Once upon a foil story . . . LEFT: Mike Murphy, inventor and pro knee-foiler. Photo courtesy Mike Murphy RIGHT: Julien Fillion grabs rail and flies a wing on the new LF Foil in Montreal. // Photo Vincent Bergeron
While Laird Hamilton first thrust foilboarding into the public spotlight with his big wave tow in at Jaws in the 2003 surf documentary, Step Into Liquid, it was Mike Murphy who first taught Laird how to ride a hydrofoil some five years earlier. Inspired by the experience, Laird and the Maui “Strapt” crew started bolting a combination of different boards and bindings on to Mike Murphy’s foils, to dial in stand up foilboarding in the early days of tow-in surfing. As a pioneer, inventor and competitive pro rider for over 50 years, Mike Murphy literally transformed the sport of waterskiing and hydrofoiling. Historically, Mike is largely recognized as the world’s best rider in several disciplines of water skiing. He is also the co-inventor of the original water ski kneeboard (1972), first sit down hydrofoil (branded as the Air Chair in 1989) and the holder of 12 patents for innovative water ski related products including the means and manufacturing of a two-piece billet t-bar hydrofoil (strut plus fuselage). More than just a nutty inventor, Mike is the first kneeboarder, the father of hot dog water skiing (1970s) and the first to land and ride away from a flip on a hydrofoil (1990). Mike was first exposed to hydrofoils back in 1966 and ever since, riding foils has been his passion. In 1976, he opened a waterski school on the Colorado River where stand up foils became part of his regular riding routine. As he improved and started pushing the limitations of his gear beyond its original intentions, Mike began combining his original invention (the kneeboard) with a single strut foil that he developed with Henry “Buck” Buxton. It worked well, and shortly thereafter, in 1985, Mike teamed up with Bob Woolley to develop the world’s first kneeboard hydrofoil, and sold the design to Kransco, a manufacturer of Hula-Hoops and Hydroslides. Unfortunately, just before Kransco was about to bring the product to market, an employee took a spill on one and got hit by the foil at a company picnic. Concerned about the product’s potential liability issues, it never made it into production. Continuing their experimentation of new ways to ride a hydrofoil, four years later, Mike partnered with Bob once again to introduce the world of water skiing to the seated hydrofoil, the Air Chair. Nearly 15 years ago, Mike rode a sit-down hydrofoil with a rope attached to Corey Roeseler powered by Roeseler’s original Kite Ski invention. This stunt most likely established Mike as the first person to ride a hydrofoil under the power of a kite. Back then, kite technology was sketchy at best, but today Mike is giving kiting a second chance. Today, at nearly 70 years of age, Mike Murphy shows no signs of slowing down. In 2013, he launched Next Foils, continuously attempts to break records and just signed ink as a consultant in design and engineering for LF hydrofoils, which also gives the company exclusive rights to his patents. With a lifetime of foil insight and experience, it is an honor to have Mike join the kiteboarding industry and contribute to the progression of hydrofoiling in our sport.
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