Windfoiling (or foil windsurfing) is a
surface water sport that is the hydrofoiling evolution of
windsurfing
Windsurfing is a wind propelled water sport that is a combination of sailing and surfing. It is also referred to as "sailboarding" and "boardsailing", and emerged in the late 1960s from the aerospace and surf culture of California. Windsurfing ga ...
, as well as typical sailing boats and
sailing hydrofoil
A sailing hydrofoil, hydrofoil sailboat, or hydrosail is a sailboat with wing-like foils mounted under the hull. As the craft increases its speed the hydrofoils lift the hull up and out of the water, greatly reducing wetted area, resulting in de ...
s. It uses similar equipment to windsurfing with a normal or slightly evolved rig on a normal or specialist foil board. Windfoiling allows the individual to zoom 90 cm above the water on a hydrofoil.
Mechanics
The board has a hydrofoil mounted in the fin box. The hydrofoil lifts the board off the water and enables the rider to achieve improved speeds in light winds due to the reduced drag.
The foil transmits a hydrodynamic lift force to the board, capable of lifting it out of the water. The goal is to reduce drag and increase performance.
Olympic event debut
With respect to Olympic events, just as kiting then in 2012, windsurfing now is. As an advanced form of windsurfing, windfoiling is planned as a new Olympic event for 2024 (the fourth of 10 to use foiling equipment).
It is being tested for safety, security, and broadcast appeal to be debuted just in time for
2024 Summer Olympics
The 2024 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 2024), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la XXXIIIe Olympiade, links=no) and also known as Paris 2024, is an upcoming international multi-sport event that is s ...
in
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
or
Teahupo'o
Teahupoo () is a village on the southwestern coast of the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, in the southern Pacific Ocean.
It is known for the surf break and heavy, glassy waves offshore, often reaching , and sometimes up to . It is the site of ...
. They will be using the Starboard
IQFoil
iQFoil is a windsurfing class selected by World Sailing to replace the RS:X for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The discipline has similarities to Formula Windsurfing, however a notable difference is that sailors only use one sail. The sail size is 9m ...
gear.
Events involving windfoiling
See also
*
Land windsurfing
Land windsurfing, also known as “Terrasailing”, “street sailing”, “land sailing” and “dirt windsurfing”, is a sport similar to traditional windsurfing that is performed on land rather than water. A four wheeled deck, similar to ...
— on large skateboard, propelled by sail
*
Hydrofoil board
A foilboard or hydrofoil board is a surfboard with a hydrofoil that extends below the board into the water. This design causes the board to leave the surface of the water at various speeds.
Background
Laird Hamilton, a prominent figure in the i ...
— surfboard with a hydrofoil
*
Wing foiling
Wing foiling or wing surfing or winging is a wind propelled water sport that developed from kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing. The sailor, standing on a board, holds directly onto a wing. It generates both upward force and sideways propulsio ...
- a lightweight wing on a surfboard with a hydrofoil
References
{{Reflist
Windsurfing
Dinghies
Hydrofoil catamarans
Keelboats