The SFT World Tour highlights top foiling athletes from around the globe, showcasing skill, innovation, and hydrofoiling water sports excellence in both menโs and womenโs divisions. The Surf Foil World Tour features 5 foiling disciplines -SFT Surf Foil, SFT Pump Foil, SFT Wake Foil, SFT E-Foil, & SFT Downwind Foil.
This global circuit is dedicated to showcasing the incredible versatility and excitement of hydrofoil riding across various water environments. The tour brings together elite athletes to compete in a range of disciplines, ultimately crowning world champions in each. For the 2025 season, the SFT World Tour is set to feature an array of international events, promising thrilling action for competitors and spectators alike.
The Five Core Disciplines of the SFT World Tour
The SFT World Tour highlights the multifaceted nature of foiling through five distinct disciplines:
Surf Foil: This discipline takes the art of surfing to a new dimension. Athletes use a hydrofoil board to ride breaking waves, as well as open ocean swells, often connecting multiple waves in a single ride. The foil allows them to harness the wave’s energy more efficiently, performing maneuvers with speed and grace, even on smaller or less powerful waves where traditional surfing might be challenging. Competitions likely judge riders on their wave selection, maneuvers, flow, and the technicality of their foiling.
Pump Foil: Perhaps one of the most physically demanding disciplines, pump foiling involves riders propelling themselves on a foil board without the aid of wind or waves. Athletes generate momentum by “pumping” their bodies and the board, creating a rhythmic oscillation that lifts the board on the foil and allows them to glide over flat water. Competitions in this discipline, such as the SFT Pump Foil World Cup, can involve timed trials or distance challenges, showcasing endurance and technique.
Wake Foil: Leveraging the power of a boat’s wake, wake foiling allows riders to experience an endless wave. Towed into the wake (similar to wakeboarding or wakesurfing), the foiler can then drop the tow rope and surf the boat’s wake using the hydrofoil. This discipline allows for a variety of aerial maneuvers and carving, free from the constraints of natural wave conditions.
Downwind Foil: This discipline is all about harnessing the power of wind and ocean swells over long distances. Athletes navigate open water, typically on a course set with the wind (downwind), using the foil to lift and glide, connecting bumps and swells to travel significant distances with minimal direct propulsion. It requires immense skill in reading the water, wind patterns, and maintaining balance and efficiency for extended periods.
E-Foil: Bringing a technological edge to foiling, E-Foils are hydrofoil boards equipped with an electric motor and propeller. This allows riders to glide above the water with powered assistance, controlled via a handheld remote. The SFT World Tour includes E-Foil events which are described as timed races on a marked course. Competitors start stationary and their best time over a set number of heats, with a limited number of falls allowed, determines the winner. This discipline opens up foiling to a wider range of water conditions and users, focusing on speed, control, and tactical racing.
Key events for 2025 include:
- SFT PUMP FOIL WORLD CUP DUSSELDORF 2025: Dusseldorf, Germany (January 17-19)
- FOILING WEEK SFT WORLD CUP PENSACOLA 2025: Pensacola, USA (February 26 – March 2)
- SFT SURF FOIL WORLD CUP CAPE VERDE 2025: Sal, Cape Verde (March 19-21)
- SFT E-FOIL TOUR LEUCATE 2025 & SFT PUMP FOIL WORLD CUP LEUCATE 2025: Leucate, France (April)
- WATER FESTIVAL SFT WORLD CUP SICILY, ITALY 2025: Sicily, Italy (May 1-4)
- ATLANTA FOIL FEST SFT WORLD CUP 2025: Atlanta, Georgia, USA (June 13-15)
- FOILING WEEK SFT WORLD CUP LAKE GARDA, ITALY 2025: Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy (June 22-29)
- SFT E-FOIL WORLD CUP MONTENEGRO 2025: Lustica, Montenegro (September 26-28)
- EFWE SFT WORLD CUP PORTUGAL 2025: Lagos, Portugal (October 8-11)
- ALDAR SFT PUMP FOIL WORLD CUP ABU DHABI 2025: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (October 18-26)
- SFT SURF FOIL WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2025: Rio, Brazil (October 25 – November 1)
The SFT World Tour is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a foil, creating a vibrant and competitive scene for this innovative sport. With a global calendar and a commitment to multiple disciplines, it’s set to be a focal point for the evolution of foiling for years to come.
The SFT World Tour is a dynamic entity focused on promoting and standardizing competitive hydrofoiling water sports. Key aspects of the organization include:
Governance and Management: The tour operates with oversight from an “SFT Sports Commission” and seems to work in conjunction with or is managed by “GKA Event Gmbh” for event organization. A dedicated “SFT Team” manages various aspects of the tour, including a Tour Manager (Tom Hartmann), Contest Directors for specific disciplines like E-Foil (Christophe Carpi) and Pump Foil (Carlos Saez), and a Social Media Manager (Ava Segersten).
Athlete Membership: To compete in SFT World Tour events, athletes are required to have a valid SFT membership, which can be for a single event or a full year. This membership, along with individual medical insurance, is a prerequisite for participation.
Event Structure: The tour features a calendar of World Cup events held in diverse locations globally, such as Cape Verde, France, Germany, the USA, and more. Events have structured registration processes, typically through the SFT World Tour website, and specific entry fees.
Objective: The primary goal is to crown World Champions across its recognized foiling disciplines, fostering a high level of competition and pushing the boundaries of the hydrofoiling water sports.
Visit https://www.surffoilworldtour.com/ for more information.
