Is the twintip a dying breed?

[fernmanus]

I just finished a week at a beach house in SoCA. Came back from Maui a couple months ago. Seems like all of the locals are riding hydrofoils at both locations. Wind was solid at both locations, not a day under 15 knots, but hydrofoils were the predominant choice.

I remember picking up my first twintip from Litewave Dave in 2001 on Oahu. I thought I had died and gone to heaven after struggling on a 7'1" Naish directional.

Are hydrofoils taking over at your local launch?

[Matteo V]

Seems like a slight reduction in the number of hydrofoils out on the Oregon coast this year. I think they are mostly sticking to the Gorge.

But I feel ya! I have a hydrofoil too but just do not put that much time into it. For others, it seems to make them happy. But beginners will always start out on the TT.

[Lokihel]

I wouldn't go as far as calling it a dying breed...

While more and more 'advanced/serious' riders move away from twin-tips without looking back, the vast majority of casual riders only rides twin-tip.
Casual riders are the vast majority, that is not about to change.

[shawn13]

Unlikely. Go to places like Morocco, Egypt, Mauritius. I was one of the few with a hydrofoil and hundreds of twin tips everywhere.

[windmaker]

I wouldn't go as far as calling it a dying breed...

While more and more 'advanced/serious' riders move away from twin-tips without looking back, the vast majority of casual riders only rides twin-tip.
Casual riders are the vast majority, that is not about to change.

Yes it's kind of a progression, TT to surfboard to hydrofoil. Most riders don't make it all the way others don't want to.

For those who have been riding for a while, TT riding hasn't changed much in the past years (new school becomes old school ), surfboard is especially nice when the conditions are right, foilboarding is in full progression.

[Peert]

In the Netherlands Hydrofoilers are still a small minority.
On a good windy sunny day I would estimate the ratio HF-SB-TT at 1-25-120.
This is a bit of a wacky observation as our spots differ in suitability for each quite a bit... But you get an idea about orders of magnitude

[Toby]

I remember picking up my first twintip from Litewave Dave in 2001 on Oahu. I thought I had died and gone to heaven after struggling on a 7'1" Naish directional.

Are hydrofoils taking over at your local launch?

Same here, my best Kiting day when I used a TT for the first time.

I don't see TT dying. In Brazil Mist are in TT, then wave then HF.
But, there is wind! So no need for a HF.

On lakes I assume it is different.

And luckily we see now more races with TT, this was missing. Great to attract more riders into racing, like the Asian tour did with their Weekend Warrior Race series. Great fun! And many participants.

Yes, TT is easier, but easier means more fun. The sport is slowly getting to understand that fun and show will push it further than technical difficulty and extreme.

Also think beginners...TT makes their world so much easier!

Look at TT kitecross, great fun for riders and spectators...easy to follow. That's why it is the discipline for Youth Olympics.

I won't change to a directional neither, TT is my tool for progression. Still so much to discover with it.

But you know what? Have fun with whatever you prefer

[john a]

Mostly TT to see here... I went to Tarifa last year, only saw one foil... Mostly twin there too...

[Toby]

Tarifa has quiet some guys on surf boards too...more during Poniente than Levante.

Plus some guys doing strapless freestyle like Jan Marcos Riveras who is on the world tour. Plus former stars who live in Tarifa.
But Tarifa has many beginners, so TT will always be the majority there.

[pj sofine]

Can you imagine the carnage that would take place if spots like Cabarete were all foils !