Only a foiler knows the feeling…

To be quite honest when I saw the first guys wingfoiling here in North Devon I thought it looked like the most dull sport I had ever seen! They were just going back and forth across flat water. Then I saw a video of a wing foiler sailing out into waves, flagging the wing and surfing the wave back in. I was blown away. I had to try it.

I had no idea what to do. So, I went to a shop and bought some kit (Bad move, it was poor quality, it broke and it lost 60% of its value). To say learning was hard is an understatement, it was also thrilling and terrifying! I fell off hundreds of times before getting the hang of it. In the process I discovered that just going back and forth on flat water actually took a lot of skill! I persisted and went out almost everyday and within a couple of months I could fly straight lines and was beginning to gybe and attempting to ride small waves. As soon as I felt capable I started towing into waves, prone foiling and dock starting.

Foiling became the greatest board sport I have found. It took over from surfing and took over my life adding to and enhancing my life in numerous ways, not least of all because of all the great people I have met and new friends I continue to make through a shared passion for foiling.

What is the feeling?

You could say it feels like flying. It’s difficult to describe even after 4 years! It is somehow an effortless form of balance. You glide silently above the water. Connected to it yet separate from it. Many people say foiling affects them in profound ways. Personally I felt that I gained a greater sense of balance across the whole of my life. Just 10 minutes on a foil wipes all the stresses of life away. The feeling of gaining the skill of controlling the foil beneath your feet is also confidence inspiring. It is not easy and when you have gone through the process of learning I think perhaps you gain a sense of pride in that ability which remains with you at all times. It is unlike anything else I have experienced and hugely positive. This is why I love to share it.

Why foil?

Foiling is the perfect sport for us in the UK where it is frequently windy and the waves are more often blown out than clean. The progression is endless. The disciplines are numerous. You can : wing foil, wake foil, tow foil, prone foil, e-foil, pump foil, SUP foil, downwind foil on prone or SUP boards. If you want to pump foil you can boat start, dock start, rock start, drop start, beach start! There is also assisted foiling, similar to e-foiling with a motor but with smaller batteries which can be attached to any board and makes surf foiling a breeze. There are so many ways to go foiling! You don’t need the sea or waves, a lake will do, or any body of water big enough.

There are so many ways to have fun on a foil while continually improving and honing your skills. It is the ultimate board sport!

About Daniel James

I love the ocean and board sports. I have been surfing for 45 years. I windsurfed from the age of 9-16. I rode skateboards throughout my teenage years. Went snowboarding in the 90’s, working as a guide for one season. I made my own boards when I was a teenager; skateboards, snowboards and surfboards. Above all I loved surfing despite the frequent lows of chasing waves, when there often weren’t any! When I became aware of foiling I knew this was a sport that would always challenge and enthrall me with far more highs than lows.

As soon as I began foiling I was hooked, I proclaimed that foiling was the greatest board sport I had ever experienced. And from that moment I wanted to share it with everyone and I began teaching anyone who was interested. At first it was mostly friends, then friends of friends began to contact me asking if I could help to them learn to foil. Someone offered to pay me for my time and from then on I began taking it more seriously and really considering how I could best help a beginner to learn to foil, so i took my instructors qualification with BKSA.

I set up Fly foiling to be able share my passion for foiling. I enjoy instructing foiling as much as I love foiling myself. I aim to offer the safest most fun start to your journey into the sport of foiling.

With safety in mind I hold the following qualifications.

BKSA WINGFOIL INSTRUCTOR

RYA LEVEL 2 Powerboat

RYA First Aid

I am also insured.