In many locations, pumpfoils are not anymore something special you have never seen before, similar to scooters than you can see everywhere and that are loved by kids. But have you ever seen a combination of both of them? Does that even exists?
Foil Scoot
Yes it does! A foilscooter (often named Foil Scoot) is a combination of a pumpfoil and scooter. Same as on a pumpfoil, you induce energy into the system by moving the body up- and downwards, but there are also some differences. Whereas on a pumpfoil, you stand perpendicular to the driving direction, on a foil scoot, your body is orientated in driving direction and you hold with your hands to a handle, that is attached to the front of the board. For both setups, the foil underneath provides lift so you glide above the water.
For those of you who have already tried pumpfoiling, you know that learning to pumpfoil is a real challenge. Most people need around 300 to 400 attempts, and especially in the beginning you often get kicked off the board.
One of the reasons for this is that during the take‑off phase there is a moment where you have to let go of the dock and jump onto the board. If you don’t land in the correct position and your weight distribution is off, the board can shoot out to one side or the other — sometimes resulting in pretty hard falls.
With a foil scoot, you never let go of the setup entirely — you always have a guiding hand on it. Throughout the entire ride you hold onto the handle, from take‑off to the end of the run. While the handle doesn’t guarantee a perfect start, it does ensure that the board doesn’t break away, which helps prevent severe crashes.
Because the rider stays constantly connected to the board, the system feels more stable. This is why many people consider foil scoots to be more beginner‑friendly than traditional pumpfoiling. In addition, it’s a great way to get an initial feel for weight distribution and to learn how the foil generates lift. In that sense, it’s a good gateway into pumpfoiling, especially for those who are more scared of severe crashes.
Foil Scoot – image source: Indiana
While the first foil scoots where do-it-yourself setups, there are now also more and more foiling brands bringing foil scoots to the market. For example Indiana Paddle & Surf has just launched a new beginner set, which can be used for pumpfoiling or together with the corresponding handle, also as a foil scoot. The set comes with a high aspect front wing (132 cm span, 1935 cm²) which is design for ultra-low speed takeoffs and effortless long-distance pumping, hence ideal to learn pumpfoiling or foil scooting.
Whether you’re an experienced pumpfoiler or a complete beginner, it’s absolutely worth trying a Foil Scoot at least once.