Stab Magazine | Hydrofoils Banned At Bondi Beach

Live Now... Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 3

201 Views

Hydrofoils Banned At Bondi Beach

The rideable guillotine has been banished from the sands of Sydney’s glistening shore. 

news // Jan 29, 2019
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Almost a year ago to the day, we penned an article called “The Problems of Surfing: Hydrofoils”It wasn’t a direct attack on the peculiar craft themselves. And not even one targeted towards the people that ride them. It just simply pointed out they were potentially dangerous in the wrong hands, plus, sometimes they look incredibly fucking stupid – such as every time they’re ridden on a properly breaking wave. 

Since then, we’ve seen an array of surfers embrace the foil revolution. Joel Parkinson stepped off one into a set at Greenmount, John John Florence bounced around the shore at home in Hawaii, and Kai Lenny did a few chop-hop-esque airs on the things.

As those we follow on Instagram adopted the craft it was only a matter of time before the general masses tried their luck. They haven’t quite overrun our coasts yet, or caught up to the SUPs dominant preponderance, but they’ve made enough of an impact to result in a handful of bans.

A few months back, the City of Anglet in southern France banned hydrofoils from their beaches – the first ban of its kind. A few days ago, Waverley Council in Sydney passed a ban on hydrofoils at Bondi as reported by The Daily Telegraph. You know, that same Bondi that housed the antiquated Boost Mobile air event, and the same shoreline which makes you question your very existence as you stumbled upon the talent-laden sand. 

“Due to their high speed and the metal-like keel that raises it out of the water… lifeguards have determined it was too dangerous to allow these boards” a council rep told the Daily Telegraph after the decision was handed down. 

Previously, Bondi lifeguards had asked foilboarders to distance themselves from other surfers. Also reporting that most foilers were competent and aware of any danger they present. In truth, foilers present little danger in comparison to the hundreds of oversized-steamer donning backpackers littered in the lineup, or the dozens of mid-life crisis enduring SUPs, nevertheless, the council has opted for an outright ban. 

Only a handful of incidents have been reported in the past number of years involving foils – most of which involve the rider themselves – and as sadistically pleasing as the idea is, no one has been decapitated so far. 

Only time will tell as to how far and wide the foil virus infects us vulnerable surfers, and only then will we be able to determine whether a good old ‘nanny state’ intrusion is warranted or not.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 3

Waffle House meltdowns, OBX secret sessions, and the worst way to try an air reverse.

Feb 7, 2025

International Crime Syndicate Steals Millions From California Surfers, Gets Caught By Local Vigilantes

Victims include: Taro Watanabe, Reef McIntosh, Tyler Gunter, and 'Snapt' creator Logan Dulien.

Feb 6, 2025

Attrition at Pipe: Six Specialists Eliminated After Grueling Day At Lexus Pipe Pro

Moana Jones-Wong, Erin Brooks, Vahine Fierro + other big names axed.

Feb 6, 2025

Big Idea, Small Budget, And A High Level Of Danger?

Who’s Stab gonna call: Miles Pitt.

Feb 5, 2025

The Story Behind Sammy Pupo’s Backdoor-Inflicted Shiner

“Everything went blurry and for 15 minutes, I was stumbling around, barely able to walk…

Feb 5, 2025

Once A Pipe Master, Always A Pipe Master

Robbie Page stars in Oxbow's 'Walkabout'.

Feb 4, 2025

Born or Built? The Psychology of Confronting Heavy Waves

Nurture in nature with Shane Dorian, Carissa Moore, Al Cleland, and CJ Hobgood.

Feb 3, 2025

SEOTY: Albee Layer Stars In ‘Pure’, Rants A Little, And Reveals His Post-Surfing Career Path

Plus, the one that got away.

Feb 2, 2025

Jah Bless: More Rasta Freesurfing Clips

Point break porn ft. two Dead Kooks ‘Yin Yangs’.

Feb 2, 2025

The 2024 Eddie Winner On Addiction, Jail Time, And His Long Road To Glory

The Stab interview with Landon McNamara.

Jan 31, 2025

Watch: Postcards From Motel Hell Pt 3 – The Ireland Section

Wade gets stuck in another cave, Craig breaks his hoof, Haz and Lowe get minced…

Jan 31, 2025

Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 2

Strip club weddings, phallic haircuts, Gorkin flips, and cavorting with sharks.

Jan 31, 2025

The First Score Of The 2025 Championship Tour Was A Tube… By Edgard Groggia

Not as good as it gets, but much better than we deserve.

Jan 30, 2025

“The Machine Makes The World Spin. Rage, Fear, Oppose – We’re All A Part Of It.”

Lucas 'Skywalka' Godfrey stars in 'Fear The Machine'

Jan 29, 2025

It’s Time For A New Rivalry In Surfing

Can the next-gen of women deliver the conflict every sport needs?

Jan 28, 2025

Three Weeks On: The Aftermath of the LA Wildfires

An ode to a city that won't stay down.

Jan 28, 2025

How Surfers Get Paid: Season 2, Episode 6

The high price of authenticity — Craig Anderson’s knee doesn’t bend.

Jan 27, 2025

Dave Wassel’s Pipeline Secrets Every Surf Investor Should Know

How to make money on betonline.ag.

Jan 27, 2025
Advertisement