H Y D R O F O I L S S S 22
retail buyer’s guide
RETAIL BUYER’S GUIDE
SLINGSHOT
The virus spreads at an alarming rate, infecting people from all walks of life and producing new variants faster than you can read them… Remind you of anything? We can afford to joke about COVID here because foiling has certain things in common with the pandemic, and it might even be the antidote. A flyover of the 2022 foil range by David Bianic.
The super-fast development of the foil scene and the emergence of new sub-disciplines has forced us to take a different approach and deal with the hydrofoil systems alone to start with. Rest assured, we’ve got you covered in the next edition with more about foilboards themselves. In the meantime, it’s safe to say that the arrival of wingfoiling about two years ago gave a second wind to a sport that already had plenty in its sails. “Lots of people from different disciplines are trying the sport from old windsurfers who have not sailed in 20 years, kiters looking for something new and even the likes of John John Florence looking for fun on the windy days”, explains Mark Selvey, Manager for GB, Eire and Nordic Countries at Lift Foils. The key to wingfoiling’s success is in its reduced cost, ease of transport and accessibility, reiterates Jimmy Mazzanti, Brand Manager at SAB Foil. Olly Brunton and Andrew McGregor from Armstrong Foils reckon that instead of
“In reality though, all disciplines are helping drive the awareness and growth of sales in Hydrofoils” Olly Brunton & Andrew Macgregor, Armstrong Foils
cannibalising the global foil market, wingfoiling only seems to boost it: “In reality though, all disciplines are helping drive the awareness and growth of sales in Hydrofoils with many existing watersport athletes extending their quiver to allow exploring other foil genres too.” HYDROFOIL TRENDS 2022: ALL IN ONE Foilboards and hydrofoils are following two opposing trends, on one side the number of different uses is increasing, requiring an equal number of suitable solutions (although all-in-one foilboards are expanding fast) while on the other, hydrofoil manufacturers are concentrating more on adjustability to meet the demands of wind, wing, SUP, kite, surf enthusiasts in one shot…and 65
