My First Surf Foiling Experience

My First Surf Foiling Experience

I live on a lake, and lake 
foiling is all I know how to do. I tried to foil surf ocean waves before, but there 
was always a catch: the waves were too small, I didn’t have the right foil, or I simply 
didn’t have the strength to paddle up. An endless, rolling wave that isn’t 
too massive would be the perfect wave for me. But I wasn’t even sure I’d 
have what it takes to handle that. Then, my friend Ryan threw out an invitation: a 
trip to Peru, home of the world’s longest wave. If I was going to take my foiling 
to the next level, this was it. But I had my doubts. waves 
are fast—twice the speed I’m used to—and the size? They’re 
a lot bigger than a boat wake. I’d need some smaller and more agile front wings. And while the waves are bigger than anything 
I’ve experienced, at least we wouldn’t have to paddle up. We’d tow in behind a boat, 
which was something I knew how to do. I got comfortable foiling at 25 mph 
(about 40 km/hr) behind my Jet ski, and then set off to Peru. It took me some time to get used to these 
speeds. A helmet and vest are non-negotiable. And my wetsuit kept me warm as I floated, waiting 
for the boat to tow me up after every wipeout. To give myself more room to maneuver, I rode a 90cm mast—longer than what I was used 
to. The extra height felt strange at first, with the foil further away from my feet. But 
it was necessary because everything happens so fast. That extra distance gave me more 
margin for error, especially when carving. Next, I adjusted my fuselage. Starting with 
a longer one for stability, I switched to a smaller one for more responsiveness, 
and it made all the difference. I liked this 120cm board. It had a wide nose 
that made towing up easier, and at just 16L, it was light and maneuverable—perfect 
for getting the most out of each wave. We surfed for three hours every morning 
and three more in the afternoon. Day by day, we all started 
building the muscle memory to stay on the wave longer and get more out of it. Riding a wave for 5min was out of this 
world, and surprisingly exhausting too. This was a thrill of a lifetime, and sharing 
it with friends made it all the better. You can find all of our favorite 
gear in the description. If you can confidently tow up behind a boat and 
surf a wake, you’re ready for an ocean wave. The biggest challenge wasn’t learning 
how to ride it—it was learning how to foil at higher speeds. But practicing 
on the lake prepared me for the trip. If you’re a foiler, and haven’t yet 
surfed an ocean wave, get yourself ready, get a group of friends together, and 
experience the feeling of flying down a wave. If you’ve never foiler before, 
the journey can begin on a lake, and build up to an experience like this. Weeks later, I’m still waking 
up in the middle of the night, replaying the feeling of flying down these waves.

https://www.wakethief.com

My Gear for Chicama 2025:
https://tinyurl.com/37yh626k

Weight: 190lb / 86kg
Board: Slingshot Hopecraft 120cm / 16L
Mast: AXIS UHM 90cm
Wings: AXIS ARTv2 879 (large day), Spitfire 840 (medium day), Spitfire 900 (small day)
Tail: AXIS 360/45 Skinny
Fuselage: AXIS Advanced+ Ultrashort

Harry’s gear:
Weight: 168lb / 76kg
Board: Armstrong 4’5” / 34L
Mast: Lift 32”
Wing: Lift 90HA
Tail: Lift 25 Glide

Ryan’s gear:
Weight: 218lb / 99lb
Board: DIY. Chicama-Rocka 4’4” / 14L
Mast: AXIS UHM 80cm
Wings: AXIS ARTv2 879 (large day), Fireball 1000 (medium day), ARTv2 999 (small day)
Tail: AXIS 365/55 Skinny (large), 360/50 skinny (medium), 300 progressive (small)
Fuselage: AXIS Short 70cm (large, medium), Crazy Short 60cm (small)

John’s gear:
Weight: (169lb / 77kg)
Board: Armstrong WKT 122cm / 9.5L
Mast: Armstrong A+ Performance 86.5cm
Wings: Armstrong HA 680 (wish he went 580)
Tails: Armstrong Speed 180 stab / no shim
Fuse: Armstrong TC 60cm

Andy’s gear (168lb / 76kg):
Weight:
Board: Armstrong WKT 122cm / 9.5L
Mast: Armstrong A+ Performance 86.5cm
Wings: Armstrong HA 580
Tails: Armstrong Speed 180 stab / 0.5 shim
Fuse: Armstrong TC 60cm

My 10 Favorite Things:

1 | Best Value | Wake Thief Edition ($2,400)
https://tinyurl.com/59u8eydx

2 | Best Budget Wake Foil | Slingshot ($900)
https://tinyurl.com/3d34jevv

3 | Best Performance | Armstrong Performance 1880 / WKT 109 ($4,700)
https://tinyurl.com/2tdy58fh

4 | Best Hybrid | Foil Drive Gen 2 ($8,400)
https://tinyurl.com/42uf42ed

5 | Best Budget Efoil | Waydoo ($4,900)
https://tinyurl.com/6jzwfuv2

6 | Best Performance Efoil | Fliteboard ($15,000)
PRO Carbon – Black

7 | Best Freefoil | Beta Foils ($5,900)
https://tinyurl.com/rx3nrh52

8 | Best Ocean Tow Surfing | Slingshot & AXIS ($5,025)
https://tinyurl.com/37yh626k

9 | Shoes | Vibram V-Alphas | link below includes 15% coupon ($106)
https://www.vibram.com/?src=WakeThief

10 | Wetsuit | O’Neill Hyperfreak ($245)
https://tinyurl.com/4vxsxtkk

Please use the “WAKETHIEF” coupon code & we will send you a hat.

Register for your Free Power Pumper Hat:
https://www.wakethief.com

Merch:
https://wakethief.myspreadshop.com

Donate:
https://www.patreon.com/wakethief

Affiliate Disclosure:
We want to be transparent with our viewers, so we disclose all of our financial interests. We’ve tried 400+ foils and shared our experiences in 100+ videos. Our recommendations are based on our desire to help viewers navigate the buying process, by recommending the best products in each category. Wake Thief has affiliate arrangements with 7 brands (AXIS Foils, Takuma, Fliteboard, Foil Drive, Indiana Foils, Bbtalkin, and Vibram) and three major retailers (MACKiteboarding, REAL Watersports, and Green Hat Kiteboarding). I am also a minority owner of Beta Foils, a foil brand focused on the freefoiling category. When viewers use the links and coupon codes we share in the videos and on this website, we earn a commission from one of these above partners. We believe that our broad and diverse list affiliate partners helps to eliminate bias from our reviews and recommendations because we can earn a commission from the sale of nearly every brand. We thank you for your support of our channel and mission. 

Safety Warning:
This sport is more dangerous than it looks. I’ve cut myself badly. I’ve hit my head. I’ve torn muscles and it’s only a matter of time before my next injury occurs. But I’ve always been attracted to challenging sports that present a risk. I was used to falling and injuries. This sport might not be for you. Familiarize yourself with your local laws. Every place has different rules. Know them. Inspect your equipment before use for damage or loose connections. The most common injuries are cuts from the foil or falling onto the foil, dock or other objects near the shore, so always wear protective equipment (helmet, CGA life jacket, wetsuit, footwear, etc). I’ve seen gashes from the foil that required stitches. Stay far away from passing boats, kayaks, swimmers or other objects in the water. Stay away from outboard motors. Never ride the first wake. You don’t want to come into contact with the propeller of the boat. If you’re riding an electric foil (efoil) be careful of the prop and keep your body parts away from it. It’s hard to judge water depth, so stay away from shallow water. Avoid slippery surfaces and sharp edges, both in and out of the water. Be prepared for the weather and water conditions. Dress appropriately. If you don’t feel safe, ask for help. Wake Thief (Wake Thief, LLC) will not be held liable for any injuries or deaths. We review products and share our own personal experience on this website, and in our videos. If you rely on the information, you assume responsibility for results.