Hydrofoil Surfboard - incredible

[spidey07]

These nuts use a surfboard, with snowboard bindings and a hydrofoil wing. Essentially a surfboard that rides above the water.

NUTS! But so awesome at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wXGAd1gNfo

 

[Howard]

Totally awesome.

 

[Mrvile]

Holy cow! Looks like it takes quite a bit of skill to use, though.

 

[Oceandevi]

Does it look slower or is it just me?

 

[YoungGun21]

If I lived near an ocean and knew how to surf, I would definitely ride those.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: YoungGun21
If I lived near an ocean and knew how to surf, I would definitely ride those.

Yeah, but on a 40 foot wave?

 

[Ruptga]

Looks awesome, but their feet are bound in, meaning once they flip it they're stuck in an akward position for a little while, which seems like it could be a real problem if you tried this with really choppy seas.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Originally posted by: Oceandevi
Does it look slower or is it just me?

Supposed to be quite a bit faster actually...they're more efficient and suffer less drag than a conventional board. Laird Hamilton was speculating they could even ride open ocean swells with the thing, and not have to wait for a breaking wave.

So begins the challenge to ride a legitimate 100' wave.

 

[Rage187]

posted here a few years ago but still interesting nonetheless

 

[ppdes]

There are kayaks with hydrofoils out there too nowadays.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: ppdes
There are kayaks with hydrofoils out there too nowadays.

Yeah, but it's not surfing.

Sitting in a boat with a very low center of gravity <<<<<< riding a 40 foot wave WITH A HYDROFOIL.

Not slamming the kayakers as they're very skilled, but this is a completely different world.

 

[Scarpozzi]

With my luck, the tide would be low and the foil would hit a reef. I would get thrown into the reef, be pummelled by the waves, and eventually my remains would be eaten by sharks.

 

[buck]

I remember hearing them say that the original thought behind them was to help with the chop on the big waves. Certainly not like tradition surfing, but cool as hell. Last winter I got to surf a little ways down from where they were surfing in the video. I cant wait to go back this winter.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
With my luck, the tide would be low and the foil would hit a reef. I would get thrown into the reef, be pummelled by the waves, and eventually my remains would be eaten by sharks.

:laugh:

 

[WildHorse]

Originally posted by: YoungGun21
If I lived near an ocean and knew how to surf, I would definitely ride those.

We'll save a few waves for you!