Foil. Face plant. Flow.

I got up five o’clock this Friday morning. High winds from East, south of Norway, Bredalsholmen. The rain is poring down. My 5.0 and Goya 81 liters wave board is smooth. 2,5 hours on the water with my lifelong sailing buddy Stian. We got home, rested a few hours and then went out with 7.0 foil. It is early June and the sun is warm. We ended the day with ice cream, pizza and a couple of beers. Went to sleep. The day after we went to the southernmost tip of Norway, Lista, Haviksanden. Great place. More foiling and blisters. Had lunch and then back to Flekkerøy, Kristiansand. High winds and 4.0 foil.

My first foil

I tried once last year, but couldn’t quite figure it out. I sailed as it was windsurfing. That doesn’t work.

But this time I got it. “Make sure to control your foil by finding the right angle of your mast”, Stian advised. It worked. Nice feeling.

I was mostly concerned about the seven blisters. Only one layer of skin left. But I had forgot that they only ache on land. The skin gets soft on water so as long as there is skin left, it is no problem. Hm, too much office work the last 20 years. Many things I have forgotten.

Lista

Lista is by far one of the best windsurfing spots in Norway. Jæren is great but Lista has some 180 high wind days during the year. As you turn left from the highway to Stavanger you reach Farsund and then the asbest built houses from the 1960s, through Vanse and the sign to Lista lighthouse. The cows here must the only one who understands Danish and the density of the American flag is the highest in Norway.

Before we go out we pass by a good friend of mine for a coffee. He lives just by the sea with his wife and two boys. The windsurfing gear is on the lawn outside the house. A dozen surfboards in the garage. We went to school in Gran Canaria in 1991-1992, worked together in Maui and competed in world-cup. His garage contains as many surfboards as cross country skis in the garages where I live in Oslo.

Flow

We go to Havika. A little more choppy than calm Hamresanden. Havika is not always the favourite regarding surf and windsurf conditions, but it is a beautiful beach. Parking by the beach. Camping not allowed, but we are not camping. I have borrowed a 85 cm foil. Neil Pryde beginner. This foil is easier to control than the first I tried. Rather than tilting it spins out, like a windsurfing fin. I really don’t want to go through my racing sail.

5-6 m/s and 7.0 is works well. A couple of hours later we return to Kristiansand and the high winds at Flekkerøya.

4.0 foiling

The blisters in my hands have grown in size, depth and numbers. I doubt I will get out. High winds is not tempting. Kristiansand windsurfing club is a nice place. Stairs out in the water and a grass carpet on the dock. Lot’s of nice people. My friend recommends 4.0. Hm, I have never had a 127 liter board and 4.0. Sounds strange.

But blisters and equipment are cooperative. This time I get one step closer. I have stable runs with no chops reaching my board up there. It is a cool feeling.

Is foil expensive?

Well, yes it is. The cheapest one starts at 900 USD and a good one around 2,000. The boards around 2,500. But foiling allows you to go out in light wind, so for enthusiasts, it worth it. Buying new equipment is really not necessary. A two year old board and foil costs half the price of new ones.

So, have I fallen in love with foiling? I didn’t expect it to top windsurfing, but that is not the point. “It’s just another branch of windsurfing”, my friend says. He is right. It is a good feeling to quietly glide effortlessly half a meter above water.