'Surf's up' takes on new meaning for California foilboarders

Surfer Gary Clisby rides his foil board on a morning swell of the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

(Reuters) - California surfers are literally taking wave-riding to another level, surfing not on but above the water on hydrofoil surfboards.

Harnessing the "foiling" technology more typically seen on racing catamarans in sailing's America's Cup, the surfboards appear to fly above the water thanks to a fin attached to the bottom of the board.

"You feel like a little kid," said professional athlete and stuntman Chuck Patterson, who rides a custom short board with a aluminium and fibreglass hydrofoil.

Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk tries foil boarding for the first time as he catches a swell off the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

He said part of the appeal of foil surfing, or foilboarding, is that several people can "share" a wave, instead of taking it in turns.    

"Today we went out and it's probably the worst conditions and we had a blast.... It ends up changing the game of being in the water," he said.

The foil is like a wing that extends into the water under the surfboard. Acting much like a wing of plane, it causes the board to lift out of the water as it gains speed, propelled by an ocean swell.

Surfer Jon Foreman rides his foil board on a morning swell off the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Since there is less drag because of reduced contact with water, surfers on hydrofoil boards can ride any wave at high speed, even one a surfer on a traditional board would pass up as too small.  

 

SURF RACING

Surfer Brian Szymanski comes off his foil board while rising the swells off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Dave Daum, founder of Kings Paddle Sports in the Southern California beach town of Carlsbad, said it all started when a member of a surf racing team wanted to attach a hydrofoil to his board with snowboard bindings.

"He took it out into the water, proceeded to catch a wave, fell off, and nearly drowned. And at that point, we said it's too dangerous," he said.

Daum said he put on his engineering cap to design a custom hydrofoil board. While he started his business making and selling stand-up paddleboards, he has been receiving more and more requests for custom and off-the-shelf foilboards.

Surfers Gary Clisby (L), Jon Foreman and Tim Foreman (R) make their way into the waves with their foil boards in Solana Beach, California, U.S. March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The foils, which are specifically designed for surfing, sell for around $1,000 (751 pounds), with specially made surfboards adding another $600-800.

Increased speed, combined with the foil's sharp metal blade, have led to the sport gaining a reputation as dangerous. That hasn't put off musician Tim Foreman, who took up foil surfing in December.

"I'm still learning and it's a really steep learning curve. The first three or four sessions were extremely humbling. It's kind of dangerous," he said.

Jon Foreman (L) looks over some foil boards with Chuck Patterson and Brian Szymanski after riding the swells off the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

For stuntman Patterson, the sensation of foilboarding reminds him of another adventure sport.

"It feel kind of like snowboarding in pure powder where it's just effortless and you're floating free or you know feel like you're flying pretty much half the time," he said.

And just as the rise of snowboarding in the 1980s and '90s shook up the ski slopes, the early adopters of foilboarding say their fledgling sport may take the surfing world by storm.

Tim Foreman (L), Gary Clisby and Jon Foreman (R) carry their foil boards into the ocean as they head out to rind the swells off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

(Reporting by Jane Ross; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Cynthia Osterman)

Brian Szymanski (L), Chuck Patterson and Jon Foreman (R) look over their foil boards after riding the swells off the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfers Jon Foreman (L) and Gary Clisby pass each other as they ride their foil boards on a morning swell of the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfers Chuck Patterson (L) and Brian Szymanski ride their foil boards on a morning swell of the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Brian Szymanski rides his foil board on a wave off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Tim Foreman (L), Gary Clisby and Jon Foreman (R) carry their foil boards into the ocean as they head out to rind the swells off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Tim Foreman carries his foil board into the ocean as he heads out to ride the swells off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Tim Foreman carries his foil board into the ocean as he heads out to ride the swells off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Brian Szymanski rides his foil board off the back of the wave of the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk leaves the water after trying foil boarding for the first time in Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Gary Clisby carries his homemade foil board after riding the waves and swells in Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Gary Clisby rides a foil board on a swell off the coast of Del Mar, California, U.S., February 3, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfers Chuck Patterson, (L to R) Brian Szymanski, Gary Clisby and Tony Hawk pose for a picture before taking Hawk, a professional skateboarder, foil boarding for the first time in Carlsbad, California, U.S. May, 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Gary Clisby rides his foil board on a morning swell of the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

A surfer walks past Gary Clisby as he returns to the beach after riding his foil board in the swells off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfers carry their foil boards down to the beach before riding the swells off the coast of Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Jon Foreman rides his foil board on a morning swell of the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Jon Foreman rides his foil board on a morning swell of the coast of Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Engineer Dave Daum works on a foil design at his surfboard manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Craftsman Chris Mukai make a carbon fiber surfboard foil wing at King Surfboards manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Chuck Patterson rides his foil board on a morning swell of the coast of Del Mar, California, U.S., February 3, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfers Gary Clisby (L), Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman (R) carrier their foil boards to the beach after arriving by car at Solana Beach, California, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Gary Clisby carries his homemade foil board to the beach in Del Mar, California, U.S., February 3, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Gary Clisby looks out at the waves before heading out to foil board in Del Mar, California, U.S., February 3, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Surfer Chuck Patterson wades into the ocean with his foil board to ride the morning swells of the coast of Del Mar, California, U.S., February 3, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Craftsman Chris Mukai make a carbon fiber surfboard foil wing at King Surfboards manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Craftsman Chris Mukai glues together a carbon fiber surfboard foil wing at King Surfboards manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The wing on the bottom of a foil board reflects in the morning sunlight in Del Mar, California, U.S., February 3, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake