Introduction to Foil Boarding
What is Foil Boarding?
If you've ever witnessed someone seemingly hovering above the water while riding their board on a lake, you've likely observed foilboarding in action. Unlike traditional wakeboarding or surfing, foil boards utilize a mast-mounted foil wing system beneath the board, which generates lift as it moves through the water. This setup mimics the principles of airplane wings, providing riders with a floating-like feeling.
Foil boarding can be enjoyed behind various types of watercrafts, such as wake boats, fishing boats, pontoon boats, or even jet skis, as it doesn't require high speeds to achieve lift and glide.
How Does it Work?
Foil wings, attached to a vertical mast beneath the board, generate lift in the water, enabling the board to rise above the surface. As speed increases, water flows over the wing-like foils, causing faster water flow on the surface and slower water flow beneath—the difference in water speeds is what generates the lift.
To propel forward, riders push down with their legs in a rhythmic motion, almost bouncing, to gain speed and propulsion. This motion is unnecessary unless you've lost speed or are unwillingly leaving the wake.
Differences between Foil Boarding & Wake Boarding
Aside from riding above the water, foilboarding differs from wakeboarding in several ways. Foil boarding typically results in lower-impact falls and places less physical strain on riders compared to wakeboarding. This reduced strain is due to the smoother ride with less friction and responsiveness. On a foil board, maneuvers are slower and less physically demanding. On a wakeboard, you tend to do more of a "carving" technique, whereas on a foil board, your motion becomes more of a turn.
The foil board itself is thicker and stiffer than a wakeboard to support the mounting required for riding.
How do I get up on a Wake Foil Board?
To get up on your foil board, you want to push the board with your feet below the surface, the nose of the board facing forward. Allow the board to rise to your chest, knees bent—crouch-like.
Your stance should have your back foot right in front of the mast, and your front foot will follow and should be width apart.
Unlike wakeboarding, foil boarding requires you to place your weight on your front foot rather than your back foot when coming out of the water. Adding weight to your front foot allows you to avoid flipping backward before fully getting up—the mount being located near the back of the board, plus putting too much weight on your back foot means far too much lift.