks ago - the 'small' Neil Pryde Surf Glide - and got my first couple of waves, which really were just lumps. Addicted. However, we do get windless days on the west coast and I'm really interested in the SUP foil. What size do you now think is the correct to start with? And what are those half-straps I see you using? Did you make them? Nice vid.
Right on. In my opinion correct size depends on body weight, and foil shape is more important. A stable foil that has low speed lift is great to learn on, a roll stable wing is so much easier ride. Of the wings I have tried the slingshot/ride engine 76 is a great wing to learn on and super fun in small waves, the 84 for heavy guys.
And those are foot hooks, I make my own, NSI also makes some.
Nice story. Great to see your progress and explanations. I would like to get into SUP foiling as well but not sure what type of board I would need to learn on. I have been kite-hydro foiling for the last 4 year and kiting for 14 years. I have an NP Surf Medium Wing with a 60cm mast (www.neilpryde.com/collections/foils/products/glide-surf) that I used for kiting. I would like to use this foil for SUP foiling. Could you recommend what type of board (volume and length) would be good for learning on?
Thanks. I have similar wings. A lot depends on your SUP skills and your weight. If already a good sup surfer than a 7'6" dedicated foil board, if over 200 or new to sup than an 8ft foil board might be better. Volume in these lengths is often 130L up to 180L. Around 30" wide. Weighing under 20 pounds is a good thing.
Do you feel like for the first 50 sessions or so, you were leaning back too much? You seem to have way more front foot pressure in the later sessions, with greater success. A good reality check this, 75 sessions to really get it down. How many months or years was this spread over?
Greg Barker Hi, probably. 16 months. I think of myself as a back foot surfer and learning to foil using my front foot took a lot of practice.
I didnt get the equipment, looks like go foil
-FOILERs- Please respect the surfers and keep a very big distance from everyone, you're getting wayyyy to close with that blade
That's just how I feel when I am swimming or bodysurfing and surfers are zooming past.
Sorry, the music was from the ad. Pardon.
It's all good
Thx for making this video~ Curious, did you notice a difference in the ride, between being "pulled" by bungee cord/jetski, then being "pushed" riding waves? I've only been behind a boat so far: czcams.com/video/_HAp-kg7-y4/video.html
You're welcome. Yes, I notice a difference. Being pulled helped me learn flight control, and not necessarily wave foiling skills. I have noticed I ride being pulled now differently than when i didn't know how to foil. I believe getting in some wave riding and alternating between being pulled and "pushed" helps more than lots of time being towed.
Thank you for your insight. You got some really good rides that you showed at end of your vid. Heading out tomorrow on a friend's boat. Will give the ocean a try next~ Best, Staush
the slowest ever foil progression
Man, that's cold. Give the guy credit for putting it out there.
what a shit post, alvaro, this guy has stuck with it - you must be Kai Lenny good, eh!