SUP
The future of racing on water is foiling, and the future is here, now
On Maui’s North Shore, standup paddlers are slicing their way through the water on gear that’s (kind of) cutting edge.
Connor Baxter’s fist pump across the finish line said it all – he wasn’t just celebrating winning a race, he was celebrating the birth of a new sport. Those who try foiling say it's 'like riding a magic carpet' – and they're all immediately addicted.
Hydrofoiling watercraft are hardly news – the first hydrofoil boats existed as far back as 1906. Windsurfers experimented with foils in the 90s. Laird Hamilton rode waves wearing a pair of snowboard boots to keep him locked on to the foil board. Recently, the world’s most important sailing races – including the America’s Cup – are decided by who can get on and stay on the wing.
Kai Lenny flying high
Kai Lenny's downwind journey on a hydrofoil
© Andy Mann
Until recently, foiling meant using propulsion from wind, waves, or a boat/jetski. Then, standup paddlers figured out how to lift the wing entirely by paddle power. Everyone knew it wouldn’t take long for a major event to legitimate the new sport with an official race – and the annual Olukai Ho’olauole'a was the first to put prize money on the line. How cool was it? Cool enough that ESPN's SportsCenter took note.
Originally envisioned as a 10-mile downwind blast, light winds meant that course could have taken hours, and provided very little actual foiling. Opting for a crowd pleaser instead, organisers sent six of the world’s best SUP foil surfers to a start line just one kilometre off the beach and blew the horn. It took SUP racing champion Connor Baxter just a few strokes to start flying, with local paddler Kody Kerbox right behind him. Criss-crossing from swell to swell, the two looked neck-and-neck to almost the end – with Connor’s multitude of race experience helping him find the last gear to push over the line.
Stoked to win
Foil SUP racers battle it out
© Josh Sampiero
Win the race, pump the fist
© Josh Sampiero
A post-win selfie
© Josh Sampiero
Connor Baxter, all smiles
© Josh Sampiero
Moving the sport forward
“The progression of the foil is crazy," says Connor. "Two years ago we all saw Kai’s double wave on the foil, where he catches a wave, exits, then pumps out for another one."
See Kai’s double-foil wave in 2016
After that, people were trying foils everywhere – kite racing, big surf – it’s only in the past six months that we’ve really tuned the foils for paddling and got them working right.” Compared to foils of the past, these foils are bigger, and provide lift at lower speeds. Connor continues: “Rather than the foils creating lift from waves and swell or wind – we’re powering these entirely with our paddle. Essentially, we’re generating our speed from human power, which is pretty incredible.”
Connor's bigger, better foil
Wings of the future
© Josh Sampiero
A short race – but done quickly
“I think yesterday’s race was about a kilometre – not really a long race. On a normal SUP it could have taken a bit longer, but on the foil it was a lot faster,” says Connor. How fast? Less than five minutes from start to finish. “Foiling is a lot more efficient. We got the foil up in the flats outside of the surf, connect a few bumps, surf a wave, then use the rollers to bring us all the way into the beach.”
Straight is never the fastest line
“If there’s swell, straight is never the fastest line,” says Connor. “Downwind paddling or racing, the guy going straight is struck in that bump – just like catching a normal wave on a reef break, going down the line [of a wave] is how you’re going to generate the most speed.” That means winning a SUP foil race in anything but glassy water isn’t actually only about training and horsepower – it takes technique.
Kai carves to stay on the swell
This gives rail-to-rail a new meaning!
© Poor Boyz Productions
That said, it’s hardly a walk in the park – once flying from the paddle power, the athletes use leg strength and kinetic energy to keep the wing in the air. “Oh yeah – you have to work. By the time I got to the beach, my legs were cramping, arms were cramping,” Connor says.
The future as race
Until now, foiling and surfboards (of any kind) has been about fun and experimentation – the skills and conditions needed limited it to elite athletes or those who were lucky enough to live in paradise. Connor thinks while foiling will grow, it’s not going to see mainstream participation soon. “Foil racing will remain with the elite in the near future – it takes a lot of power, energy and ocean skills. We’re using smaller boards, so you really have to be up on the wing to get any speed.”
Kai sees a serious future in it. Why? It's fast, man. "The future of foil racing is super exciting," says Kai. "It has the potential to be the fastest craft downwind or on open ocean that isn't powered by a sail, kite, or even engine. In the right conditions, I'm not sure even a JetSki can keep up!"
During the sport’s first prize-monied and registered race, there were just five paddlers on hand to do that – but revolutions start small. When this race happens again next year, we’re guessing there’s going to be quite a few more.