The sit-down hydrofoil, first developed in the late 1980s, is a variation on water skiing, a popular water sport. When towed at speed, by a powerful boat or some other device, the board of the hydrofoil 'flies' above the water surface and generally avoids contact with it, so the ride is largely unaffected by the wake or chop of the water and is relatively smooth. The air board is a modified hydrofoil where the skier stands up. Hydrofoils date back the early 1900s, however they were not part of a recreational sport. While the first hydrofoil boat was created in 1906 by Italian inventor Enrico Forlanini,[1] the first waterski hydrofoil was invented in the early 1960s by Walter Woodward, an aeronautical engineer, with two skis attached to a bi-wing hydrofoil.[2] In 1972, Mike Murphy and Bob Holst added a bi-wing hydrofoil to a surfing kneeboard, then reduced the bi-wing to a single wing.[2] Murphy and Bob Woolley then applied the concept to sit-down hydrofoil, with Woolley riding the first "Sit Ski" in 1984.
[2] After various material changes, including the addition of a seat belt to keep rider and ride together and prevent separation collisions, they sold their first "Air Chair" in 1990.[2] Advancements in materials and hydrofoil design have created stronger rigs, gentler rides (shock absorbers in the seat), more maneuverability, and boards that combine sit-down and stand-up (air board) for surfing. Sit-down hydrofoil rider performing a jump Unlike water skiing or wakeboarding, a hydrofoiler's body and the board rise above the water, supported by a pair of front and rear hydrofoil wings which are still under the water. This reduces the drag of the water, allowing for both a smoother ride on rough water and a lesser need for strength. The rider sits on the seat of the hydrofoil and is strapped in with a seat belt; their feet are strapped into bindings near the front of the board. When the rider is ready the boat will start to tow the skier. The water flowing past the hydrofoil wings generates lift, which can be controlled by the rider to move the board up and down or side to side above the surface of the water.
The rider must be centered over the post of the hydrofoil; small body movements will cause great reactions with the hydrofoil. In order to "float" upward the rider leans back while maintaining balance to avoid pitching forward unexpectedly. To go back down the rider leans forward or pushes down with the feet. Turning is accomplished by pointing the knees in the direction desired; the hydrofoil will follow. To jump, the rider leans even farther back. This will give the rider a somewhat stable base to perform aerial tricks for example. Submerged hazards such as trees can be struck by the hydrofoil as low as 3 feet below the surface of the water, causing the rider to fall without warning. Such a fall can be the same as colliding with an object, with the rider impacting the water or the foil. The tow rope can get tangled around the skier or equipment, creating a hazardous condition. After a fall the skier remains strapped to the board; while it will turn upright quickly, there is always the possibility of drowning.
^ a b c d e Check out the all new Visit Our Friends atZup & Air Chair Introducing the ZUP board. This isn’t just a new watersport, it’s a whole new platform for showing off your creativity. There is no limit to what you can do on the ZUPboard: lay, kneel, stand, surf, ride backwards & anything else you can dreamZUP! This is the most difficult watersport that Lakeview has to offer and requires prior experience on the water. If you are looking for a challenging and unique ride on the water, ask us about the Air Chair during you reservation. the coolest toys that can only be found at lakeview marina ZUP.™ is a fresh easy way to have fun with all of your family & friends. What can you do? lay, kneel, stand, surf, rest, ride backwards, be creative! With your buoyant, durable molded board, everyone getZUP.™ Pull it behind any boat or jetski! Enjoy stress-free towing with the integrated tow hook and our new DoubleZUP.™ Tow Handle & Rope Sky Ski is where someone is sitting on a Hydrofoil, and flying above the water on a seat.
Air Chair is a relatively new type of water sport activity and most people don’t even know what it is. This water sport is extremely unique, instead of riding on top of the water like with skiing or wakeboarding, you ride over the water; like your floating in the air. Want to know about the Air Chair? Check out the video. Mike Murphy has been hydrofoiling for more than 50 years, and has been at the forefront of foil design for several decades. Mike was one of the original patent holders for the first sit down hydrofoil, the Air Chair. He later went on to found Sky Ski in 1998. Along the way he has been a driving force in new product development. He has set world records and been crowned a Big Air World Champion. Years of foiling success have lead to his best products ever… How to Hydrofoil Series by Mike Murphy (Click for YouTube Playlist) Mike has been riding and teaching foiling longer than anyone else. Here’s his series of videos taking you through learning to ride, step-by step.
Here’s the intro from Mike…Follow the World of Red Bull Want our latest and greatest? Sign up to stay updated on news, invitations and offers from the World of Red Bull. We’ll send you emails weekly – click here to see an example. See Kai Lenny’s amazing hydrofoil session in Fiji on 6 July 2016 Kai Lenny is one of the world's great multi-board athletes. He's best known for his big wave surfing, but that discredits his storied career as a long-distance stand-up paddle racer, an open-water paddler, a kitesurfer, windsurfer, and now, a hydrofoil surfer without peer. Lenny recently took his talents, and an eclectic selection of boards, to the Fijian island of Namotu. Alongside his quiver Kai also came with a hydrofoil board, the likes of which have previously only been seen under the feet of big wave godfather Laird Hamilton. As you can see in the clip above a hydrofoil is a large winged-keel on the bottom of a board that does much more than the average set of fins.