Foiling has taken the water sports world by storm in recent years. From surf foiling to wing foiling and beyond, this fast-growing activity allows riders to glide above the water at impressive speeds, catching waves that would normally go unridden. But with the thrill comes an unfortunate downside, injuries.
The Hidden Dangers of Foiling
Foil boards feature large, sharp metal hydrofoils that extend beneath the board, providing lift. While these blades make the sport exhilarating, they also present a unique and serious risk to riders. Falls and collisions with the foil can result in severe cuts, lacerations, and even deep puncture wounds.
According to anecdotal reports from the foiling community and growing incident data, most injuries occur when a rider is thrown off the board and lands on, or is hit by, the foil. Riders often wear helmets and impact vests, but their legs and arms are left exposed, leaving them vulnerable to nasty slashes.
Could Shark Stop Help?
At Shark Stop, our mission has always been about reducing injuries from shark bites by using our patented shark bite-resistant material, which is made from UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) fibres. These fibres have a strength-to-weight ratio 50% greater than Kevlar, offering excellent cut, puncture, and abrasion resistance.
While our wetsuits were designed and independently tested specifically to reduce the severity of shark bites, the material also possesses general cut-resistant properties. This raises an interesting question we’ve been asked by the foiling community: Could Shark Stop wetsuits help reduce injuries from foil strikes?
A Potential Benefit (But a Clear Disclaimer)
It’s important to clarify: Shark Stop wetsuits have not been formally tested against foiling-specific impacts or blade strikes. The forces, angles, and mechanics involved in foil strikes can vary greatly, and while our material has shown impressive results against shark teeth, it’s not marketed or certified as protective equipment against foiling injuries.
However, given the cut, puncture, tear and abrasion-resistant nature of our fabric, there is a reasonable assumption it could help reduce some of the damage caused by accidental contact with a foil, particularly in mitigating the depth of cuts or abrasions.
For foilers looking for an extra layer of protection, Shark Stop wetsuits may offer a better option than traditional neoprene wetsuits, which provide little to no cut resistance.
The Future of Water Sports Protection?
As foiling and other high-speed water sports continue to grow, we believe there’s an opportunity for crossover innovation between shark bite protection and general water sports safety gear. We are actively listening to the community and considering future testing in this space.
Until then, if you’re interested in using Shark Stop for foiling, please do so with awareness that it’s not tested for this purpose, and that all normal foiling safety precautions should still be followed.