Choosing a Foil – Explaining the differences between brands
In this video series I explain how popular foil brands are designed and built and why it matters. How the hydrofoil wings connect to the fuselage and the mast, whether in components or one single piece, I go over the components and design choices and the pluses and minuses. Several times I was an early adopter of a new foil and learned the expensive way whether the marketing why hype or the real deal. The brands I discuss are F-One, Axis, Armstrong, Slingshot, and Mike's Lab. This knowledge can be applied to any brand of foil. For clarity this isn't a detailed review of a specific foil wing or model (see my Foil Reviews page for detailed reviews). This information helps one know what they are getting so they can determine the true value of a hydrofoil, it's durability and longevity, and what the upgrade options are.
The point of this video series is to give you an overall understanding of why foil designers do what they do. I didn't have a clue when I bought my first foil, it was all a big mystery. Every new brand of foil I purchased had a new learning curve of how the parts fit together, function, and the longevity and durability.
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I grew up hearing the old, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." As a kid I would rather have my dad yell at me or lecture me than to hit me. Now as an adult I almost feel the opposite. In martial arts class we did an exercise where we tried to trigger or neg or name call each other, simulating a bully on the street. I couldn't do it, it was harder to say nasty things to someone than to try and choke them to death or break their leg.
Growing up I believed there were only a few acceptable feelings: happy, rage, and sadness if someone died. Any other feelings, like say anxiety, was a sign I was broken or a "basket case". Also I could only call in sick to school or work if I was bedridden with flu symptoms or injured and couldn't walk. No one ever explained thoughts to me, and I had no concept that I am not my thoughts. Richard Branson said business opportunities are like buses, there will always be another one coming. Thoughts are like this, so we can let one we don't like go and wait for another thought to come along shortly. Or some folks say thoughts stop altogether, and they just be in peace and bliss. I have experienced this for about half a day and it was magical, one of the most incredible afternoon into evenings I have ever experienced. Colors and textures and all of San Francisco were beautiful and incredible, so enjoyable and peaceful and amazing.
I have found that relationship tools work, they are helpful and improve my relationships. Like a good shovel it just works, you might get tired of digging ditches and want to quit, but the shovel still works regardless. I say this because in one of my relationships I had the tools to understand our dynamic and I was unwilling to put up with the dysfunction. For me first and foremost I need to be treated with kindness and respect, if this doesn't happen I will leave the relationship. So the tools work, even if the relationship does not. This is not a save the relationship at all costs course. Or said another way I must first be kind and loving to myself, I must have something before I can give it to another. I found myself in a toxic and dysfunctional relationship where I was willing to do the healing work and my partner was not. So I ended the relationship and now I am with the love of my life, the woman of my dreams, we are doing the healing growth work and our relationship is amazing. 
