So...what
exactly is an hydrofoil board?
The Hydrofoil concept has been around since the 1960's and began
as a way to make boats faster. Every since the concept was born
people have been trying different ways of using the hydrofoil. With
that said it is not surprising that the hydrofoil has now found
a place on the bottom of a surf board, wakeboard, and everything
else with a water foundation that one can sit or stand on.
Why doesn't everyone have a hydrofoil board?
Well, I can tell you this much... Hydro boards are very expensive.
Hydro boards cost $1500 to over $2,000 US dollars; they are bulky,
only a few people make them, and they maintain a niche market.
Frequently asked questions about hydrofoil board...
Have a question about hydrofoil boards? Contact us and we will post
the answer here.
Q: Can you ride small waves with a Hydrofoil board?
A: Yes, you can. It take a little to get going, but you can ride
smaller
waves with the hydrofoil board.
Q: Is it hard to ride a hydrofoil board? It takes a little practice
and requires more balance then you would normally need to ride a
surfboard. The key is to stay balanced and look forward to where
you’re going. If you look down, it can cause you to lose your
balance when you learning.
Q: Is the hydrofoil chair easier to ride then the hydrofoil board?
Sitting down on a hydrofoil is easier. You are strapped in and your
center of gravity is lower making it easier to ride. When you stand
up you have to maintain your balance at all times. I will try and
post some footage of beginners so you get the idea of what is takes
to learn how to ride both the chair and the hydrofoil board.
Other Information:
The
United States Hydrofoil Association (USHA) has become the ninth
sport discipline of USA Water Ski. Pictured below, multi shot
of Geno Yauchler, one of the pro riders of the sport (photo
courtesy Lynn Novakofski).
The USA Water Ski board of directors approved USHA as a full
sport discipline at its annual mid-winter board meeting, Jan.
23, 2005 in Polk City, Fla. "We're excited and honored
to be a sport discipline of such a great organization as USA
Water Ski," said Brad Scott, president of USHA. "We're
looking forward to interacting with the other eight sport disciplines
to help grow water sports."
Before hydrofoling became an official sport discipline of USA
Water Ski, the USHA was an affiliate sport discipline of the
organization for two years. Since then, the USHA has grown from
112 members at the end of 2002 to 438 members by the end of
2004. Hydrofoiling has steadily been on the rise since 1990,
when the first sit-down hydrofoil was sold. The sport's popularity
grew more rapidly in 1998 when advanced hydrofoils began production.
The first international competition, the Flight Worlds, which
features competition in all skill levels from amateur to the
Open and Pro divisions, was held in 1996. The Flight Worlds
was held every other year until 2002, when it became an annual
event. Professional hydrofoilers have been competing on the
Pro Hydrofoil Tour since 2002, with 2003 being its first official
year. Female riders competed for the first time on the Pro Tour
last year.
Hydrofoiling is a tricks-based sport that can send its top-level
athletes flipping and jumping up to 20 feet in the air. On the
water, riders are strapped into the seat that is mounted to
the top of the board. Beneath the board is a vertical strut
and front and rear wings that work like an airplane wing underwater.
With little resistance against the water, riding one requires
a lot of balance and less physical strength than many other
water sports making it appealing to people of all ages.
The other eight sport disciplines of USA Water Ski are: American
Water Ski Association, American Barefoot Club, American Kneeboard
Association, National Collegiate Water Ski Association, National
Show Ski Association, National Water Ski Racing Association,
American Wakeboard Association and Water Skiers With Disabilities
Association.
USA Water Ski was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization
promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is
affiliated with the IWSF (world governing body) and is recognized
by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports
Organization as the national governing body of organized water
skiing in the United States. With more than 40,000 members,
USA Water Ski is the largest water ski federation in the world.
Hydrofoil Board Links:
www.foilfreaks.com
-Videos & tutorials
www.airjunky.com/faq.htm
- FAQs.
www.hydrofoil.org/ - The
organization of the sport
www.prohydrofoiltour.com/
- Pro tour information and pictures
www.skyski.com/htmfiles/tips.htm
- Tips & tricks
www.airchair.com - History
and what's new
www.yahoo.com/Hydrofoil/
- Lots of info on Hydrofoil Boards.
www.foiltime.com - pics and
info
