Seeing someone ‘gliding over the water’ is for many their first encounter with pump foiling – just like it was for Lynn. Lynn is 15 years old and has always been a big fan of water sports. Like many others, Lynn was immediately fascinated by this sport while watching a pumpfoiler and decided to learn pumpfoiling. She even made it her graduation project at ORS Ennetbürgen.
As part of this work, she set the goal of delving deeper into the theory of foils and the necessary equipment, as well as learning pumpfoiling itself. In this artivle, we’d like to share Lynn’s journey to pumpfoiling with you. For this purpose, we were kindly allowed to draw upon many passages from her excellent thesis.
Foil Pumping: Surfing without wind and waves? How do I get there?
Lynn’s Experience – every new start is difficult
After acquiring a lot of theoretical knowledge from the internet through tutorials, I took my first leap onto the board. Jumping onto a wobbly board gliding on the water required a lot of courage at the beginning, and I had great respect for it. Coordinating all the movements was very challenging – everything happened simultaneously: pushing the board to the right height, accelerating, letting go, hopping onto the board, positioning my feet correctly, maintaining balance… And initially, the maneuver often ended with a plunge into the water. Over and over again: Splash! Since I was prepared for the fact that learning the dock start would be very difficult, I didn’t mind spending more time in the water than on the board. Every tiny bit of progress brought me joy. Unfortunately, the season for learning foil pumping wasn’t ideal. The cold limited my practice time. I could endure the cold for a maximum of 30 to 45 minutes, which roughly translates to about 15 dock starts .
After a two-month practice break, I started anew at the end of December, this time with a thicker wetsuit. I noticed some progress, but I struggled to transition from the initial start to the proper pumping phase. My motivation was low. Consequently, I decided to take an hour of lessons and also connected online with Philipp from Pumpfoilers.ch, who provided tips based on my videos. Ultimately, I had no choice but to keep practicing, dock start after dock start.
Motivation
I was able to maintain high motivation for a long time. Watersports are fun, and I often found myself laughing at my own attempts. Family and friends supported me, and I witnessed my progress. During winter, it took some effort to squeeze into the still-damp wetsuit from the previous day. However, once I was in the water, the positive aspects of the sport prevailed. Foil pumping is real fun!
Achieved my objective?
I’ve managed to acquire a wealth of know-how about foil pumping through the internet and expert tips. In general, I had hoped to master this sport by the deadline for my annual project. However, the cold winter months prevented me from having longer practice sessions. Nevertheless, thanks to perseverance, I have achieved a lot and will continue to pursue foil pumping. I believe that this summer, with more pleasant temperatures, I’ll reach my ultimate goal.
Conclusion
Behind the principle of hydrofoils lies a highly specialized technology. The materials used for the board, the foil, and the development of its components can be quite expensive.
Learning the technique of foil pumping is not easy. It requires a lot of patience and determination. With the goal of gliding over the water using only muscle power, one must endure the learning phase. Connecting with other athletes and practicing together can facilitate the learning process. While I was aware that I had set ambitious goals, I underestimated the impact of the frosty winter season.
In theory and practice, I have learned a great deal about foil pumping. Currently, I am still in the critical phase of transitioning from standing securely on the board to gliding forward and maintaining a consistent pumping rhythm. Achieving the subtle movements that create lift and speed has eluded me even after 490 dock starts. Nevertheless, I find joy in sports in nature, especially on the water. I won’t give up until I can glide across the water without wind or waves.
Foil pumping provides a full-body workout, demanding muscle strength, balance, and perseverance. It’s an incredibly enjoyable experience! I wholeheartedly recommend foil pumping to any water sports enthusiast and am happy to share tips based on my own experiences.
Video: Lynn’s journey from September 2023 to March 2024
Lynn’s journey
September 11, 2023: First pumpfoiling attempt
December 11, 2023: Research: How does the board work in water? (Board construction, movement process).
December 18, 2023: Research: What materials are needed?
December 30, 2023: Second pump test in winter after a 2-month break.
February 9, 2024: Start of the written work.
February 20, 2024: Contact with Philipp from pumpfoilers.ch.
March 3, 2024: Editing video with Timo.
March 19, 2024: Completion of the written thesis work