Messages

1

Foil SUP / Foil sup/surfing news...

« on: September 29, 2016, 01:48:50 PM »

I wish to start a thread where anyone with interesting information regarding foils can contribute.
Although these disciplines are in their total infancy stage, I feel they have a potential future for growth.
So whether it's downwind foil sup, downwind foil surf, or foil surfing a mushy break,
let's see who is doing what, using what gear...

2

Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Foil Open Ocean SUP & Prone Surfing

« on: September 15, 2016, 08:35:02 PM »

808sup, in what you witnessed, Kai was getting towed and then foiling vs paddling to catch waves as he shows in this latest video ?
Regardless of if one needs to have assistance, I think the whole point of interest is being able to get oneself onto the wave. And regardless of if he is actually doing just that, that is what Kai is also wishing to advocate.

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Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Foil Open Ocean SUP & Prone Surfing

« on: September 15, 2016, 07:51:35 AM »

Kai has done it, again ! And this time taken it to a completely different level.
I suspect he's going to be doing this alone for a short while, until some others scramble to catch up.
It's seriously the epitome of amazing. And I am certain it takes extrahuman skills to practice this discipline.
Would love to hear any further info anyone might have regarding this latest development...

4

SUP General / Re: Kai Lenny Surf Foil - Happening Fast Now

« on: July 13, 2016, 10:14:36 AM »

Foils certainly have a built in filtering mechanism which is a blessing. You would not want them to get too popular.
Having said that, I still don't really understand how one actually catches those non waves that we see Kai riding, and which foils are amazing at utilizing.

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SUP General / Re: Kai Lenny Surf Foil - Happening Fast Now

« on: July 08, 2016, 12:53:07 PM »

So in theory, if one became proficient enough it would be possible to surf  (as Kai shows) an almost non existent wave. But how do you catch that non existent wave in the first place ?
The only wave of the video that actually shows Kai paddling into, has the size and power where you could catch it with a regular surfboard.
After that it shows him mostly foiling some barely existent swells and flat waves.
I cannot however imagine that those could get caught by paddling only...?
Any insights ?

6

Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Downwind SUP Foil

« on: May 23, 2016, 10:14:43 AM »

Interesting that Kai introduced the Go Foil but now Starboards is bringing them to market while Naish makes their own version:

http://www.naishsurfing.com/2017-malolo-sup-foilboard-hydrofoil/

Who knows what negotiations went on with then all behind the scene.
One thing is for sure, once they saw the response, both companies raced to be in on it and produce their version.
I had anticipated that this would now catch on fast, but not this fast. It will be interesting to see the market response to the production gear.
This is certainly again a whole new page to the sport. And it's anybody's guess how it will unfold...

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SUP General / Re: Go Foil with Starboard

« on: May 23, 2016, 10:08:44 AM »

Any info on which wave board models Starboard is planning to use for the surfing foils ?

8

Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Downwind SUP Foil

« on: May 15, 2016, 02:47:15 PM »

This is from Kai's FaceBook page:

This hydrofoil has become an essential item in my board bag. After riding the smallest swells, I had as much as if I were surfing perfect waves. 🇯🇵🙇🏻🍣
@naishsup #GoFoil

I anticipate that the foils will not be limited to downwinding. Many will follow Kai's lead and take to surfing them.
Any info on who else is presently surfing with the foils ?
Riding with giant knifes under the board will be a great way to keep spots uncrowded... ; )

9

SUP General / Re: Some history for a SPS book

« on: January 06, 2011, 03:14:11 AM »

Hi Scott,
great to read your story ! you probably don't remember (noa from Greece) but we had spoken back in 2006 when i was starting to sup and getting ready to go to Maui and write a story for "Drift" magazine at the time.
it both seems like yesterday and a lifetime away.
you mentioned hand-planing a lot these days. are you talking about bodysurfing with a hand plane ? quite funny if it is, that is exactly the turn i have taken, mainly bodysurfing with or without hand plane while the sup only comes out once in a while.
whatever the dance, it's all in the water...
thanks for the stoke,
noa

Yep Noa, good to hear from you.

Handplaning = great workout, way more cardio than SPS, and as close to the source as dolphins. If the real joy is feeling the wave, the source, the energy, than I want to be close to it, not far away. IMO...SPS boards are as far away as you can get, unless... you're on a cruiseship. But I can see why the SPS phenomena has grown. People want to catch waves. And it really is about catching the wave first and foremost. That is the goal, what takes place on the wave is secondary. This is why the SPS boards started big and have gotten progressively smaller. SPSers realized their wave quota has hardly diminished with smaller SPS boards. Unfortunately, IMO, there is absolutely NO style out there. No grace. It is the ugliest form of waveriding. Again JUST my opinion. I'm sure everyone thinks they are Lopez, Machado and Rasta wrapped up in one large package... and that is fine. Have fun. STYLE died as soon as everyone wanted to rip. Style died in 2006. Stabbing and dodging is the hot 'style'. LOL. Now go get sum!

Hi Scott,
happy to hear back and that you actually remember our brief contact.
although some feel you now have a slightly negative outlook towards sup, i could not agree more with what you say. i also truly belive that if someone like Laird promoted bodysurfing (which he anyway practices) a little
more, most people would sell their sups and go back to the roots.
most people want to follow someone who has the right image and feel part of something, that is certainly one of the big reasons that sup is what it is today.
anyhow, it's all good. and yes, bodysurfing is as close to the source as one can get.
if someone wants to really feel the heartbeat of the wave, there is no better way. of course if one chooses to go a step further and get a glimpse of the wave's soul, then underwater bodysurfing is IT.
keep spreading the stoke. all the best...

10

SUP General / Re: Some history for a SPS book

« on: January 06, 2011, 03:01:13 AM »

Ironically some dedicated bodysurfers are negative towards handplanes for many of the same reasons some surfers are negative towards SUPs...

yup, absolutely. just like some bodysurfers look down on the use of fins and say to be pure you have to go without. each to his own path and there is certainly not only one way. it's all good as long as your intentions and acts carry positive energy.
enjoy the water no matter what the chosen way and spread stoke around you...

11

SUP General / Re: Some history for a SPS book

« on: December 24, 2010, 08:42:22 AM »

Hi Scott,
great to read your story ! you probably don't remember (noa from Greece) but we had spoken back in 2006 when i was starting to sup and getting ready to go to Maui and write a story for "Drift" magazine at the time.
it both seems like yesterday and a lifetime away.
you mentioned hand-planing a lot these days. are you talking about bodysurfing with a hand plane ? quite funny if it is, that is exactly the turn i have taken, mainly bodysurfing with or without hand plane while the sup only comes out once in a while.
whatever the dance, it's all in the water...
thanks for the stoke,
noa

12

SUP General / Re: Director must SUP in the ocean before talking business

« on: November 27, 2010, 08:15:28 AM »

Just like a hippie with rich parents... it's easy to drop out when you can drop back in... Hilarious in its unintended irony.

Peace, love and harmony is for Beatles songs, poetry, and high school sophomores.

Wow, I could go off on this one... but I won't. 

We are hard wired to survive and thrive...

Just gonna back off now... step away from the keyboard...

Tim

Hi Tim,
interesting point of view. are you by any chance familiar with Bruce Lipton who wrote "the biology of belief" or "spontanious evolution" ?
he presents some good information regarding competition and human evolution.

13

Random / Re: Wing Suit Base Jumping.....

« on: October 31, 2010, 12:11:29 PM »

Bill, i so love your stories. you've been around, done your fair share of things and always have a good story to share. i guess curious souls never stop at one thing, they keep on exploring all of life's flavours...

14

Random / Re: Freedive--Astonishing control

« on: October 31, 2010, 12:06:57 PM »

that video made big news in the freedive world when it first came out. a great new perspective on the sport from a really amazing freediver.
i always say that a true "waterman" should be a competent swimmer, freediver and bodysurfer.
the boards and all the other floating toys are fun, but don't forget the essence.

15

Technique / Re: BOP - Hawaiian vs Tahitian stroke

« on: October 03, 2010, 02:29:00 AM »

Having said that, does someone like Dave not have power in reserve ? I think this again crearly illustrates that there is always more than one viable path.