How to Pump on a Hydrofoil

Here’s the breakdown:

Pump foiling on a hydrofoil can be a ton of fun, and it can also be a lot of work. But, we love a good workout on the water, and being able to utilize flat water days to have fun on the hydrofoil is always super exciting.

It’s all about trying to keep that forward momentum, utilizing a full body dynamic swing, where we are swinging our hands forward and throwing the momentum of our hips forward at the same time, creating that burst with each pump.

Then, we want to load up for the next explosion of the hips and hands swing forward. We do that by allowing gravity to help us drive down into the pump.

You want to try and keep all your weight distribution and this motion straight back and straight forward as best as possible. Allow the foil to have slight pressure from the bottom of the wing creating lift, to the smooth transition of water flow and pressure against the top of the wing as you drive your front foot and weight forward.

I will often notice my heel disconnecting from the tail of the board, and my toes kind of floating on the back foot as I’m just exploding all of my weight and momentum forward to that front foot. Then again, following after, my back foot plants to the board as I drive my chest down, swing my hips and hands behind me, and prepare for that next motion.

If we do have the pleasure of having some surf, then we can always paddle into a wave, get up into flight, and then carry the momentum from the wave into our pump.

Depending on what foil you’re using, and your physical fitness and skill is, you can keep this going for however long you really want.

Have fun with your journey, pumping, see you on the water. Alright!

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