Kai Lenny Downwind SUP Foil

[greatdane]

For those who don't "get it;" this is my take... The biggest smile on my face when I'm downwinding are those moments when I'm hitting 8-12mph on a SUP or over 15mph in the outrigger... Speed equals fun.  Kai says he's hitting 20mph.  Enough said.

Yep, but on the other hand, that means my run is going to over in about 20 minutes.      and that means the logistics of shuttling is going to be higher percentage.      But I'd be willing to give it a go anyway   

Ha! Good point!

[Board Stiff]

C) Bummer no leash.

So true. Foils are hard to catch swimming. They drift crazy fast.

Especially if you're not wearing a leash like Kai.  Good thing he had all those support boats around.

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[Off-Shore]

C) Bummer no leash.

So true. Foils are hard to catch swimming. They drift crazy fast.

Especially if you're not wearing a leash like Kai.  Good thing he had all those support boats around.

Falling off at 20mph / 32kph tied to that thing, is not something I'd suggest... This needs some new thinking... Maybe one of those fabric sea anchors that is attached to the board and the anchor is stuffed in a pouch around your waist. When you fall off the anchor gets pulled out the pouch and slows the board down..

[peterp]

No towing required...
https://www.facebook.com/kai.lenny/?fref=ts

[Badger]

C) Bummer no leash.

So true. Foils are hard to catch swimming. They drift crazy fast.

Especially if you're not wearing a leash like Kai.  Good thing he had all those support boats around.

Falling off at 20mph / 32kph tied to that thing, is not something I'd suggest... This needs some new thinking... Maybe one of those fabric sea anchors that is attached to the board and the anchor is stuffed in a pouch around your waist. When you fall off the anchor gets pulled out the pouch and slows the board down..

I've actually given that sea anchor idea a lot of thought but haven't come up with any practical way of doing it without it being a lot of hassle each time you fall.

A broken leash in high winds could easily spell death. DJ came very close back in 2010. I keep this post of his handy as a reminder.

http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=6944.0

[Dwight (DW)]

I think the leash forces will be less (crashing at speed) that what we experience when getting dragged like fishing lure by big waves 😃

I do think long leashes will be best. Mainly, to stay clear of the carbon blades under it.

Most manufacturers use winglets for safety. My Horue has straight wings. Like knives.

[gofoil]

We recommend wearing a leash. I am using a coil race leash, because the foil board will take off with the wind or a swell. It happens allot on my kite surf foil, when I wipeout sometimes it will actually stay on the wave and foil and then eventually kick out. Looks like a ghost rider was on it. Kai on the other hand, hardly ever falls and does not like to wear a leash when we discussed this on one of our down wind test. He says it gets in his way and if he falls, he falls on the board and grabs it. Best to be safe though and wear some kind of leash! And yes, the force it exerts on you is much less than getting pulled by a sizeable wave .

[Bean]

Worth a look for sure:

http://gofoil.com/

[mrbig]

Bruno Andre did this at least five years ago!

[Badger]

Bruno Andre did this at least five years ago!

Hey Cleveland,

Is there any documentation to prove that? I can't find anything in my searches.

[mrbig]

Sure. Google sup foil Andre Bruno. Couple of vids from 2010. One Vimeo one you tube..    
Bruno Andre is his name --lefty dyslexia strikes again!!

[Bean]

A few people including the Laird have SUP-surfed foils. But, in all fairness, this is perhaps the first pure downwinding application.

[mrbig]

Bean. I think Laird towed in, but I don't know for sure!

In supboarderthemag (Whew, took forever to get that in!), they asked the question WHAT ABOUT DOWNWINDING?

No one responded. Until now. AMAZING!!

I suspect Naish/Kai will generate more interest than SeaLion/Bruno! Whaddya think??

   

[Badger]

Bruno Andre did this at least five years ago!

I saw some surf vids but no downwind vids. Everybody knows it can be done on a wave.

The question is.... Did Bruno Andre use a foil on a downwinder?

Apparently he was asked about it, but did he do it and was he the first?

Downwinding on a foil, if it can be done with any consistency, will mark an important turning point in the history of stand up.

.

[Bean]

I suspect Naish/Kai will generate more interest than SeaLion/Bruno! Whaddya think??

Absolutely right.  And that's a big plus for Kai and the folks at Naish, not a knock against anyone else.