I use to be so scared of the foil. The first time I foiled behind the boat I was able to get up on the first try. Learning to balance the foil was easy. However, the first time I tried to pull into the boat wave the foil bucked out and flipped up. Seemed like the foil had a mind of its own. This left me scared, because the reaction of the foil was unpredictable and it seemed like I would never be able to control it.
It took about 8 sessions behind the boat to feel more comfortable with how the foil acts in the water and on the wave. Here are a few tips that helped me finally surf the wave without a rope and get a better feel for the foil.
IMPORTANT WARNING | NEVER FIGHT THE FOIL
IF IT WANTS TO POP UP. JUST LET IT AND BAIL OFF THE BOARD. THIS WILL HELP YOU AVOID BEING STRUCK BY THE FOIL!
Step 1.) Getting Comfortable On The Foil
Spend some time in the glassy water outside the boat wake playing with your foot position and learning how to balance the foil as close to the water surface as possible. Front foot pressure will lower the foil and back foot pressure will raise the foil out of the water. If the foil breaches the water surface, it will slam the board back into the water. If you hear a gurgle sound coming from the foil this means the foil is about to breach the surface. Apply front foot pressure to avoid the board slamming.
Something that helped me feel like I had a little more control with how the foil reacted is playing with my foot position. I am using a little wider of a stance that I would normally use while I surf. This is helping me gain more control of how the foil reacts in different water current and flow. Learning to shift my weight with the water is also helping. For example when I pull into a wave I apply a massive amount of pressure on my front foot to keep the foil in the water.
Step 2.) Pulling Into The Wave
Once you are comfortable balancing on the foil it is time to pull into the wave! You will be surprised at the amount of energy the foil generates even on the smallest waves. An easy way to pull into the wave, is to cut to the outside of the wake zone as soon as you are up on the board. From the outside of the boat wake slowly swing into the wave applying front foot pressure until you adjust to how much lift the foil will generate from the wave.
If you are pulling into the wave from behind you will need to put a massive amount of foot pressure on the front foot while you pull over the top of the wave. If you try and pull over the wave without massive front foot pressure. The energy will throw the foil into the air!
I have been having so much fun surfing the 2nd wave back. I have even been able to transfer from on side of the boat wave to the other. It is my goal to be able to fly across from one wave to another super easy. I am slowly working on getting my pumping skill down and want to SUP flat water and some downwind races next year!!!
Stay loyal to the foil and I will see you on the water!!!
As a global crew of Land Locked Surfers, one of our goals is to build an archive of Community Leaders passionate about helping others discover the stoke of surfing outside of the ocean. This will help accomplish our vision of having an accessible point person for each surf community, location, and discipline. For example, if you live the United States, especially in the Georgia region, and you are trying to get into inland surfing then Ashley Harel is our recommended resource for you. Her inland surfing network runs deep in Georgia and she is passionate about sharing with others the stoke she finds out on the water!
For questions about surfing in Georgia it’s best to contact Ashley through her Instagram: @ashleytheskateboardingnurse
Let’s get to know Ashley, your Georgia surf connection!
Q: Give us some background, who is Ashley Harel?
Ashley: I am 28 years old and currently living in Atlanta GA. I was born in Connecticut, and grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. I received my nursing degree in Charleston, SC in 2012 then moved to Atlanta a month later. I grew up skateboarding, snowboarding, playing Basketball, and many other sports. I just love trying new things and pushing my own limits. I have always had a love and pull towards the water, so when I discovered I could surf other places besides the ocean I was so excited.
Q: How and when did you get into Surfing in Georgia?
Ashley: In 2015 my good friend introduced me to Thursday Surf Nights with Jenny and Perry from Pull Water Sports. I went out with them that summer about 9 times then entered my first wake surf nationals that year. When I started wake surfing I was instantly addicted. I was so amazed that there was an endless wave! As a skateboarder, once started seeing all the tricks that were possible it made me even more excited to learn everything I could about wake surfing.
Q: Through your eyes describe the surf scene in your area, what are you doing to help it grow?
Ashley: The Surf scene in Atlanta and the surrounding area is booming with a constant flow of new and experienced wake surfers. At multiple lakes including, Allatoona, Lanier, sinclair, and more! People are out on the water every week all year long. We have many people to surf with on each lake. Two big surf nights we have are with Danny B, from Allatoona Adventures, near little river marina on Lake Allatoona, and Thursday Surf nights with Jenny and Perry from Pull Water sports on Lake Lanier. They both offer board demos, and Perry offers Tige boat demos. Jordan (@wolfe.jordan) and Taylor wolfe (@taylor_wolf3) also offer lessons as pro riders in wake surfing. They are located on Lake Sinclair and can be contacted through instagram as well as email and by phone. I, myself, offer lessons on the south end of Lake Allatoona at Holiday Harbor Marina. Lessons and introducing new people to the sport is how I am helping the surf scene grow in the greater Atlanta area. In the last two years I have introduced over 50 people to wake surfing.
Q: In Georgia, what are few types of inland surfing riders are taking advantage of, which is your favorite, and why?
Ashley:
Wake Surfing – This is by far my favorite because I feel it is most closely related to ocean surfing.
Flo-rider
Stand-up paddle boarding
Q: As a Locked Surfing Community Leader, what are your areas of expertise new riders should ask you about?
Ashley: If you need a place to surf, rent/buy gear, get lessons, set up your boat or just have questions about a specific trick, Im your girl!
Q: What drives you to get better everyday?
Ashley: Surfing is so much fun and a very safe sport. The feeling of cruising on your board over the water and landing new tricks is like no other. Its a rush of excitement, accomplishment, and happiness all at once. It’s addicting because there is always something new you can learn. What drives me to surf better everyday is pure excitement and fun!
Q: What are your surfing/life goals for this year?
Ashley: My surfing goals for this upcoming season are to learn as many tricks as I can and maybe even invent some new ones. I’d love to compete well in the outlaw division and also establish more relationships with all my fellow wake surfers ! My life goals are to keep being a good nurse, wife, friend, and person. I want to spread surfing, skating, and all things that I am passionate about to others, so they can feel the joy of these amazing sports as well.
Q: In your world of surfing, who do you look up to most and why?
Ashley: This is always a hard question because there are so many great surfers and people out there. The two people that inspire me the most are John Ackerman and Jodi Grassman. They are both great surfers that are constantly pushing the limits of the sport, but the most inspiring thing about them is that they are humble and kind. I love both of their outgoing spirits and their love for board sports.
Q: Outside of land locked surfing what are your other passions?
Ashley: Oh man this is a loaded question for me lol. I have so many passions and many of them came before wake surfing. My biggest passion besides surfing is skateboarding. I have been skateboarding since I was 9 years old and its given me a little head start with wake surfing. I also enjoy snowboarding, ocean surfing, dirt biking, irish hurling, basketball, climbing, parkour, running, videography, photography, traveling, playing music, and art. Overall, I just enjoy trying new things, and exploring the world. I love being outside in the sun and trying anything that looks fun!
Q: What is something funny very few people may know about you?
Ashley: Okay I am going to be completely honest with this question, and see how many people still want to be my friend after sharing this stuff,haha, so hear goes: I love to make animals noises and impressions. The Chicken is probably my best one, but I have many more. I am really really good at running on all fours. I enjoy eating raw garlic, especially when I feel bad haha. Basically I am really goofy and dorky. I enjoy reading medical books in my free time and researching things about health.
As a global crew of Land Locked Surfers, one of our goals is to build an archive of Community Leaders passionate about helping others discover the stoke of surfing outside of the ocean. This will help accomplish our vision of having an accessible point person for each surf community, location, and discipline. For example if you live the United States, specially in the Carolina’s region, and you are trying to get into Wake Surfing then Colleen Cain is our recommended resource for you. She is incredibly passionate about networking sharing with others the stoke she finds out on the water.
For questions about Wake Surfing in the Carolina’s, it’s best to contact Colleen through her Instagram: @wksurfgrl11
Let’s get to know Colleen, your Carolina wake surf connection!
Q: Give us some background, who is Colleen Cain?
Cain: I’m 35 years old from Greenville, SC. I was born in Middletown, NY, and moved to New Smyrna Beach,FL, where I grew up. Living on the beach for close to 20 years gave me a great appreciate for the ocean and all of it’s entity. I believe my love for the water comes from being a Pisces. From less than a year old you could find me in my parents pool “wall walking” the pool’s perimeter until I finally found my “fins.”
Q: How and when did you get into Wake Surfing in the Carolina’s?
Cain: Upon graduating from Daytona State College in the summer of 2007, I decided to follow my parents as they moved to Greenville, SC. Since I was so used to being around water, I felt somewhat lost when I found out I was living in a portion of the state that is landlocked. The closest beach is Myrtle, which is five hours away! I began researching lakes that were in close proximity. It wasn’t long before I purchased my 1st watercraft, a brand new 2010 Sea Doo Wake 215. While I had a means of cruising the water, something was still missing. I still remember going on YouTube one day and a video of Ashley Kidd wakesurfing popped up. This was my first encounter with wakesurfing. I knew this was my calling. I did my research and in 2012, I traded my Sea Doo in for a 2008 Centurion Enzo SV230. It was love at first surf!
Q: Through your eyes describe the surf Scene in your area, what are you doing to help it grow?
Cain: When I first started surfing on Lake Hartwell, in Clemson, SC, the sport was pretty unheard of. There was maybe a handful of us out there. It was always fun to watch boats go by and watch them stare in disbelief as they tried to figure out what I was doing. Some would even stop to ask. As you know social media is an extremely powerful tool to get the word out, so I started posting photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram and eventually my audience took shape. I started receiving word of demos in my area which helped secure my first board sponsor. I signed up for my first contest in 2014, the Ambush G Series Wakesurf contest. I won the amateur women’s division. I rode for Lakewakes Wakesurf boards for 3 years. I started competing in SC INT contests. Through our local INT League I met a Centurion boats dealer, Strickland Marine, who was beginning to offer Thursday surf nights. I would go out every Thursday after work and not only surf but helped teach new riders how to surf. It was such a great feeling to be able to share something I am so passionate about.
Q: What drives you to get better everyday and move up the ranks?
Cain: I suppose it helps that I am very self motivated and goal oriented. I was taught by my parents to always push my limits and never give up. My perfectionist qualities also help me achieve the goals I set for myself.
Q: What Are your goals as a wake surfer for 2017?
Cain: Honesty my biggest goal and always has been, is to have fun! I’d definitely like to add more tricks to my list. I’m a huge advocate in Pass the Handle, which allows us to get people out behind our boats for free to experience what we may take for granted everyday. A goal of mine is always to progress the sport of wakesurfing in anyway possible. I am fortunate enough that my sponsor, Charlotte Mastercraft Center, shares in my same goals and is always looking to get more people involved in the sport. It is because of their stoke and satisfaction
Q: In the world of wake surfing who do you look up to most and why?
Cain: That’s a tough one. There are so many amazing wakesurfers out there. Even though I’m a surf style rider, Jodi Grassman is a great example of a pro wakesurfer that embodies the same beliefs I do. Not only is she the three time World champion women’s pro skim rider. She was also rider of the year and won best trick for the 2016 season. Jodi is an aggressive rider that is very goal driven. Much like myself, she wants to see the sport of wakesurfing progress. Jodi’s attitude towards the sport and towards other riders is much like mine. We want to have fun and see others having fun too. We train hard and take competition very seriously, but at the end of the day if you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong. Jodi is also very caring and supportive. Unfortunately some pro riders come across to me as celebrities that cannot be bothered by the ordinary wakesurfer. Jodi is very approachable and eager to answers that amateur surfers may have.
Q: As a Land Locked Surfing Community Leader, what are your areas of expertise new riders should ask you about?
Cain: I love teaching new riders and even those who have ridden before and are looking to enter into the competitive sport. I have a keen eye for coaching wakesurfing and can give you the tips you need to land some of those frustrating tricks. I’ve also gotten pretty good at dialing in waves on different boats according to what type of wave you prefer.
Q: Outside of Wake surfing what are your other passions?
Cain: The water will always be my #1 passion. Besides wakesurfing, I love strength training, which helps tremendously with my surfing. I also have a HUGE love for animals though. I have four dogs, a Blue Heeler, a Yorkie, a Chihuahua, and a Boston Terrier. Growing up on Florida I went to Sea World a lot. For as long as I can remember, I would tell people and teachers that I wanted to be Shamu’s trainer when I grew up. My love for marine mammals has stayed with me to this day. I am also a gold level ambassador for Sheshreds.co which is a brand that focuses on females in action sports. The crew is comprised of rad ladies that are killing it everyday in their sport but are also the most fearless and supportive group of females who always have each other’s backs.
Q: What is something funny very few people may know about you?
Cain: I’ve become known more and more for my crazy wakesurf dismounts. I try to always have a new photo to post for wipeout Wednesdays. I recently compiled a video edit of some of my most epic falls.
Closing Thoughts: I am always searching for my next wave. I love meeting new people and sharing my passion for wakesurfing with them. I am not one to sit quietly on a boat. I like to offer whatever help or pointers I can to the rider in tow. I also have an affinity for teaching children as I am a dental hygienist in a pediatric office. Children tend to take to sports and progress rather quickly, so it’s always fun watching them from one season to the next land new tricks
Questions about Wake Surfing in the Carolina’s? Best to contact Colleen through her Instagram: @wksurfgrl11
