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A foilboard, also known as a hydrofoil board or foil surfboard, is a type of board used in water sports; it is distinct from surfboards in that it has a hydrofoil rather than fins mounted underneath. (1972). 9780903238007, Juanita Kalerghi. ISBN 9780903238007 This hydrofoil design allows the surfboard and its rider to rise above the water’s surface, allowing for fast speeds and increased maneuverability in a wide range of surf conditions. Foilboards are becoming increasingly popular across many water sports, including surfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, and wakeboarding. Foilboards have also been used in competitions, with riders reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h while performing acrobatic maneuvers such as flips and twists.
In 1999, Mango Carafino, a prominent waterman of Maui North Shore, designed and manufactured the first hydrofoils out of Maui for kitesurfing and created the discipline of hydrofoil kitesurfing.
In 1971 the First known foil board was built by George Alan Shaw at age 21. He constructed it at 1414 Riverside Drive in Melbourne Beach FL. As a pilot and a surfer, he was inspired by a special wave in Costa Rica. Alan Shaw, the first known inventor of the foil board called it "the dolphin". Later, in the earily 80's prototype windsurfing foils were built and tested on his home made boards. It was at this time an evolution of the strut took place. Higher speeds required further re design to cancel the "shimmy" that occurred at higher speeds. Often the foils were tested at higher load when Alan rigged a second boom for his son or daughter to go with on adventures!
Hydrofoils work by generating lift as they move through water, lifting the board out of the water and reducing drag. As water flows over the hydrofoil, it creates a pressure differential that causes the water to push up on the foil, generating lift. Adding a hydrofoil to a board can significantly increase the speed and efficiency because of the wind, allowing the rider to reach greater speeds proportional to the lift generated; because of this, hydrofoils are extremely popular in racing and high performance applications.
The hydrofoil minimizes the effects of choppy waves or rough conditions. Due to the hydrofoil's underwater characteristics, the rider can angle higher into the wind than on traditional kiteboards which ride on the surface of the water.
On the Island of Maui, Mango Carafino began the development of fabricating hydrofoil boards for riding with the use of a kite. Carafino later went on to fabricate Carafino Hydrofoil foil boards in China, at the Jin Li factory, with the assistance of Maurico Bauldi and Paulo Iannetti. For over ten years, the world laughed at Carafino, calling him a kook for introducing a board too futuristic for the industry to accept.
Carafino introduced the hydrofoil in 2008 in Frejus, Cote 'd Azur, France. There the French began to race with the Carafino hydrofoil board, creating the competitive aspect of hydrofoil kite board racing. The sport later went on to experience back yard designers tweaking the foils to garner more speed when racing. Finally, the Olympic sailing federation incorporated the hydrofoil kiteboard into the Olympic class. In 2014 Carafino left the industry, apparently as a result of the flood of competition and knockoffs of his design. Laird Hamilton innovated the use of the board riding in swells with the assistance of expert waterman Terry Chun of Kauai, North Shore.
Foils are used on Windsurfing through design development from Neil Pryde Maui, inventors of hydrofoil sailing "windsurfing" boards. Using a moderately sized sail, a foil windboard can achieve speeds over 6 knots faster than the apparent wind. With advancements in hydrofoil design the energy required to stay on foil was reduced to levels achievable by human power alone. Kai Lenny pioneered a technique now called "pumping" in which the rider shifts their weight over the axis of rotation, driving the foil through the water column which generates lift.
| Men's Windsurfer Women's Windsurfer | IQFoil |
| Men's and Women's Kite | Formula Kite |
| Mixed Two Person Multihull | Nacra 17 |
On July 19, 2024, 65 year old Bryan Holland circumnavigated Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire via eFoil. Holland’s course visited the five ports of the as part of an Annual Rafting for Wishes Make-A-Wish fundraising event. Holland’s route was Weirs Beach, Meredith, Center Harbor, Wolfeboro, Alton Bay returning to the start and completing the 60 mile circumnavigation in 4 hours, 50 minutes. Having reserve energies, Holland continued on and finished his epic ride in Meredith clocking a total 68.87 miles in 5 hours, 15 minutes. During the ride, Holland was accompanied by a support boat and swapped five different batteries.
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