Hydrofoil Surfing: Everything You Need to Know

Foil surfing is surfing with a board that has a hydrofoil attached. Buckle up, here’s everything you need to know:

The hydrofoil replaces the fins of a standard surfboard. It extends below the board and into the water. At high speeds, it lifts the board and rider above the water giving the impression they are “flying.” If you’ve ever seen people riding boards flying above the water, those are eFoil surfboards.

If you see someone pumping, then those are hydrofoils.

Why Foil Surfing Is Epic

Foil surfing is awesome because you can catch even the smallest unbroken waves. The waves that constantly elude you making you rethink your quiver.

You’ll be catching waves that traditional surfing would consider un-surfable. Small waves are the foil surfer’s bread and butter. If you’re Kai Lenny, then big waves can be too!

Not only that, but you can go on a much longer ride than traditional surfing boards. You can catch the initial wave like a typical surfboard, but once your board is flying above the water, you can keep it there with a “pumping motion.”

You can even pump back out and catch another wave in the same set if you’re an exceptional foiler!

Pumping Your Foil

The pumping motion mentioned above keeps your hydrofoil moving through the water at slower speeds. It is just a weight-shifting technique that gives energy to the foil. The energy propels the foil forward, keeping the ride going.

By pumping the board, you don’t have to come down as often as a surfboard. You can even pump the board across flat water or back into the ocean to catch multiple waves. You can pump across rivers or lakes.

Once you have enough speed, you don’t need to keep pumping to keep the hydrofoil moving. It does that pretty well on its own. Many beginners or vacationers usually hook up a hydrofoil to the back of a boat or jet ski and glide along the water.

Note For Beginners

Beginners who find foil surfing difficult can latch behind a boat or jet ski and get pulled to high speeds. This is also a great way for people to learn how to foil surf. Be sure to wear an impact vest or even a helmet your first-time out.

People already good at traditional surfing will be able to transition easier to foil surfing but it’s still an adjustment nonetheless.

Components of a Foil Board

• Mast
• Hardware
• Front Wing
• Tail Wing
• Fuselage
• Board

Mast

The mast is the vertical piece of metal that you see sticking above the water. It’s what connects the board to the bottom wings. It hooks up to the bottom of the board via the connector plate, and to the wings via the fuselage.

Longer masts give you more clearance. You’ll be able to take steep turns without the sides of the board hitting the water. They’ll have slower pumping motions and are less likely to breach the water at high speed.

Downsides of longer masts are that they can hit the bottom easier. You need deep waters with long masts. They can be a little more difficult to catch waves as the foil will be deeper before takeoff.

Smaller masts are the more stable alternative. They have less length so hitting bottom isn’t as much of a problem. For that reason, they are sometimes recommended for beginners.

Experienced foil surfers users also use smaller masts. The shorter length allows for more control, and you can surf in shallower waters.

Hardware

The hardware of the hydrofoil board is the nuts and bolts that hold the board together. If you buy the hydrofoil online or straight out of the box, you will be assembling your own board.

This isn’t difficult but be sure to refer to the user manual for your specific foil. These are downloadable from the manufacturer’s website.

Front Wing

The front wing is the lead wing of the hydrofoil. The size of the front wing is a decent indicator of the amount of lift the hydrofoil board will have.

Regular surf foils have wings with a thicker profile. These will create lift at slower speeds.

Wings with thinner profiles have a much thinner profile with far less drag. These are easier to control at higher speeds but are more sensitive to changes in direction. They take more skill to ride than their larger winged counterparts.

Tail Wing

The tail wing is typically known as the stabilizer wing. Generally speaking, hydrofoils with bigger front wings will have a bigger tail wing. They usually match size.

Smaller tails wings create less lift. They need more pressure on the back foot to balance out the front wing.

The turned-up tips on the rear wing you see sometimes can add directional stability to the board. They also reduce turbulence off of the wings. We haven’t noticed much of a difference between stabilizers with turned-up wings versus turned-down wings. Experiment and see what you like better.

Fuselage

The fuselage is the part of the hydrofoil that connects the bottom wings. It is perpendicular to the mast.

The thing to consider with a fuselage is its length. Longer fuselages make it easier to control the pitch of the foil. It does this by keeping the foil at a steady height.

Shorter fuselages are much more sensitive. They respond to even slight weight shifts on the board.

Shorter fuselages are the more challenging of the two lengths. But, they allow for tighter turns and quicker, more responsive pumping.

Board

It’s easy to forget there is actually a board aspect to hydrofoils. All that talk about wings and masts, and you forget you need something you can actually ride!

In general, the larger the board, the more stable the ride. Smaller boards are less stable but are more exciting and take more skill. They are much better at making sharper turns.

Connector Plate

Another piece of board hardware. This is what connects the mast to the board.

We included this here because if you are assembling your own board, it’s crucial you get this right. Make sure the connector plate is tight and flush with the board.

FAQs for Hydrofoils

What is the difference between foiling and traditional surfing?

The main difference between foiling and traditional surfing is the design of the board and the physics that keeps the boards moving.

We’ve written on this topic before, so be sure to check out our guide, “Foiling vs. Traditional Surfing.”

Is assembling Foil boards difficult?

Assembling foil boards is not difficult, but you do want to do it right. Refer to the user manual for your board provided by the manufacturer.

If you are worried, take it to the local surf shop and have them look it over. Best to be on the safe side.

What’s the difference between a Hydrofoil and an eFoil?

All eFoils (electric hydrofoils) are foils (hydrofoils) but not all foils are eFoils. The difference between a foil and an eFoil is that an eFoil has an electric motor, whereas a foil does not.

Regular foils attain speed from the actual waves or the rider pumping the board. An eFoil uses a propulsion system to move it through the water.

To learn more about eFoils, check out our guide, ‘What is an eFoil?’

Is foil surfing dangerous?

Yes, foil surfing is dangerous. Compared to regular surfing, there is much more risk. It is categorized with other extreme sports.

Essentially the wing is trying to fly out of the water. When it flies out it can hurt and can also cut you up so be careful!

Also, the hydrofoil extends down into the water so it can hit the bottom of the ocean, rocks, or other unseen debris. If you aren’t careful, you could have a collision and launch from the board.

In deeper waters, this isn’t usually a problem. Additionally, foils can catch smaller waves than surfboards. You don’t usually get crushed by larger swells, but it can happen.

Are foils expensive?

Foils are expensive. The hydrofoil attached to the bottom of the board is an expensive piece of equipment you don’t have with traditional surfboards. Even a basic setup can cost you over $1,000.

We broke down some reasons why eFoils are expensive, same goes for Hydrofoils.

Thanks for stopping by. If you want to read more about crazy foil surfers, then be sure to check out some of the other guides we have on the site. Get out there and start riding waves.