Foil

Foil

Foil

Hydrofoiling has become the latest craze in kiteboarding, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, windsurfing, and wakesurfing. Even to us, it seems to still be new and more innovative with every passing season. While hydrofoil riding seems new, hydrofoiling actually dates back to 1906, with a hydrofoil  boat crafted by Italian engineer Enrico Forlanini From there, it's moved on to Olympic sailing, skis, sit-down foilboards, kiteboards, and then on to nearly all board watersports.

Foilboarding has recently exploded in popularity within the watersports community. With an efficient design, hydrofoils allow riders to cross into that sub-10 knot threshold while still having a ton of fun with a kite. The same logic has been applied to surfing, SUP, windsurfing, and wakesurfing. Riding above the surface of the water, a foil board gives you the illusion of what can only be described as floating. For kiteboarders in light wind areas or wave riders looking to better maximize marginal conditions or simply experience something completely new, the foil is the perfect solution.

So, what are the differences in these hydrofoils?

KITEBOARDING HYDROFOILS AND FOILBOARDS

  • Long mast (30-40") to handle waves and chop
  • Short fuselage for tight turns and quick pitch adjustment
  • Full range of wing sizes to adapt for speed, conditions, and riding style.
  • Track box is the most popular type of board connection
  • Most boards range in size from 3'6-5'
  • Most boards have the option to mount footstraps or hooks

SURFING HYDROFOILS AND FOIL SURFBOARDS

  • Shorter masts (20-30") to allow for small wave riding without hitting the bottom.
  • Short fuselage for tight turns and quick pitch adjustment
  • Wing sizes range from large to very large. 
  • Both track boxes and tuttle style boxes are common.
  • Most boards range in size from 4'5"-7'6"
  • Added volume aids in early paddle entry on smaller boards
  • No footstrap mounting options for most

SUP HYDROFOILS AND SUP FOILBOARDS

  • Shorter masts (20-30") to allow for small wave riding without hitting the bottom.
  • Short fuselage for tight turns and quick pitch adjustment
  • Wing sizes range from large to very large. 
  • Both track boxes and tuttle style boxes are common
  • Most boards range in size from 6'-10'
  • Added volume aids in early paddle entry on smaller boards and additional stability when paddling
  • Footstrap mounting options are available on some custom boards

WAKEFOILS AND WAKEFOIL BOARDS

  • Short masts (15"-30") to handle chop and steep wakes
  • Short fuselage for tight turns and quick pitch adjustment
  • Full range of wing sizes to adapt for speed, rope-less riding, wake size, and riding style.
  • Track box is the most popular type of board connection
  • Most boards range in size from 3'6-5'
  • Most boards have the option to mount footstraps or hooks

WINDSURF FOILS AND WINDSURF FOILBOARDS

  • Long mast (30-40") to handle waves and chop
  • Long fuselage for stability and pitch stability
  • Full range of wing sizes to adapt for speed, conditions, and riding style. 
  • Tuttle is the most popular type of board connection
  • Most boards range in size from 5'-8' with some models as long as 12'
  • Most boards have the option to mount footstraps or hooks

Hydrofoil wing size suggestions for surfing, wakefoil, kiteboarding, SUP, and windsurfing

 An in depth look at wing dimensions across all brands and their predominant uses.