HYDROFOILS

Hydrofoiling

Flying through the air

The kitesurfing world is not the first who uses a Hydrofoil. For several years people do experiments with the foil wing to surpass the resistance of the water. At the beginning of 1900, the first experiments were done with boats who could float at high speed above the water. Water skiers also use the hydrofoil for years as the Skyski. So kiters couldn't be left behind. Would you like to kite with only 5 knots on super flat water? A kite foil is probably just the thing you have been looking for.

While foiling, it seems like you are flying over the water and riding upwind is a piece of cake. Almost all big brands are already participating in the new trend this year. This means that there is a wide range of kite foils available these days. Below we will tell you all about the different kite foils.

Foil wings

Like kites, we can divide foils into low & high aspect ratio (AR). The higher the AR, the faster it will be. A foil wing with low AR gets out of the water quite easily. So if you're looking for an easy ride, you better start with a low AR foil. If you want to ride fast and more stable at high speeds, you can better go for a kite foil with a high AR. Kite foils are normally made of aluminum or carbon. Carbon is the lightest and fastest but not as tough as an aluminum foil.
 

Foil mast

A foil mast is a part that connects the foil to your board. The length has a big influence on the performance of the foil. The standard size of a foil mast is 90cm. For a beginner, a short mast is easier to ride, as it is more stable. However, be careful that you don't accidentally shoot out of the water. Just like the wings the material usage of the mast has also an influence on the performance of the foil.
 

Protection

In general, you don't need impact absorbing materials while kitesurfing, unless you're planning on making kiteloops and such, but while riding a foil we recommend you wear some protection. This is because you ride at a higher speed compared to 'normal' kitesurfing. Also, the mast and the foil wing are very hard and it can do some serious damage whenever you crash. So be aware of the danger and wear a helmet, long wetsuit, and impact vest during foil kitesurfing.
 

Conditions

You can take your foil kite for a spin with the least amount of wind which is a big advantage. Unfortunately, as soon as the wind gets stronger you quickly ride overpowered. The best foil conditions are between 8 and 18 knots. Flat water makes foiling a lot easier and a stable wind is good to keep your balance. Be careful with shallow waters, because you can accidentally hit the ground which can result in damage to your foil.