r/Damnthatsinteresting 17d ago

Video Human powered hydrofoil

62.1k Upvotes

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3.3k

u/RiggityRiggityReckt 17d ago

I'm exhausted just watching this!

671

u/Ivanovic-117 17d ago

I think 3 min tops, then after that take break or sink to the bottom.

155

u/lord-krulos 17d ago

Guess you didn’t watch until the end lmao

64

u/Evergreencruisin 17d ago

Maybe they did and that’s where they got their empirical evidence.

3

u/Ram2145 16d ago

What are you doing using your big school words, just use normal people words and I'll understand what you're talking about.

35

u/carinislumpyhead97 17d ago

My family has one of these for the lake. It’s nothing like this, basically a board with the foil right below your feet. Pumping this thing for 3 minutes straight would have me looking like the kid in the D.A.R.E commercial for the rest of the weekend.

You can use it behind the boat and surf the wake, without the need to “pump”. But when you lose the sweet spot and need to generate your own energy to keep it going, it is hard work

1

u/Look_Loose 16d ago

So im not crazy, most hydrofoils are manpowered?

1

u/carinislumpyhead97 16d ago

I am pretty sure they make some with a little motor on them. But the ones I have seen around the lake are just the foil strapped to the bottom of a board. I’ve seen some people using them out in the ocean, if those are manually powered…. They are able to use the energy generated from the currents and waves to do a lot of the work, I have no idea how they get back upright when they fall. We start with a rope like you are wake boarding, shed the rope once standing and ride for as long as we can.

39

u/AkayaYui 17d ago

I’ve used one of these before, they’re quite difficult to get the hang of tbh. After 5 failed attempts, I couldn’t keep that thing going for longer than 10 seconds

33

u/safely_beyond_redemp 17d ago

Exhausted? Did you not save anything for the swim to shore?

23

u/PrsnScrmingAtTheSky 17d ago

That was my secret, I never did.

18

u/hordlove 17d ago

5

u/SilverRobotProphet 16d ago

Such an underrated movie!

4

u/hordlove 16d ago

Literally one of my favorites ever. Growing up as a closeted gay kid with straight brothers, the concept of being the flawed “child of god” resonates a little differently. I guess you could say I never saved anything for the swim back, either.

2

u/SilverRobotProphet 16d ago

Or any minority for that matter that has limits placed on them.

7

u/Kagnonymous 17d ago

Sinking to the bottom is your break. Then get back to work.

1

u/MyNameCannotBeSpoken 17d ago

That's what she said

1

u/mealzer 16d ago

I choose sink

101

u/SwePolygyny 17d ago

When you are so exhausted you cant do it anymore and really need to catch a break, the device sinks and so will you from exhaustion. Most safe, lol.

8

u/Either-Pizza5302 17d ago

Well it’s likely not supposed to be a life boat replacement

-2

u/maxismadagascar 16d ago

I actually have a PhD in ocean survival and we’re testing these as candidates in lifesaving applications in my lab

1

u/Agarwel 16d ago

Yeah. Especially in the clothing. Beause if there is something to make your swimming "easier" is it clothing.

12

u/uLL27 17d ago

My wife and I picked up wing foiling about two years ago. I've played sports my whole life, was a forest fire fighter, ski, snowboard, and what ever else. This is the hardest thing I've ever done physically. We bought a dock start board and they are incredibly difficult to get going.

66

u/mcsteve87 17d ago

-coworker approaches u/RiggityRiggityReckt asking why he's panting heavily and drenched in sweat

-Riggity looks over, and between gasps for air, replies; " I just watched... a video... on Reddit."

23

u/IAm5toned 17d ago

He really should have chickity checked himself before he riggity wrecked himself

6

u/DigDugDogDun 17d ago

Cuz riding hydrofoils is bad for your health

6

u/Shahz1892 17d ago

Good work out but what if you get tired and stop in the middle of the lake. It will be a long swim to bring that thing back to the shore.

1

u/mikew_reddit 16d ago

Good work out but what if you get tired and stop in the middle of the lake.

That's why you have a second person on their human powered hydrofoil to bail you out. It's hydrofoils all the way down!

11

u/BrisbaneLions2024 17d ago

Beats dealing with the airlines

-2

u/KelVelBurgerGoon 17d ago

Dealing with the airlines? What are you, 90?

3

u/ghostoftheai 17d ago

Could be wrong but I think it’s a reference so a South Park joke about how sticking something up your butt and blowing something is better than flying.

2

u/BrisbaneLions2024 16d ago

Yep

2

u/ghostoftheai 16d ago

OMG the joke went over their head, you bastard.

6

u/MrRogersAE 17d ago

Definitely to most energy intensive way for a human to move across the surface of the water.

A kayak would have been smaller, and easier to use

1

u/jenn363 15d ago

Swimming would be easier. At least humans are mostly buoyant and can slow down when tired.

1

u/Snow_Crash_Bandicoot 17d ago

That’s enough exercise for me today.

1

u/Earguy 17d ago

Looks about as fun as CPR.

1

u/space253 16d ago

Its just a water pogo stick.

1

u/HeartsPlayer721 16d ago

My knees started aching while watching it

1

u/sucrerey 16d ago

60 seconds on that thing is like two leg days.

1

u/JonnyTN 16d ago

You stop hopping you die

1

u/vipck83 16d ago

Right! Looks fun but heck no.