Foiling! Where is it going?

Where is foiling heading? 

So, we are about 5 years into what some might call the new wave of foiling.  The time where foiling stepped out of the shadows of the few big wave and super early pioneers that were playing around with what was then a high-end elite-only sport that many would not even dare to look at or attempt. 

The big turning point that many will agree on, is Kai Lenny downwinding in Maui on the Maliko run with a cut-up 12’6 raceboard, this was the point for many where they stood up and said this is the future!! this was back in May 2016!!!

Throughout the last 5 years, the sport of foiling has grown and taken on so many different forms.  The ideas and growth have been something that has gone in a 100 different directions all of which have opened people’s eyes as to what the future could hold and lead us to a point where we are now saying, “what is the next step?”.  Where to now?  And how big will this really be?

Many sports have come before foiling and have had crazy growth only to flatten out before they have really become what people thought the future should have been, so, will Foiling head down this same path?  Or will something within this crazy and out there sport stand up and take the run we all hope for? 

We thought it was about time to look at some of the main areas that this foiling sport has branched off into and see if we can look forward to the future and maybe see one or maybe all growing into a major main steam water sport! 

WIND WING FOILING - Possibly the easiest way to learn Foiling?  Having seen and watched many people that come from a NON-Foiling or NON-Kiting / Windsurfing background pick up a Wind Wing and Foiling set up to only get right into Wind wing Foiling. If they are persistent in the learning curve, then in a few weeks they are up and going.  Tacking and foiling around. 

Wind Wing Foiling would have to have the fastest learning curve and the results come fast no matter what your background.  So, with Wind Wing Foiling so easy to learn is this the future for taking foiling to the next level?  And if it is, what kind of Wind Wing Foiling will this be? 

We are already seeing Wind Wing Pro Tours with Course racing, Slalom, Downwind, and freestyle.  Very similar to what we already see on Windsurfing Tours, so maybe this is what we will see.  Or does Wind Wing Foiling open itself up for more of a Downwind Free Riding Sport?  As we see already with some of the Pro’s there are Tricks and Jumps also, which indicates that it’s leaning itself more towards Kiteboarding.   Really, the Wind Wing aspects are endless. 

The Wind Wing side of the sport does get a little messy however as it does cross over into sailing, and they have already laid claim to this in some areas and rightly so.  While in some ways the path is already laid out for Wind Wing Foiling and for now it looks set to follow in the path of windsurfing one has to wonder is this the right move?  Windsurfing is a great sport, but we all know how this sport has played out and to just follow down the same road just might not be the best idea.  One hopes that people see the uniqueness to Wind Wing Foiling and allow it to take its own path and not just follow the path already taken. 

DOWNWIND FOILING - Maybe this is the pinnacle of all the Foiling sports.  Something that is like winning the lotto when you can do it or just plain hell if you can’t.  Downwind Foiling in many people's eyes is all the pure heart and soul that foiling is about, it can be the most peaceful uncrowded way to free surf the power of the ocean all while feeling at one with the sea and all the fabulous creatures it holds.

With saying all this one may think then, why is Downwind Foiling not going to be the number one area for all the people who foil?  It’s the pinnacle right, so this is it, we have a winner!!  Well, let's just break this down a little more and find out why Downwind Foiling might struggle to be the best of the best. 

Downwind Foiling can be probably the hardest of all the foil sports to learn, you need to combine some SUP skills along with foiling skills and this is part of the challenge for many at the start.  Learning how to catch the ocean swells is a little tricky for many people who have never done a downwinder, so combining a small board, a foil and a paddle can throw up a few challenges of course.  All this can be overcome and from 5 years ago to now A LOT has changed including all the gear has become far, far better all of which has made learning much easier now than it has ever been.

The biggest challenge is Downwind Foiling is like many other downwind sports and although unreal for those that can do it and those who are racing it is boring to watch for spectators as most of the time when you Downwind Foil you are way out to sea where no one can see you. All downwind sports have this same issue, and it is a big one if you want the sport to go more mainstream. Downwind foiling will grow, and races will get very good numbers and with the right sponsors and a few lucky breaks downwind wind foiling could be as big as any of the current downwind sports no worries but as a sport for the masses then maybe not yet. One of the biggest areas for growth in Downwind Foiling is the free ride aspect and just the pure joy and thrill this gives, and this is the side that will grow the fastest for Downwind Foiling.

PRONE FOILING - Those that are lucky enough to live close to waves and get to prone foiling most days will say how much fun this is, it offers the chance to escape the crowded surf line-ups and head of down the beach to a wave that more than likely any sane normal surfer would turn their nose up at. 

Already there has been some fun wave foiling events around the world (link here) and from the looks of these they are great fun and could really get a good local following in the areas that have the conditions to run them. 

Will these styles of events take off is the question or will Prone foiling just fall to the full free rider’s way and it just becomes one of the funnest ways to ride a wave without going down the road of comps and events? Prone foiling is an area that is still a big unknown and because it’s still just so much fun to go and do, many might ask why make it complicated and bring comps into it. Why not just leave it raw and super inviting to all who want to escape the rat race of normal surfing?

I can see it heading both ways, but right now we are on the fence so time will tell on this one!!

FLATWATER PUMPING - Lungs burning, lactic acid filled muscles and 1 to 6 minutes of pure pain!!  Sounds terrible right?  Well, it’s not!! 

Flatwater pumping could hold the key for what is to come and when one opens the mind to what could be then you can see that us flapping our arms around looking rather strange is also an area, we as humans strive for. 

If we are looking at a racing still that the masses could do that is super tight with lots of frills and spills and something that can take some skill to be good at then flatwater pump racing could be the ticket to success.

Right now, I don't even know if this style of racing has even been tried but from looking at an area that could be one the biggest sides of the spot then flatwater pumping for sure has to be right in the mix.  It has a lot going for it before it even starts as it would be a sport that can be done on any body of water anywhere in the world and this opens the door up to so much more than all the other areas of foiling as many require wind or waves to be successful. 

The concept is so new it really does not even exist yet, but I am sure if you talk to any Foiler they can already see it.  It could be anything from a short pump course to a flat straight-out 200m pump right up to 1km pump fest.  As foils are getting better and better than pumping for 6 mins or more will be fully doable if not already!!  Already we are seeing people launching from docks all around the world and this is just the beginning. 

It will be fitness and skill combined, it will be something anyone can learn, and you don’t need to live by the ocean as a small Dam in the backyard really could be enough.  It might not be the most fun or the prettiest to watch but it will be unique and if done right it could be very exciting.

If we are right now looking for the biggest growth potential area, then this has to be right up the front! 

SUP FOILING - In 5 years or so we have seen board size come way down and boards have changed a lot making the sport easy to learn.  Head down to any local beach these days and you will see someone SUP Foiling or someone trying to learn SUP Foiling. 

Generally only done on point breaks, or somewhere with a longish running fun wave that isn’t too big of a limit to where SUP Foiling might be and how it might grow. So does this mean SUP Foiling will only be in certain pockets around the World as it rules out harsh dumping beach breaks. 

Pump up in the flat.  SUP Foiling is all timing and something that takes a fair bit of time and practice/frustration, but once up and pumping in the flat it’s a matter of staying up.  This could lead to Flatwater SUP Pump Up racing, same idea as dock starting with a Prone Foiling board and flatwater pumping but you are SUP Pump Up foiling, harder to do.  SUP Foiling could be more of a Wave Riding event in Longer Point break waves with turns/style etc... So, SUP Foiling really limits itself to only a couple types of different aspects Waves or Pumping up in the Flat, however, SUP Foiling in the waves is by far one of the most popular sides of Foiling so this style will not disappear and we will see many Sup Foilers enjoying waves around the world for a long time yet.  Possibly leading them into other Styles of Foiling.