Chris Doerfel — founder of Hydrofoil Academy Australia at the Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney — joins the FOILERS Podcast to break down what actually helps people learn wing foiling (and prone foiling) faster.

Originally from Austria, Chris has spent 20+ years in ocean sports (windsurfing, kiting, surfing) and explains how COVID kicked off his wing foiling obsession — to the point of doing multiple sessions a day — and how that momentum turned into a coaching program built around making foiling accessible, safe, and fun.

In this episode we get into:

• How the foiling scene in Sydney evolved from a tiny crew to a fast-growing community

• Why beginner gear has changed massively

• The real reason beginners struggle

• Chris’s approach: tow behind a boat vs Foil Drive assist (who should do what, and why)

• The underrated skills

• The most common mistake Chris sees

• Why prone foiling is booming in Australia

• Gear trends

• Big-picture - what foiling can learn from the windsurfing boom

If you’re a beginner, an intermediate chasing cleaner gybes/takeoffs, or you’re just frothing on where foiling is going next — this one’s packed with practical insight and plenty of stoke.

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