Challenge: what is the narrowest channel in which a kiteboarder could still up upwind?
(wind direction is directly down the channel)

Let's say zero tide/current

What is the optimal gear?

What is the optimal windspeed?

So let's call Hawaiian style an "open ocean downwinder" and come up with a different name for my idea. "Coastal downwinder"? "Down sweller"? (Because there doesn't need to be wind, just waves?) 2. Is is possible to do a coastal downwinder while staying (mostly) up on foil? 3. Is is possible to do a ...

Right, rear stabilizer is negative lift (pushes down).
Front stabilizer is positive lift (pushes up).

I know the Hawaii guys do big offshore downwinders, but how about the mainlanders? On a SUPfoil, without a kite, could you foil down the line resting, then pump out to the nest wave, and cover distance down the coast with any kind of reasonable effort? Maybe only with swell coming in at an angle to ...

We should not expect the highest speed to come from a course race. Would be from a dedicated setup. Smaller foil. One which is barely able to get up on foil, and only starts to be comfortable at 30+ knots. And is designed specifically to limit ventilation and cavitation. I’m thinking a canted strut ...

Kite hydrofoils already rule in efficiency-limited situations. Speed boards still win in control-limited situations (very high winds). And Sail-Rocket got to the next level w J-Shaped super-cavitating foils.

I’m interested in this topic for bragging rights for our sport, not participation...

Great topic. Foil surfing is a more pure hydrofoil wing-loading situation. As soon as you add a kite, the kite also has a wing-loading, but it is probably some factor of rider weight/(kite-size*sqrt(windspeed)). Also, canard (spitfire) front stabilizers lift, so not a direct comparison of main wing ...

This thread is blowing my mind.

I learned on a 17m. After 5 years, and learning to foil, I’ve still never kited with anything smaller than a 12m.

I'm looking forward to pumping efficiency improving. Only a few years ago nobody had every flatwater started a SUPfoil. Only a few years ago noby had prone SURFfoiled. The foils are not efficient enough to ride the wake of a jetski without a tow rope, and without pumping. Only a few years ago nobody...

I would love to race (I like sailboat racing), but I need to learn transitions first. I’m hoping to get a surf wing to help w that.