LA/OC/SD Foilers

[Kaser1]

Working my conversion therapy from HI to LA and have an old surfin buddy about to pull the trigger on a full setup. He's gonna need some coaching and moral support. Anyone over there can take him under your wing (ha!)?

Thanks in advance. :applause:

 

[Hdip]

All the foiler's I've run into in the water around Malibu are super nice and supportive. Here's an example. I've never talked to or met Alan Sarlo. First time I foil Malibu he's out on a foil and says hi, hows it going. That's not the experience most other people have with him at Malibu from what I've always heard.

Do not learn to foil at Malibu though haha.

 

[silentbutdeadly]

People actually foil malibu? Holy fvck

 

[Hdip]

I personally, only foil it on sub-2 foot days at first light, I'm typically the only person out. But, yes people foil there.

I still haven't heard of a foiling accident. What's more dangerous a foil where the rider knows what he's doing, or 5 20 pound longboards with no leash flying at you in the white water?

 

[silentbutdeadly]

Wow. I can't believe I have to answer this. Damn.

 

[Kaser1]

All the foiler's I've run into in the water around Malibu are super nice and supportive. Here's an example. I've never talked to or met Alan Sarlo. First time I foil Malibu he's out on a foil and says hi, hows it going. That's not the experience most other people have with him at Malibu from what I've always heard.

Do not learn to foil at Malibu though haha.

Wholly cow! Sarlo foils? Damn that's a good thing I guess.

Yea don't think my buddy would wanna learn anywhere near Malibu.

I think he should go find an empty spot at Bolsa Chica at high tide. From what I remember its fat and has alittle outside capper to chip in on.

 

[silentbutdeadly]

Damn this reminds me of the beginnings of SUP. Why the hell would people do this near other surfers?

 

[Hdip]

It's learning a new sport. Some places are better than others to do said sport. I can only speak for myself, but winter, off season, super high tide 1st point with no one else out is an amazing place to foil. I'm the only person at 1st. There is 1 SUP at 3rd. Am I not supposed to go to 1st just because i'm on a foil?

I do not go to Malibu in the middle of summer when a swell is running. Not really sure what the problem is. Plenty of people who've never ridden a foil sure think I'm killing people though.

I've also yet to hear of an accident where a foil hit someone else. (I have heard of a guy hitting his own foil)

 

[casa_mugrienta]

Damn this reminds me of the beginnings of SUP. Why the hell would people do this near other surfers?

Plenty of people foiling around other surfers all over the place if youtube and insty are accurate. I'm dumbfounded. Looks particularly bad in Hawaii.

 

[casa_mugrienta]

It's learning a new sport. Some places are better than others to do said sport. I can only speak for myself, but winter, off season, super high tide 1st point with no one else out is an amazing place to foil. I'm the only person at 1st. There is 1 SUP at 3rd. Am I not supposed to go to 1st just because i'm on a foil?

I do not go to Malibu in the middle of summer when a swell is running. Not really sure what the problem is. Plenty of people who've never ridden a foil sure think I'm killing people though.

I've also yet to hear of an accident where a foil hit someone else. (I have heard of a guy hitting his own foil)

Sounds like the logic behind a foil invasion.

like Fabian Socialism for foilers.

 

[Hdip]

Plenty of people foiling around other surfers all over the place if youtube and insty are accurate. I'm dumbfounded. Looks particularly bad in Hawaii.

It's almost like it's not as dangerous as people make it out to be!

http://instagr.am/p/BtY98c1AhHb/

 

[silentbutdeadly]

No one out is fine. Going to a place to ride waves no one else wants is fine.

That video above is stupid. It's basically saying it's ok to the dude who thinks he has id dialed... until he doesn't.

The fact that people don't think it's a problem is the problem.

I don't even have anything against foiling. I want to try it, but come on,

 

[grendel95]

No one out is fine. Going to a place to ride waves no one else wants is fine.

That video above is stupid. It's basically saying it's ok to the dude who thinks he has id dialed... until he doesn't.

The fact that people don't think it's a problem is the problem.

I don't even have anything against foiling. I want to try it, but come on,

I think the majority of foilers agree with you. There is very few reasons to paddle out at a "surf spot" when there is probably a lump barely breaking nearby that is actually a lot better for the foil anyways.

That post is exactly what is wrong with instagram, I bet those guys wouldn't normally foil with that many people out. But pull a camera out and now "it's my job" to get out there to get likes for my sponsors.

I'll get off the soapbox now.

 

[Oceanslide]

Plenty of people foiling around other surfers all over the place if youtube and insty are accurate. I'm dumbfounded. Looks particularly bad in Hawaii.

It's almost like it's not as dangerous as people make it out to be!

http://instagr.am/p/BtY98c1AhHb/

F these guys! That’s absurd and I hope someone let them know it.

 

[Clamsmasher]

I’m full retard on foiling, but it is absolutely a crowd avoidance measure for me.

If we get enough people doing what those Brads are doing above........and we will.....it will be banned everywhere it can be and most likely “enforced” or hassled out of other places.

I’m loving the fvch out of sessioning waves that absolutely cannot be surfed every day of the week, but I’m really stressing that this thing is going to get out of hand. Let’s see.

 

[gregfoil]

Hdip is right, Malibu Surfrider can be a good foil spot in winter when it is super small (1-2ft) hight tide (but still it is shallow...), there is almost nobody there surfing and if it does on a foil you actually surf inside far away form the crowd.

And just like said grendale95 everybody agrees we don't want to foil on crowded spots, but the beauty of foiling is that the best time you have foiing is when the waves are not good for surfing anyway.

I would say the best spots to learn are San Onofre (it is worth driving there even for L.A), Mondos at Ventura is also a good spot. Bolsa Chica if it is small is ok.

So far I see foilers really respectfull and ''smart'' (even if I wish everybody should use a leash...).

Personaly I don't foil if the waves are good enought for surfing and if I really want to foil then I'm looking for the worst wave I can find, exactly the opposite as I would do for surfing.

 

[Hdip]

How is trails at San o for foiling? My kids might like camping there and I could foil. Is dog patch or whatever the foil spot at San o is that much better and worth the hassle to get in there?

 

[gregfoil]

The best with Sano is that it is always good for foiling no matter the tide, but I would say mid tide is best. The wave is world class for foiling. This is exactly what you want for foiling, easy take off then you ride the swell, no steep section, the wave dies then reforms and goes for ever.

Trail is fun for foiling but not as good as Sano.

 

[grendel95]

Trails is very hit or miss for surfing in general and the camping is nearly as bad with the train tracks yards from your campsite.

Better to camp at San Clemente state park and hop over to San O.

Parking is a little bit of a hassle due to the popularity of Sano now and it can be tough to get a parking spot in the south end of the lot because the SUP crowd is relegated to that area.

 

[juandesooka]

This thread highlights that we should be considering a ban on surfboards in traditional foil spots. Haha, I jest.

Seems to me that foiling is now taking on much of the hate that SUP got years ago, just now it's "Blame Kai" instead of "Blame Laird". But I think foiling is probably overall safer to others than SUP, despite the high speed sword/guillotine below us. The reason being foiling is really, really hard to learn, takes mega commitment to even get intermediate at it. Whereas SUP is so popular because of how easy it is. It may take someone years to get half decent on a shortboard, but you can catch waves on a SUP literally your first session. So it's all too easy for the lineup to be full of SUPs who can technically surf but really have no idea about safety or etiquette.

From what I've seen, foiling attracts an older demographic (expensive toys), maybe more thoughtful (nerdy techies) and hopefully more self-aware (willing to doggedly pursue this challenge). That reduces the likelihood of them being complete idiots in a crowded surfing line up. However, there's still the risk of the idiot factor ... and the bans at Bondi and in France show what will happen if these foils are considered a danger to others.

Similar to what's happened in the kiting community, the key to avoiding bans is self-policing. If you see people doing dumb s**t that threatens access, have to call them on it. That includes online: these instragram warriors with videos of them weaving around surfers, that's not smart.

Signed, Mr. Bob Loblaw