In 2019 I bought a hydrofoil as a pre-fatherhood present, assuming when Kora was born my world would shrink, and with the beach two streets away riding waves differently would wash off the nappy changes and sleepless nights.
I’d come from a few years of downwind SUP paddling where I’d be out to sea riding wind generated bumps on a 14 foot board, at the time the most freeing and authentic way I’d found to ride the ocean after switching between surf crafts for the past 20 years. Flying on a hydrofoil seemed the natural progression thinking ‘it can’t be that hard’.
I spent the next two years drifting along the same coastlines struggling to get the 6 foot board off the water and the foil engaged and nothing but falling, bouncing between red faced anger and tears until that blessed moment when it clicked and the ocean didn’t seem so large anymore. The stoke of flying free and linking waves for 15 kilometres was real, and even as technology improved and the scene exploded I was content doing what I knew, just me and the sea.
One of the technologies to evolve was called a ‘Foil Drive’; a battery powered propeller that provided extra paddle speed to engage the foil. Created by two Adelaide locals; Paul, and Ben. At times I’d see a Foil Drive in the water and think it was pretty cool, a bit clunky but seemed to work, never thought of using one after the past two years learning and in my arrogance told myself I didn’t need it.
A few months ago the Foil Drive team (now some 20 employees strong) showed me the soon to be released ‘Gen2 Foil Drive’ and my jaw dropped. So sleek and elegant, with more than enough power to do this weird but wonderful sport.
I spent the next three months following with cameras blazing; quick interviews before they raced into the water, bobbing around in 20 knot oceans dodging foils, and wondering how far I could push the drone battery and still bring it home.
Gen2 launched with this suite of ads to fanfare and immediate sales worldwide, proving that with every challenge means there’s an opportunity waiting to be invented.
Well done team; inventors, developers, riders, filmers, a mismatched bunch come together as dreamy as the 1998 USA Olympic basketball team.