How to FOIL behind a boat

One of the easiest ways to learn how to foil (other than e-foiling) is behind a boat or jet ski. Your goal might be to wing foil, kite foil, surf foil or even surf foil. Starting behind a boat will make your progression a lot faster. Today we cover the key points to learn how to foil behind a boat safely. Enjoy and have a great day!
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[@foilfanatic]

Nothing like prepping for the 1st tows and 1st tows into waves by watching this video and then going out and running into Harry on the water. I absolutely told him how good he looked out there. You guys are great. I have learned so much from the 4 of you. Thanks again!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for sharing this! This is the reason we do it. Thank you for the kind words.

[@DS-go8mn]

Harry, what a great guy

[@ben3989]

Me and the kids started practicing today behind the fishing boat. It was tricky and rewarding. Really fun

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Great to hear Ben keep at it and it will change your lives! Have a great week.

[@karimsouki7679]

I believe learning with no straps is much safer. I got hurt foiling with one strap and removed the straps from my foil board, I thought it would be super hard, but basically got up on my first try and feel much safer. E foiling definitely helped and is so much fun.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for your feedback, it helps everyone! We appreciate you!

[@johnphillips4733]

We don't have a jetski or wakeboat, but we've got up on foil just from friends running with a rope, and got a sailing dinghy to pull us along. I've seen people tie a rope to a bicycle to foil down a river. So there's lots of options and you're right, trying it without a wing/kite first really helps a lot.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Sure sounds like we have to join in on your fun and creativity! Love it, keep up the exciting ways to foil!

[@robertho1770]

You guys are truly the legend and rockstars all in one - doing some wakefoiling this afternoon and will keep all your tips in mind 🙏👍💪

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Enjoy it Robert! Thank you.....

[@jcpetrey]

I learned to foil behind a boat, SuperAir Nautique. Found getting up to work much the same as getting up on a wakesurf board. Learn to get up on a wakesurf board first. I use half straps so you have some board control before the boat starts pulling and so you don’t get a foot stuck on the board. Also, I set the Perfectpass to 12mph and pull people up slow. 12 mph works great. Agree with full length rope and protection, especially helmet.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you friend.....

[@dbsmitty2]

I love you guys! Today at marathon, my daughter and her husband were up on Harry's, the Legend, old foils!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Yewwwww. love it so cool! Thank you and have a great 4th!

[@ArthurKite]

amazing tips, as always

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you friend...

[@bolzn8tor]

The knife hand is just classic 😂

[@lemonyellow3117]

My house is on the beach. I only surfed when it was glassy. I hated the wind. For years I watched from my window as the kiters surfed for hours, days on end. All I did was fill my ashtray with butts. Then I tried kiting. It`s not for dummies. I'm not so smart and crashing into a house is not the way I want to die. The wing however, is the perfect amount of gear for me to have fun on windy days. Your enthusiasm, positive attitudes and great advice have rekindled my stoke to go surfing. I am a kook again. I jump out of bed every day and figure out how I'm going to learn to foil. If the tide is high and waves are mushy, I try prone foiling. If it's windy I find out where it's safe enough for me to go winging. Now I'm using a 100 foot bungee in a channel with outgoing tide. It's taken me months to finally get up on foil. What a cool feeling! Like the perfect surfboard or perfect skateboard! My friend stood on my SUP foil, let the current stretch the bungee, and got up on foil without getting his hair wet on his first try. I'm now living my best life. Thanks you guys!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so awesome! Love it.....

[@AnthonySpencer]

Love the positivity, bro!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Great to hear friend......

[@luiferreira4253]

Thank you for all the tips guys! Will try to apply what you shared with us👍

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Lui!

[@DaveMody]

Damn I wish I had Damien's energy and enthusiasm! Keep up the good work! :)

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Dave! Enjoy your week friend.....

[@hope4surf]

👆🏽👊💪

[@aviator5804]

Great final words. Will go try to make someone's day. Good advice on foiling behind a boat. Tried foiling behind a ski boat last summer and I struggled. Now I'll go try again with these tips in mind.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you, we appreciate you!

[@roymassey1364]

Awesome and great lessons 👏🥰🙏

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Roy!

[@warracan2047]

Good job guys, very easy to listen, i got my board ready with 1m foil, cant wait to go out with jetski.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Great to hear friend! Enjoy the adventure....

[@vinnydub7192]

Great video as alway guys

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank Vinny we appreciate you!

[@dbsmitty2]

Love the show, the Legend is taking me tomorrow behind the jet ski, i really want to get good on the big jupitdr inlet sells

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Awesome enjoy!

[@ChrisDavis-sx3nq]

Good stuff man! Keep spreading the love, so much negativity out there these days. We also just picked up a jet-ski and hope to get my daughter wakeboarding to help her with the transition to kiting. Cheers!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Excellent Chris thank you! Your daughters going to love it....

[@californiapoppy78]

Great channel. Learning to wing and for some reason never saw this video. Experienced windsurfer so the wing part was pretty intuitive. The foil was crazy though. I took the board and foil out behind a jet ski today and it was great. I don’t know how I could learn the foil component coupled with pumping my wing. I only have my 145 liter board but just started out on my stomach and elbows like a knee board and stood up after a little tension on the board. I think this will massively help my learning curve.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Norm, You are spot on a high volume board will help someone be able to get to their feet easier and just focus on the foil learning side. Have a great weekend!

[@martinomovies]

I went to a cable park on a big board and struggled with balance. It was really wobbly and I was leaning back too much and fighting the foil. I found it better to learn to foil with the wing because the wing helps balance/stabilize you and the wipeouts are a little more controlled because you're driving. The most dangerous thing is to try lean over to keep your balance because all that does is make the board flip over faster and you will either kiss the foil or hit your ribs on the board. But now that I'm up on foil using the wing, I might go back to the cable park to work on my balance, curves (for gybing), and surfing skills ... especially on low wind days!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for sharing, it really helps everyone.

[@joelm9811]

Great video. Lots of super learning tips. Damien, make a video on how to do a dock start (fixed or floating dock) on my Lift Efoil.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Joel we will add it to the list.....:)

[@Djangoat68]

Great video - you're a very inspiring person and thank you for sharing your expertise! For beginners ..and aspiring wingfoilers, would you recommend starting with a larger/non sinking board so you can simulate a wingfoil start: on knees first then stand up?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

I think it is easier with a sinker board and slowly come up to board planing then up to foil. It fore sure works on a non sinking board but only negative is you instantly go up to foil vs feeling the foil and what it can do under water. They both can work 100%.

[@craigg7862]

You are awesome.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

We appreciate you!

[@wyzzardfamily]

Love the intro video

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you, we appreciate you!

[@wojciechrataj1874]

Nice❤

[@akelly1983]

Great video! I have been foiling behind a jet ski for awhile and still learned some new stuff to try in this video. Also, the Sea Doo Wake Pro model has a ski mode which has a cruise control setting to control take off speed/power and your set cruising speed which makes things easier to control. Y'all are owning the market for best wing foil videos on the internet! Thanks for all this free info!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Aaron so happy we could help! Have a great day!

[@user-el7vt5ws4k]

speed control is the only way to go when doing water sports IMHO

[@jeffbeall9590]

Thanks so much to all 3 of you, love the videos, especially with Harry. My question for Harry; does hanging around with Damian and Gwen and all put you at risk for injury? If I tried to go ski with Glen Plake and Scott Schmidt I'd get hurt or die.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Jeff, Harry is the one we worry about. He is always pushing the limit... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh Soon back flips from the legend Harry ahhhhhhhhhh

[@allaboutyachting]

I started today and it's a weird feeling one meter above the water. I start from a kneeing position on the board and stand up as soon as possible. Funny sport 👍🏻

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Congrats! Enjoy the ride.....

[@robertoribeiromarques5817]

hi . greetings from rio de janeiro. this video was really helpful to get the basics. i will try tomorrow with a good teacher and let you know how it went. ✌️

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Enjoy!

[@KaiHorwitz]

great video! Where can I buy the thicker row for tow in foiling?? Thanks! How do you guys carry the foils on the jetski? any tips?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Feel free to check @t and get 5% OFF using discount code damo5 at checkout! You save money and you support this KZbin channel! Or Jupiter kiteboarding as ropes for sure! Have a great day!

[@kevinwhilden5394]

Great video. I'm getting all my wing foil gear this month and can't wait to get started. One question... do you think it's easier to learn to foil with a wing, or behind a boat? I'm an experienced SUP surfer and have a windsurf background.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Boat would be easier than wing as the wing adds another factor of learning. My thoughts....

[@windwaterwaves]

I wish I had seen this video first. I spent an hour killing myself with an "instructor" that just kept saying turn towards the boat. I kept towing the board sideways and trying to stand up with it on the surface and turn it. I'm still feeling it days later, every muscle is messed up. Here you talk about putting the board below the water line and getting your weight over it, I can't wait to try it again. Unfortunately that is months away.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for sharing! Heal up and soon you will be rocking friend.

[@buzzburlock4403]

Great video, fantastic just like all your videos! Hey where can I find the large diameter tow rope you mentioned? I looked all over Amazon and came up empty. Thanks! Also, you look like Tom Cruise !

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thanks for the kind words! You can try Jupiter Kiteboarding I believe they have ropes! 100% www.jupiterkiteboarding.com/store/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=wake+rope

[@blainedickason6762]

Be careful if you’re heavier or if putting too much pressure on your outride rail. I came back from a 15 min tow session behind and left of a ski and discovered about a 10 degree bend in my mast just below the board. 75cm alloy mast. Manufacturer warranteed but that was my last/only tow session. 6’4”, 225 lbs on 130 L board and 2000cm front wing.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Friend, I'd recommend a carbon mast. Thank you for sharing!

[@blainedickason6762]

Thanks D. It may come to that. Going to give alloy mast #2 a shot first before dropping more $$$.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@blainedickason6762 No problem friend!

[@PeterCacioppi]

Great content. These guys seem like really cool guys just sharing the stoke. Like they say in the Exorcist, you need an old priest and a young priest, so good job brining these two together.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Peter! We appreciate you!

[@jamesdelelys2521]

That was a great video with some even greater dudes. Thanks for all the tips and tricks!!!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you James!

[@RamonSBruhn]

Hi Damien. Thank you so much for your wingfoiling videos. At the moment I am using a coil leash to my knee but sometimes it is in my way on my board so I want to use a waist leash. I am between a retractable leash (10 feet retractable + 4 feet more elastic) vs coil waist leash as the legend has. About waist coil leash I am concerned if I fall at full speed if the distance is enough to not get hit by the board, i have had no issues so far wearing the knee coil leash but once on a gybe I falled back and pushed the board away from me but against the wind and the board with foil came back to me and luckily did not hit me, maybe the retractable leash is safer ... on the other hand the less "things" I have around me the better. Thx for your thoughts. And please keep on doing these great videos. Hugs from the Canary Islands.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Great question! Honestly I think anything attached to you has the potential to come back and hit you truthfully... It is part of the risk I would say... I don't think you can go wrong either way really! Just keep an eye out when you fall. More and more users are liking the waist leash like the Legend....

[@AkSeapilot]

I have done both, hit myself with foil with short leash, usually retractable - the board just glides away.. I can't make any promises but this has been my experience so far. And jibe attempts are when i feel is most dangerous.

[@embededfabrication4482]

can you foil with a 14' aluminum and a 20HP outboard?

[@kevinlowe7552]

i am teaching my teenage daughter right now behind our ski boat. we have a big 120 L naish for here. she is starting to stand up. i was going to put her on my 25L 4'8" hypermiler next and was wondering on the deep water start,,,i assume you don't not have the boat tranny engaged at idle for that little bit of drag which is nice to have with the board sideways type start? i can easily to the board sideways but the underwater seems possible safer.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Kevin, I would for sure go to the little board when she feels ready! As for the tension a little in and out of gear, can help her keep the board in front of her or a slight tension to pull against. VS if there is no tension engaged, sometimes its hard to keep the foil form not flipping you from side to side when getting ready. A slight tension can help or on and off tension wen getting ready to go. Its always tricky to start...

[@henrynordman]

Why exactly choose low volume board for towing?

[@STVO12345]

thanks for making this...

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you, Steve!

[@STVO12345]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin and now I've started behind a boat with a gong 6.5 inflatable board and 200 cm wing and 85 cm mast I'm thinking: how do I apply enough pressure to not tip over backwards or lose control when the wing comes up? Edge pressure like you say, which we WERE'nt doing, and taking it to the side, and patience I guess, making sure to keep the nose down? Awesome fun and awesome wipeouts.... we will manage to learn it...

[@STVO12345]

i mean 200 cm foil wing, and when the foil comes up....

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@STVO12345 Best advise would be little movements do a lot.Try not to move! ahhhhhh. Your 6.5 board will make it harder as it is not very easy to adjust movements being so large. You will get it friend!

[@STVO12345]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin thanks Damo! Third session.... we got up... by following your advice for some edge pressure, also by moving over parallel to the boat to keep the pressure steady... we have a 170 l board so we start standing up... so my next question... our board is huge... what should be our next board, any recommendations... lower volume not too sinky and still good to learn on once we're using the wing.... thanks again, you're great... by the way this is what I do.... I'm the voice.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Znerapadh82EY80

[@direkkrech7048]

I have trouble from keeping the foil from breaching I am 138 lb and 5-7 I have an Armstrong foil and a small E lift foil board can I set up the foil to have less lift ? or is it more technical problem on my part

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Just depends on your wing size "foil size" Less lift, will be a smaller foil. For instance LIFT makes a 300v2 HIGH LIFT slow speed, or you run a 150v2 less lift would make it easier for you and your size on a smaller foil. 150ish

[@proto662]

I tried to get pulled behind a boat with my 95 liter wing board (195 lb my weight )and was struggling. Had to try and start on knees then come up on feet, very hard. Do you think it's better to buy a wake foil board and start like a wake board or a sinker wing board and try to start with it sinking?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

A lesser volume board 100% is better for behind the boat as you have pull power so you don't need the volume in the board like #wingfoiling needs. As you realized you can do it just like you did useing the larger board. You also got up the only way possible as you cannot sink it.

[@kavifulena2660]

Have you noticed any differences with HA behind a boat, feel like it constantly wants to stall out compared to a regular surf wing…?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Kavi, A HA wing will want a little more speed as its more efficient, but it does not like slow speeds and will stall easier. A lower acpect surf wing or a wing with a little thiker leading edge will have more slow speed LIFT. I hope that helps...

[@mfng3839]

Took three friends out today to experience Lift eFoils. The smiles on their faces when they started flying is the reason for it all…

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

So awesome!

[@oolong2]

I had an awful time trying to learn to foil on an e-foil... The problem was the shut off mechanism. It shuts off any time the nose or controller got a little water on it and the model I was using was apparently SUPER sensitive. And me being a bigger guy it was constantly low to the water. So between the nose getting wet and shutting off, the remote getting wet and shutting off, and trying to precisely control the motor speed it all became too much to coordinate all at once and I couldn't focus on riding the foil much at all. Though I learn how to control the wing on a large SUP. I just got a new foil board today and now I'm waiting on a big foil that should get here next week. So I might just wing it 😉 or rent a boat or a jetski with a friend and practice with the foil if there isn't enough wind for awhile.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Don't give up friend! You are going to fall in love with it....

[@oolong2]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin I'd better with all the expensive equipment I just bought. 😂

[@marceloley6029]

Great video, as usual! But I need you to cover a big strapless board behind a boat.

[@SUPSUNRU]

Yeah, man big 135l stable board might be a better choice, then a sinker, at least we learned this way. Took 4-5days,though 😜

[@johnstevenson3429]

Agree - great video. Am similarly looking at trying to teach my partner & was thinking a big floaty board would allow her to be standing before gaining any forward motion & hence lift. That way, much like an e-foil, she can get used to the board at a really slow speed before her first ‘flights’. Any thoughts/ tips?!? 😬

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

A big floaty board, no question is nice because someone can already stand before you go. Just make sure you go at slow speeds. The only negative about a big board is more surface to fall on and also it's a little sticky before it comes up so when it comes up on foil, it can be a little more uncontrollable as it goes from lots of drag to free flying. It totally works, just take it slow and you'll have a good time learning

[@robadair]

@@johnstevenson3429 yes, I taught an athletic 70 year old woman to foil today by getting her up on my 115 liter wing board. Much easier than doing the wake board deep water start.

[@jackindekeu528]

Nice video again! Would starting on your knees be an even easier option?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Only if the board was a lot larger and could float you or had volume. I would still get to your feet get balanced before you try to foil for sure!

[@maxnuccio2440]

You can do it without a foot strap too, super easy, just stand on the board under water keep a little weight back and as the boat takes off you'll glide up on the board and then the foil will come on.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Max!

[@mikeinhoodriver]

What about starting on your knees? Is that possible?

[@mikeinhoodriver]

Think I found the answer below, thanks.

[@chaicos]

Any tips on how to let go of the rope?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

When you feel the slack of the rope and you are on the LIFT of the wave and you are in control just gently toss it to the side!

[@chaicos]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin thanks. I just have to find the spot with the greatest power on the wake

[@tommillar2568]

How slow is the Jet ski going?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Foils are very efficient so you don't need much speed to get up. All depends on the foil size for sure and weight of rider. Under 10mph for sure.

[@MMLL123]

Where is this? What is the nsme of the wingfoil school?

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

wingfoilprocenter.com

[@spocky125]

learn a friend to foil in 30minutes behind a boat! It is the best way to learn foil for sur!! way easier than anything else (perhaps not cable park low speed!)

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you friend.....

[@codepython1022]

Easiest way to learn is an efoil? ...until you look at the prices and realize you can buy a foil and a brand new jet ski for the same price.

[@CristianCocheci]

It's true though. Never foiled in my life, took a 2 hour e-foiling lesson and by the end of the lesson I was able to fly the board, it was awesome. They'll eventually come down in price once they start mass producing them.

[@robertrecco710]

Your should also wear shinguard add thighguard out two weeks smash my thigh on the rail so hard leg like a balloon also I weigh 150 pounds I’m using Armstrong CF 2400 Wing and a 70 cm fuselage is that to much wing for tow foiling

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Robert. It is not an easy process. Thanks for your insight.....

[@robertrecco710]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin you didn’t answer my is the cf 2400 wing and 70 cm fuselage to much for my weight only 150 for tow foiling

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@robertrecco710 Sorry friend.... The 2400 wing will work "not ideal" at your weight but you will have a ton of LIFT and will only want to be on very small wave. If you get on some big waves you will have too much LIFT and will not be able to keep it in the water. A 1125HA would be better for towing but you can always try your 2400 on small waves. As your speeds will be slower.

[@airtestman2]

You're beautiful brother.

[@marekkaniewski8789]

Why ever learn with a strap with 2 surfaces displacing the load so unevenly? Once you see a destroyed ankle that has managed to slip into a loose strap you will remake this vid guys….