Air Chair - Hydrofoil

Picked upthis "rbm" Air Chair on Craigslist, after losing one sold here. About 12 trys got me up for about 5 feet!! "Quinner" offerred, with a new post, to reveal the secrets. Adam claims Butt forward? I was told back with thighs on seat? I will appreciate any advice, and hope to master by SJRR!!

The whole "lean back" thing isn't really good for any water sport. Sure, some do it and it works for them but generally it is a bad habit/concept. It really is just a defensive position from a fear of going out the front. We would rent one once per summer and everyone would give it a try. What worked the best for most of us was to lean forward on the start with the handle low. After you're up you'll very quickly find out what works and what doesn't!

Start with a safety tip, getting caught up in the rope can be an issue, if you have some type of release use it otherwise be sure your driver/observer is aware and paying attention when falls occur. Only use in deep water for obvious reasons and avoid weeds, the foil can get entangled in weeds and literally be drawn deeper by them, not cool when you are strapped in tight. Always strap in fully and securely.

When learning/teaching slow down, only bring your speed up as the rider gets more comfortable/stable. start by going just fast enough so the board is directly on the surface.

Whenever making body adjustments do it very slowly, the slightest change can and will effect your altitude.

Use the height of the handle to adjust altitude, the higher the handle the lower you will ride, lower will make you higher. You can also push down with your feet to slow down sudden ascents.

Lot's more to add but that should get you started and riding.

They are an absolute blast, don't require a wake for jumping and run smooth over the chop.

TX Foilhead wrote: Biggest thing is to relax, be still and let the boat do the work, it's completely different, but very easy to get up once you've done it.

+1

It took me well over 50 tries to get on top of it because I would try (subconsciously) to make adjustments when the boat started. Angle my body, guide my position with the rope, trying to come upright too quickly...all bad.

And if you are trying to make those adjustments and flailing around in the water attached to this thing, it gets real frustrating real fast.

If you were way off the back with your thighs on the seat, you probalby started to get up, but then the whole thing would lunge up and down, then side to side, then over? Get directly over the stand like Don said and that goes away.

This might not work for everybody, but I didn't get up until I got totally frustrated following what I now know was good advice, and decided, I'm just going to ski on this d@mn thing and rode it up. Tip of the board high in the air, straight arms, almost pushing the rope to keep them straight and level (if that makes any sense), and let the board balance itself side to side. It wants to follow the boat, even if you think you're a little sideways (emphasis on little), don't fight it, just ride it up.

Definitely not the expert here, but how about speed? I'm pretty sure I'm comfortable around 22 (having a good driver makes you take these things for granted), but I think CQ is right on with the slow and steady comments. Nice easy pickup, and I would say probably somewhere in the 17-19 range to build confidence and stability. Chris, Don, way off?

IAughtNaut wrote: Definitely not the expert here, but how about speed? I'm pretty sure I'm comfortable around 22 (having a good driver makes you take these things for granted), but I think CQ is right on with the slow and steady comments. Nice easy pickup, and I would say probably somewhere in the 17-19 range to build confidence and stability. Chris, Don, way off?

Adam, I don't think you were ever over 18.x while I was driving you, you can ride the thing pretty darn slow.   I think I am probably a bit conservative on speed, I tend to take it away from the rider a whole lot quicker than I give it to them. For that matter a steady pull up to speed helps a lot, if you overshoot you cannot pull back quickly without taking the riders line tension away from them, and that will often cause them to "lean back" and jump out of the water.

Not much I can add here except to reinforce the idea that your back should be even with the back of the seat. The Foil will rotate around an axis that runs through the vertical bar, that axis should go through the middle of your torso, as that is where you rotate around. IF these two axis dont align you will not be able to choose which direction you are going in, (and your weight will be way too far back).

Everyone should know Jake, he's the only person that makes a living with a hydrofoil.   


Start slow, better to learn to turn it first than to fly it. Somewhere between 10 and 15 the board should ride on the surface, but the wings won't fly, point your knees the direction you want to go and learn to turn between the wakes. Once your comfortable with that then you can bump up the speed and fly.

Probably not what people around here want to hear, but we've had the hardest time teaching slalom skiers. They want to fight the rope and it won't work, there is nothing about it that requires strength until you get into the inverts.

Brian Whitfield - Decatur, IL - 1973 Ski Nautique (fuel injected Chrysler)

Puttin On The Foil!!

Went out yesterday, 86 degrees! What a day. Got up on the Air Chair, briefly, I think this is going to take some practice! How do I upload a video? I am not afraid to embarrass myself for your entertainment! Sure had my girls laughing!