Practice – another step forward in learning to fly a SUP Go Foil by being towed behind a boat, the Barbary Ghost.
It’s been a while since I have been pulled behind a boat, I forgot how much fun the group camaraderie is.
One of the reasons I am documenting my learn to foil experience is to give a realistic account of progressing. The pros make it look so easy, as do the experienced kite foilers. Seeing some of the video of myself I feel a bit embarrassed, it is humbling to be a beginner again and struggle to grasp the basics. At the same time I remember how hard it was to learn to downwind SUP surf, SUP surfing before that, and prone surfing way before that…
Once upon a time surfing was a group activity where everyone knew each other, everyone was welcome, and every wave was a party wave. After surfing there was a beach fire party and a seafood feast with live music and dancing. Today it is likely that complete strangers sit next to each other and the only words spoken are to tell each other to get off their wave. Also beach fires are often illegal or limited, the fish are often polluted, and few people know how to play music and forgot how to dance.
Foil surfing can change this by allowing us to ride the swells in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, and more…
One dark cold early morning my cousin took me to surf Fort Point. First time I had been and it was bigger than I was comfortable with, I was feeling scared and anxious. My cousin jumped off the rocks and breezed out like it was effortless. I watched for a bit and then scrambled down the rocks slipping and banging my knee on a sharp rock, I sort of crawled into the water and then flailingly paddled as hard as I could to get outside before I got smashed by a set.
I made it out and then watched in a panic at how close the take off spot was from the huge sharp rocks…
First attempt to fly the Gofoil Maliko downwind SUP foil in the San Francisco Bay here in Alameda.
With the foil sticking out of the bottom of the board and the camera pole sticking off the top it was a bit of a challenge to get it in and out of the water. Pretty comical actually, and then at the end of the run the water is only a couple feet deep over thick mud. To get back to land I took the camera pole off, turned the board upside down, and prone paddled to the beach. The fisherman didn’t quite no what to make of me or what I was doing.
Trying for a wave I felt the board accelerate and release, or maybe even fly? Good thing I have the video to watch and see what was going on, as when in the water I couldn’t tell if the board was flying or not…
Stoked to present the recut version of A Surf Tale! I trimmed and cut the scenes that didn't work, and remastered the video for HD. Below are three versions:
1- The first is the recut with directors commentary;
2- The second is the recut with the original sound and music score;
3- The third is the is the recut with the original score and the addition of narration.
Here is a preview of the recut with director's commentary:
Below are the three versions of this film.
Length of each is – 26:49
I hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed reliving this adventure...
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This foil surfing project has been 10 months in the making for me, and it really got going yesterday. First time ever riding a foil or having any experience with a tuttle box. Big learning curve for me.
I felt anxious as soon as I decided this day was the day to try it. I had no baseline to even guess what I was in for. Paddling out and going for a wave was a rush, and I never thought I would be terrified in knee high gutless mushy waves.
Looking forward to trying DW foiling here in the San Francisco Bay. I suspect this will open up a whole new area of wave riding. Thousands of wind waves go unridden and the bay is often empty of any wave riders. Foiling could change this,literally creating surf spots overnight where they have never been before…
I remember going on a easy hike with my former in-laws and being embarrassed that I had trouble finishing. My knees, hips, and back were aching, I was wearing thick rigid hiking boots with a lot of arch support and raised heels. That was about a decade ago and in a way the final straw of buying footwear with ever increasing cushioning, support, rigidity, and even orthotic inserts. Going barefoot eliminated my pain, restored health and strength to my feet, and opened me up to a new way of seeing the world.
Divorce kicked my ass, a brutal wipeout. Then with the help of a very wise adviser I learned how to get back up, take care of myself, and see my divorce as one of the best things to ever happen for me.
In this episode I share these tools and how I use them…
Practice – another step forward in learning to fly a SUP Go Foil by being towed behind a boat, the Barbary Ghost.
Once upon a time surfing was a group activity where everyone knew each other, everyone was welcome, and every wave was a party wave. After surfing there was a beach fire party and a seafood feast with live music and dancing. Today it is likely that complete strangers sit next to each other and the only words spoken are to tell each other to get off their wave. Also 
One dark cold early morning my cousin took me to surf Fort Point. First time I had been and it was bigger than I was comfortable with, I was feeling scared and anxious. My cousin jumped off the rocks and breezed out like it was effortless. I watched for a bit and then scrambled down the rocks slipping and banging my knee on a sharp rock, I sort of crawled into the water and then flailingly paddled as hard as I could to get outside before I got smashed by a set.
First attempt to fly the Gofoil Maliko downwind SUP foil in the San Francisco Bay here in Alameda.
Wow! I so enjoyed
Stoked to present the recut version of 
This foil surfing project has been 10 months in the making for me, and it really got going yesterday. First time ever riding a foil or having any experience with a tuttle box. Big learning curve for me.
In the second of these three sessions I was expecting small leftover 
