by Clay Schmitz | Aug 1, 2017 | adventures, foil, surf videos, videos
The past week I tried downwind foiling in the San Francisco Bay with wind in the teens. Not enough wind for me to get the foil to lift. Yet I had the thought that if only I had just a little boost, enough to get the foil to lift and then with less drag I could ride those little bumps.
I got off my board and tried pushing the board into the little waves with my hand and after about 5 feet the foil was flying! It took very little energy to lift. I was like wow there has to be some simple way to get a little extra juice and launch us into these waves?!?
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by Clay Schmitz | Aug 1, 2017 | adventures, foil, surf videos, videos
I have found that folks who are willing to try new types of surfing are very welcoming and I enjoy being with them. Foil surfing has demonstrated to me again that those who see value in the weird or different seem to see value and good in everyone. For me Sitting in a crowded lineup feels similar to being in a office for 12 hours a day, I feel trapped and want to burst out running into the forest. With SUP and foil people, doing our own thing and welcoming everyone to join us, I feel welcome and at home.
On my twelfth day of learning to foil surf it all came together. I caught a wave, lifted up on the foil and flew down the line, opened my eyes to a new world of flying…
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by Clay Schmitz | May 16, 2017 | adventures, foil, surf videos, videos
Seeing this video has me super stoked to keep practicing and learn how to foil SUP surf. Fortunately we had already booked a foil practice session on the Barbary Ghost.
Such a good time, I am really enjoying community on a boat. After Saturday’s outing I am asking how can we get together like this everyday and have the good vibes continue all day and into the night? After these group surf sessions I find myself reluctant to go surfing alone. I suspect this is what a day is like for hunter gatherers or ancient Polynesians…
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by Clay Schmitz | May 5, 2017 | adventures, foil, surf videos, videos
The past few weeks I have been obsessed with the foil! So unique, so different, and the potential of opening up a whole new era of surf possibilities is blowing my mind.
Monterrey bay has a lot of kelp beds and I was concerned there was nowhere I could foil without getting it all tangled up in kelp. So this was a test to see if this surf spot was free of kelp and deep enough so the Gofoil wouldn’t hit the bottom…
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by Clay Schmitz | Apr 26, 2017 | adventures, foil, surf videos, videos
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…
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by Clay Schmitz | Apr 12, 2017 | adventures, articles, foil, surf videos, videos
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…
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