High Flyers

Foil racing is all go for the 2018 PWA calendar and after a successful start to the season in Yokosuka, Japan it was clear the new racing discipline has a bright future ahead. Old dogs are having to learn new tricks, so we quizzed the pros about their foil racing setups and technique and hear from the PWA race director on the challenges of setting foiling courses.

- John Carter

JOHN CARTER

The PWA race tour kicked off in dramatic style on the windswept beaches of Yokosuka, Japan where the slalom and foil elite would race for the first time on their new equipment for the 2018 season. Slalom was still centre stage on the billing but the momentum for the new foil discipline could not be ignored. New rules were introduced setting the board width limit at 91cm and compulsory wearing of helmets and impact vests for safety purposes. With an upgrade in prize money also from €5000 to €15,000, many racers were taking foiling far more seriously than last season.

With the added advantage that foiling can take place in winds right down to 5-6 knots, most days invariably kicked off with foil racing before the wind kicked in for slalom. The third race of the four completed started in ideal 7-12 knots for the two opening heats, but while the seeding was being calculated for the final the wind cranked in blowing a solid 18-25 knots across the M shaped course. What ensued was a dramatic and thrilling race which showed how foiling can not only fill in the gap in light winds but can also put on a show to match slalom when the wind is much stronger. Many guys were hanging on for their lives down the reaches and several big crashes and close shaves went down, fortunately without any accidents or repercussions.