Wear Proper Safety Gear
Helmet
When you’re foiling, eating regular bread without a helmet is no joke. The helmet needs to fit snugly, meaning it should open to the correct position and not tilt forward or backward. One of the most feared injuries in foiling is a head injury – but a certified helmet can significantly reduce the chances of a serious head injury.
Impact vest
An impact vest provides buoyancy, helping you balance your body when you jump into the water, while also absorbing some of the impact. Try to find a CE-certified vest to ensure you’re buying a suitable product that meets high safety standards. The vest should be somewhat snug, but not restrict your range of motion.
Proper footwear
Footwear needs to provide protection and stability. Shoes with non-slip soles are also necessary for water and keep you firmly grounded on the surface. They also protect your feet from dangerous objects when swimming and walking on the beach.
Gloves and wetsuit
Hypothermia is always a risk in colder waters, so a wetsuit is required if the water temperature is below 21 ºC. The thickness of the wetsuit neoprene should be appropriate for the water temperature. Gloves provide greater grip and prevent rope burns and other abrasions.
Eyewear
UV-blocking sunglasses designed for water sports will make a huge difference in the light and protect your eyes from UV damage to your skin. Also, make sure to check that they fit properly and that you have your tethers tied so you don't lose them in the water.
Tethers
A good tether is needed to prevent your board from running away from you if you fall off. This is even more important when there are strong currents or strong winds. Of course, the tether should be able to withstand the impact and force of the waves, but it should also be designed to not hinder movement.
Check Equipment Before Every Use
Check the panels for signs of mold
Your foil board Check your foil board for cracks, dents, or any other wear that could compromise the integrity of the board. Special attention needs to be paid around the fin box and nose of the board as these are the areas most likely to get knocked around. While small cracks may seem minor, they often expand quickly under normal loads, which can lead to larger issues mid-ride.
Check the foil and mast
Inspect the foil itself, especially the mast and wing. Check that the screws are tight and make sure there is no corrosion or damage. You don't want to loosen the retaining lock nut as this could cause problems in the water and potentially create a dangerous situation. They do recommend that you tighten the screws with a torque wrench, which should be to the manufacturer's specifications of about 13-15 Newton meters.
Test the connection points
Make sure the foil is securely fastened to the board. Riding creates low and high forces, and moving against each other can cause rapid wear or failure. Do a quick shake test on the pipe to see if there is any unusual movement or noise that would indicate a problem.
Check the straps and safety gear for signs of wear
Inspect the non-white parts of the straps for wear, fraying, or other damage. Strong current + broken strap = your board is swept away and a long swim back to land is required. Check your helmet and crash vest to make sure they are in good condition, not torn and provide adequate protection.
Check integrity of fins and hardware
Inspect fins to make sure they are properly integrated and not bent. Fins (no worn/damaged fins with sharp edges that could cause injury if you fall) Check fin screws to see if they are tight and the fins do not move within the setup.
Routine cleaning
Salt water and sand damage – everyone knows it, everyone has experienced it. Rinse your foil board and foils with fresh water after use. Monthly cleaning inhibits salt corrosion that can damage textiles and equipment.
Understand Your Riding Area
Names of local weather trends
Check the weather, wind and waves especially before setting off. Strong winds make control more difficult and choppy waters can be very dangerous. And tools such as Windfinder or local weather apps can provide current real-time data to plan your surfing activities. So, in general, winds over 20 knots, for example, are too strong for beginners.
Know the water conditions
Know the tides, currents and water depths of your chosen location. Not only will they fall to the ground in shallow water, but losing a surfboard in deep water will make it impossible to catch it again. If you live near the coast, you may be able to get tide charts online, which will give you a good idea of when you can enjoy the best surfing experience.
Spot dangers early
Watch out for rocks, buoys and other water traffic Wings are sensitive to wakes and washes caused by other boat traffic and are usually best suited to more remote locations. Keeping a distance from all obstacles is important to avoid accidents and injuries.
Know the local laws and regulations
Each region has its own rules regarding rafting and other water sports. In some areas, you can only hydrofoil a certain distance from shore, while in other areas, there may be specific areas for specific types of water activities. This not only ensures safety, but also allows all users to access these areas while complying with local regulations.
Talk to local riders
Talking to local riders can also help you understand less intuitive dangers and where beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders should go. They will be able to provide a lot of what you want to know about hydrofoil safety and fun from their research.
Learn to Fall Safely
Understand the dynamics of falling
Falling is key to mastering foiling. Obviously, the idea is a bit far-fetched, but seriously, learning how to fall properly can have a huge impact on your risk of injury. Whenever you fall or trip, be sure to stay away from the board and foil to avoid colliding with them, which can be very painful and lead to injury due to their sharp edges and hard materials.
Tuck roll exercise
If performed correctly, the tuck roll method allows you to spread the fall over a larger area of your body. If you are about to fall, prepare yourself by relaxing your body, keeping your center, and rolling as you hit the water. This can avoid bruises and more serious injuries that can result from landing hard.
Use controlled jumps
If you lose your balance and are about to fall, it is sometimes safer to jump quickly. Stand up as high as possible off the board and foil, and try to land flat on the water to spread the impact over the tops of your feet. This technique reduces the chances of a person hitting the board or getting tangled in the ropes.
Wear impact gear
Of course, wearing an impact vest or complex padded garment can provide basic energy absorption for some of the falls we have discussed. These gears are probably most useful in high-speed falls, where the water can feel as hard as concrete. Impact vests are not ordinary buoyancy aids, but are designed to absorb impact to the upper body.
Learn in safe conditions
Beginners should do this in more controlled conditions, such as light winds, calm water. In these friendly conditions, falls are much less dangerous, and you can build some confidence before venturing out into the wild.
Check your technique regularly
Always practice falls, better technique, and practice as you gain experience. Elite foil surfers often train for falls so that they can practice for fall impacts.
Maintain a Safe Distance from Others
Determine the capacity of your surfing area
Stop before untying and assess the level of crowding on the water. Sports such as foiling are particularly prone to collision risks with high-speed, heavy equipment in areas with heavy traffic. In short, the more space you have around you and the further away you can go, the better. 30 meters is a pretty good benchmark, although I know that's completely accidental.
Watch out for other water users
Watch out for surfers, swimmers and other foilers who aren't always paying attention to you. Watch out for any moving objects or people. This is the case with water sports, as their dynamic nature means that once we add some wind and current, distances can start to close faster than we'd like.
Communicate your path
When approaching others, signal them your direction. If you're closer, make a sound or hand gesture. This communication prevents misunderstandings and unexpected actions that can lead to accidents.
Practice the right-of-way rules
Learn and follow the right-of-way rules for water sports Generally, people who are closer to the wave or wind have the right of way. However, always be ready to give way if it's to avoid a dangerous situation. These types of incidents are avoidable if we take a proactive, rather than reactive, attitude.
Use a spotter when necessary
If you are in a high-traffic area (or during prime time), have a spotter or buddy on the beach. A spotter can spot hazards or changing conditions that might not be immediately apparent from your view of the water.
Check safe zones regularly
Before leaving, always check city policies and community regulations to see what areas are considered safe. This way, all water users can share common areas without interfering with each other.