This past weekend I tried out Hydrofoil surfing for the very first time! (Photo below Marlon Lewis Showing me the ropes at Maliko Gulch Maui!
Hydrofoil Surfing is one of the latest extreme sports to be introduced to the islands of Hawaii. The sport is getting ever increasingly more popular, I have see a lot of hydrofoil surfers out on the water lately!
Friday morning I got the text from @mattandcristina, they were ready to meet Marlon Lewis for some Tow In Hydrofoil action at Maliko Gultch! At first I was a little scared of the whole idea, but I decided to break out of my comfort zone and just go anyway!
When we met up with Marlon, he gave us some instructions about the basics of foil safety, and then we headed out to Maliko Gulch. Our game plan was Marlon would take us to to the small island in the Gultch so we could have the whole bay to ourselves!
We got to Maliko Gulch, Matt helped direct as Marlon backed the Jet Ski down to the ramp past the local fisherman.
Marlon took Cristina and I out to the island first, and then doubled back for Matt and the Foil.
When we got to the island, it was not at all what I was picturing. I was thinking Gilligand’s Island, maybe a Coconut Tree, but it was more like being stranded on a deserted island, glad I brought my water bottle!
Matt and Marlin came speeding around the Bay with the foilboard. Luckily I had my Go-Pro helmet cam on so I could get some video. Our plan was to get some drone video too, but the island was too wet and would not permit electronics. It was going to be Matt’s first time on the Hydrofoil too, Cristina and I watched from the island in anticipation as Matt went on his maiden voyage. Matt started crouched down, and slowly stood up as Marlon pulled him around the bay. He was doing it, and not bad for his first time! As Matt’s hydrofoil launched into the air about a foot we saw him “flying over the water” albeit only for a few seconds, and then he landed briefly before falling off.
After many rounds around the gulch Matt and Marlon were headed back towards the island. Matt must have been tired, when they got close enough I heard him ask me if I wanted to give it a try! I said sure, and clicked record on my Go-Pro helmet and gave it a shot! Marlin towed me out a little ways from the island and I got up on the board and struggled with balancing a little while grabbing the rope and getting familiar with the setup. I decided to concentrate and try my best to balance on that board while dealing with everything else going on.
I could not believe it, I was standing up and getting pulled on my first attempt.
As I stood up Marlon drove the Ski a little faster and I felt the board moving, I got in a good little run before I fell off the back. I got back up on the board, Marlon gave me some pointers about getting up closer to the front of the board, and on my second try I ended up “Shooting for the Moon!” I shot straight up like a rocket to the moon. What seemed like being ten feet up in the air I remembered the safety lessons and kicked the board out and everything was all good. I sure was getting a workout, I was sweating out there, starting to get out of breath a bit! Finally I got back on the board and tried it again. I slowly stood up, each time getting a little bit better, and this time I was actually making some distance. I was able to go up a foot and push up on the front of the board to get it back down.
At this point I was dead tired and could barely get up on the board anymore, so we decided to call it a day and head back in. When we got to the shore I could feel all these new muscles throbbing. I was real sore, but it was a good sore. I also had a small scratch on my leg that I had not noticed until I got in.
Hydrofoil surfing is an extreme sport, and even though it might not be for everyone, I would recommend anyone who has the chance to give it a try. I am sure glad I did, it was a whole new feeling unlike anything I have ever experienced before, flying free over the water on a Hydrofoil is one of the greatest feelings ever!
Check out the video I made of the trip below:
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