Laird Hamilton having an armchair ride at Whale bay

This was shot this week, posted by a friend whose front yard overlooks Whale bay. 

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1MIOhg0VNY8&h=4AQExT4BwAQEicGj66ut20K-8Oj9Zl3vZARdEKCwNThmOow&enc=AZPW5yTHvmkhUmTDan1Y_UQWdpJYQS9UUcTcukUlIICmwDoNNYxX_0iwJAg35kaZLxuEIhp9mmApaU5-6Y26fSkc

 

Has anyone ridden on these boards and or made one? 

 

Cheers

 

MrT

 

 

I'm really not enamored with motorized vehicles in the surf.  There are certain qualities that I admire about Laird, but SUP's and tow-in is all he does, I have little interest in either.

Those things look really really specialized - a hydrodynamic metal wing bolted to a board that you are strapped onto and then towed into big waves with. 

I'd much rather paddle out into the quiet of the ocean and catch a few small waves.

Helicopters, multiple jet skis, an armada of photographers, no doubt a small army of support vehicles on the beach.  Nice carbon footprint there, Laird, just so you can score another high profile paycheck…small wonder Patagonia would have nothing to do with sponsoring this guy…

 

I’ve never seen pulled back shots of the hydrofoil in action. I didn’t realize the speed and distance involved in riding that thing.

Looks very cool! I wonder if a guy could get one to work under kite power?

[quote="$1"]

Looks very cool! I wonder if a guy could get one to work under kite power?

[/quote]

Probably.  Once the thing is up and running, it'll ride unbroken swells.  Seems like it'd be a logistical challenge to get all the gear together and going, but once up, it'd probably be a gas.  I'm sure there's a learning curve on the thing - I've seen footage of pro surfers trying and falling again and again.  Rob Machado seemed to catch on pretty quick, 'tho.

The ultimate shoulder riding vehicle, so you can stay 15' ahead of the breaking section of the wave.

Yes, they windsurf them, kite them, and tow-in them.

     

 

Carafino Hydrofoil Kiteboard on Vimeo

http://ristafins.com/foil (now this guy’s the real deal if you’re talking fin/foil tech…)

 

[quote="$1"]

This was shot this week, posted by a friend whose front yard overlooks Whale bay. 

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1MIOhg0VNY8&h=4AQExT4BwAQEicGj66ut20K-8Oj9Zl3vZARdEKCwNThmOow&enc=AZPW5yTHvmkhUmTDan1Y_UQWdpJYQS9UUcTcukUlIICmwDoNNYxX_0iwJAg35kaZLxuEIhp9mmApaU5-6Y26fSkc

 

Has anyone ridden on these boards and or made one? 

 

Cheers

 

MrT

 

 

[/quote]

 

 

talk about it and it heck on the legs holding the thing in the sweet groove,

and why dosen't Terry Chung

get some  fame & fortune?

probaldy don't want it though

[quote="$1"]

talk about it and it heck on the legs holding the thing in the sweet groove,

and why dosen't Terry Chung get some fame & fortune?

[/quote]

I'm not surprised - Laird trains like a freakin' pro football player.  Like I said, I may not be a fan of motorized vehicles in the lineup, but there's some things about the guy I gotta admire.  Cojones to spare, too.

BTW, nice quiver.

[quote="$1"]

The ultimate shoulder riding vehicle, so you can stay 15' ahead of the breaking section of the wave.

[/quote]

That seems to be the only place the foils work----out on the shoulder, I dont know if it would work at a beach break because the shoulder is too small and often non-existant. Im thinking they will only ever be seen in bigger waves. Though it is fascinating to watch Laird fly around on them.

 I wonder if there is enough energy available to ride a foil on the *back* of a breaking wave?