Many thought it was a hoax. But it isn't. And Kai Lenny says it is the future of stand up paddleboarding (SUP).
Meet Naish Malolo, a SUP hydrofoil designed by Alex Aguera (Go Foils). What you'll see is a crossover between a stand up paddleboard, and a foiling system used in windsurfing and kiteboarding. If you had to nickname it, then it has to be the "Flying Downwinder."
"The first time I stepped up on the foil and did a downwinder I instantly saw a glimpse of the future. It was more fun that it was work and, for me, that was something I chased in any sport," says Kai Lenny.
Foils are quietly entering the world of water sports. The initial tests were made in wind-powered sports - like windsurfing and kiteboarding - but this is the first eye-catching attempt in a standard board.
Basically, all you need to do is to take a few paddle strokes and find a good glide. The foiling system will do the rest.
The technology is not new; French boardsports company AHD had already tested a stand up paddle foil board. But Aguera's design is surely different and promises to add speed and performance to the whole concept, especially in downwind conditions.
"It truly felt like I was just standing there and walking on water, but going 20 miles per hour. I have never gone that fast downwind in my life," adds Lenny.
Naish is a watersports brand operating in the surfing, SUP, windsurfing and kiteboarding segments. Go Foils is already accepting orders for the SUP hydrofoil for downwinders.