MACkite Rides: Nathan's Foilboarding in Grand Haven

Foilboarding at City Beach

When I think of really great starts to any day, one of the things on the short list would be foiling in boardshorts at Grand Haven City Beach, just down the street from my house. I scored today. The cherry on top was a few new pieces of gear to try - my new 2018 Cabrinha Drifter 13, and the new Lift 150 foil. I grabbed a Liquid Force Happy Board, mounted the beautifully crafted carbon foil that I've been staring at all week, and headed toward the beach.

Grand Haven City Beach // 10-15 mph // 2' Chop

Nathan Patterson // 6'1" // 185 lbs

2018 Drifter 13m - Onshore Setting

2018 Fixed 44cm Trimlite

2018 Mystic Majestic X w/ Slider Bar

2018 Lift 150 Foil

2017 Liquid Force Happy Board 4'5"

After a quick wind check, I opted for the 13 Drifter rather than my 9, not knowing how the Lift 150 would handle less power. Typically, I ride a Slingshot WS1 foil - slow, stable, and exactly what I look for in a foil. I'm not out to be the first to the mark, nor do I care to reach top speeds. If I were to be riding my WS1, I would have grabbed the Drifter 9 in these conditions. 

It's not often that we get to forego the rubber here in Michigan, and I jump at any opportunity to do so. The water was perfect, and I was pumped to be in it. The new Lift foils are amazing. The 150 is one of my new favorite foils for kiteboarding - it's stable, yet nimble. It will cruise along at a snail's pace, or go fast (enough for me - not racing, here). It's a very capable and dynamic foil with a wonderful feel. Carbon has piqued my interest, as many of the other carbon options out are a bit too high-aspect for my liking. The weight and direct feel of carbon were really interesting, compared to the glass/aluminum setup of the WS1 setup I've been grown quite fond of. I need another couple comparison sessions to come up with a real opinion on which one I prefer at this point - they both have their pros/cons. 

I haven't been on the 4'5 Happy in quite some time, either. I really like the smaller footprint, especially now that I feel much more comfy on foil and have fewer nosedives. The slightly shorter nose and reduced swing weight keep the foil really agile. It's fun to chase down little shapes in the chop, edging upwind and then bearing off randomly. It could have just been me, but I found that the 150 doesn't generate much power going forward by pumping, unlike a few other options I've tried. All in all, I may have found my new favorite foil for kiting, and I'm looking forward to getting another session on it soon.