Welcome at Foiling Magazine February 2023 Issue

As I was having a proof of one of the early drafts of this edition of the magazine (amidst, I might add, my first bout of Coronavirus, plus talk of potential alien spacecraft in the news – it was a weird time to say the least) it occurred to me that a number of the many features within this issue involve islands, or at least the channels that surround them, or the surf that impacts them. I was particularly drawn to Ludo Dulou’s description of his experience in the Tuamotus island chain, seen to the right left – riding the tidal bore that springs up between each land mass. At the same location he was able to foil in the surf, and get out on the wing too.
It got me thinking a little deeper about islands (through self-imposed isolation, I had plenty of time to do this) as popular locations to go foil. It’s really no surprise that surf foiling, in its contemporary form, was born in the Hawaiian island chain. To a large extent, yes, this is because the place already had a huge water sport or water man/woman heritage, and it’s that playful interaction between humans and their water-optimized toys that arguably gave rise to the sport in the first place. But zoom out further than that for the broader view, and to why those islands have become such hotbeds for water sport innovation and technical progress generally, let alone a proving ground for contemporary riders and gear – and the answer (one we can all relate to if we’ve visited such places) is a given: it’s down to the quality and commonality of absolutely prime conditions that often occur amongst islands.
Islands – especially the smaller archipelagos – hold a huge amount of potential and promise when it comes to foiling. With 360 degree coastlines exposed to all manner of wind and swell conditions, deep channels with complex tidal interactions, and often steep offshore drop offs that allow open ocean swells to approach unhindered, the variety and rich pickings that can be found in such environments is pretty immense – something championed by Nick Leason in his recent boat trip through the Caribbean islands, which you can read about from page 122. Our ability to access spots on remote islands which might otherwise have remained untapped has also changed… You can now take your pick on how you want to enter these spots with a foil.
And, despite what our cover shot of Keahi de Aboitiz in Cape Verde might have you believe, islands are also some of the best places to head when you’re starting out too. Calm waters, protected bays, variable setups and conditions, stable winds – there are multiple reasons that make islands an ideal destination for riders of all levels, and especially those who are looking to progress more quickly with their foil skillsets.
There is of course the extra factor that small island chains are almost universally beautiful places. Maybe that’s subjective but I’m sticking to it… Your rocky sub Arctic outcrop replete with bizarre wildlife and ominously dark water holds as much allure to me as your postcard-perfect desert island with its single palm tree and white sands (admittedly, I get sent a lot less content from the former kind of place).
Yet, from what I understand from those out there doing the exploring, and perhaps despite what this magazine issue in particular might have us believe, the potential that sits within many islands and island chains still largely remains unrealized by foil. And honestly, how exciting is that? That there is so much opportunity out there yet for us all to share and enjoy is intoxicating, and for someone who makes his living out of good looking and interesting foil content… well, bring it on I say.
Circling back to my grapple with my first experience of Covid, and I was having my fair share of bizarre dreams with it. One night, no doubt in some part spurred on from my thoughts about this issue’s content, I had a dream that the Earth was the size of Jupiter, the most enormous planet, with huge continents and thousands upon thousands of remote island archipelagos scattered around this behemoth of a globe. Getting to anywhere took literal weeks.
Somewhere out there in the far reaches of space and time, I like to think that this planet is or has been a reality, and I hope upon hope that they too have discovered foiling, because – well – just imagine…

Enjoy the issue.
Cai Waggett

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