Long time reader, part time account user. A few years back when the foils were introduced it seemed that a lot of SUP riders switched to the foil and I am guessing, never looked back?
This forum seemed to change indefinitely as a result, there were bargains to be found in the second hand market (thanks) and for those of us that continued to SUP, there were less riders in the water.
This question is for those of you who got into the foil, do you still sup or have you converted indefinitely? And if you have can you explain the transition? I'm talking all forms of foiling. Wing, downwind, prone. Whatever your poison.
I've been on the prone board for too long and after 9 months of one injury after another am looking for another sport that is still in the water. Thanks.
It is addictive. Faster, smoother and powered all the time on foil. Only thing I miss is barrels. Sup foil/wing/tow foil.
I tried to sup after 6 months foiling it felt so slow and bumpy. Sold all my gear.
I find the whole foil thing a huge faff and I don't have the time to be assembling and disassembling on a daily basis at the beach. I won't even start my ranting thoughts about the whole foil position, shim, foil size etc etc decisions. Can't be dealing with it.
As a result, I foil very occasionally and stick to the SUP surfing, even in the tiniest / most marginal / horrendous conditions.
I see and understand the attractions of foiling. I prefer the feel of a carve with a rail.
SUP foiled from April 2017 to Sept 2019 (2 1/2years).
Foiling is fun, and I loved the technical challenge.
However, SUP was more fun and simple, especially with custom SUPs, so I re-sold all my foiling gear.
The reason is that I cannot surf foil, as I am too stiff to do a surfing pop-up anymore. Even getting up on a SUP hurts.
And SUP foiling doubles with SUPing: paddling with chop is not fun.
Also I did too much WIndsurfing in my life, I do not bear complex gear nor windy conditions anymore, so no Wingfoil for me.
I would still be able to surf foil, I would have kept my foiling gear.
BTW, around me nearly nobody SUP foils anymore, they are all surf foiling.
I got into sup foiling early and enjoyed the experience. However, I kept watching the surfers and suppers and missed it too much and wasn't good enough to do both. The transition from one sport to the next was too lengthy for my available time.
I chose to go back to the sup and haven't missed foiling, but still use the foil for wing-dinging during summer.
I have put a lot of effort into improving at SUP surfing, and really enjoying it nowadays. People have tried to talk me into the foil, but I have resisted, and to tell you the truth foils really worry me around other people in the surf. I have done enough nasty things to myself at water level let alone tearing around above it. I admire the skill and glad to see some of you blokes have really taken to it, but I'll stick to slapping around rail to rail. I am not proud of the fact that the only person I've ever told to F off in the lineup was a motorised foil zipping around everyone, snaking and dropping in. Still not sure how he thought that was normal?
Still doing both. Love the rail to rail stuff on a big wave, but starting to enjoy the foil when the waves just aren't that good.
I've bounced between both and also had longboard surfing as a third and original activity and I think I've found what works best for me now in so far as I enjoy SUP over longboarding so have now sold most of my longboards and have a small but great SUP quiver plus 2 Foil boards and a Foil Drive.
If the surf is half good or better, I'd still prefer to be in the waves on the SUP and if it's small to flat on the beach I'll foil and if it's too big for the SUP, I head to our Bay for a foil.
I can't foil every day as the set up / pack up routine is onerous and difficult on work days so I limit the foil to once or maybe twice a week and when I'm done foiling, I'm stoked to SUP and when on the SUP, I'm planning my next foil session which is more of an event but so much fun !
You can't beat the rail in the wave face and carving turns on the SUP however foiling opens up endless possibilities and allows you to escape the crowds notwithstanding that being on the foil in knee high swell lines feels to me like dropping down a 4 foot face so it's a win win really.
Select to expand quotetdawg said..
I got into sup foiling early and enjoyed the experience. However, I kept watching the surfers and suppers and missed it too much and wasn't good enough to do both. The transition from one sport to the next was too lengthy for my available time.
I chose to go back to the sup and haven't missed foiling, but still use the foil for wing-dinging during summer.
A mate I have calls the wing ding lawn mowing the ocean. Is it really that boring or only when your in flat water and not catching waves?
maybe riding a lawnmower with a V8 and no brakes down a precipice.
If its too windy for a surf, wing dinging is a great substitute, in my opinion.
I find it hard enough finding enough time to divide between prone and sup surfing let alone another add on. I had a crack at kite surfing a while back and the sh1t ton of gear and palaver was a big negative for me and foiling and winging looks the same. Too much expensive and fragile flotsam and jetsam-keep it simple.
I'm really connected with board surfing-rails, tails, fins, bottom shapes etc and riding waves.
If the surf is sh1t I'll have a bodysurf (great fun) or a fish/spear.
