Adam Bennetts, widely known online as @misterbennetts, is an Australian professional hydrofoil athlete, entrepreneur, and DJ who has emerged as one of the most stylish and influential figures in prone surf foiling.
Raised on Australia’s Gold Coast in a waterman household—his father was a professional Ironman competitor—Bennetts turned pro as a shortboard surfer at age 18. After over a decade pursuing traditional surfing while splitting time between Australia and Bali, his trajectory fundamentally shifted around 2018 when his brother introduced him to hydrofoiling. Captivated by the feeling of hovering above the water, Bennetts bought his first setup the very next day and quickly shifted his focus to prone surf foiling full-time.
Check out this amazing footage of Adam surf foiling by Foil Films. Mind blowing turns, lines and flow he has. Slomo isn’t for everyone but here’s a bunch of waves from a session last week in half speed just to see all his little nuances.
In his interview with REAL Watersports, Adam Bennetts breaks down the technical mechanics of surf foiling, demonstrating how proper body alignment, relaxed energy management, and reading wave topography allow riders to replace erratic movements with effortless flow.
In foil surfing, style is defined not as a cosmetic choice, but as the natural result of efficient physics and relaxed execution. Riders who look frantic or stiff are usually fighting the board’s natural tendencies.
Pumping Mechanics & Stance Adjustments
- Hands Below the Waist: High hands (the “dying seagull” look) waste energy and distort upper-body posture. Keeping hands below the waistline or belly button maintains control and prevents unnecessary fatigue.
- Forward Projection: Efficient pumping relies on pushing the hips and core forward across the horizontal plane rather than violently bouncing the mast vertically.
- Narrow Stance: A wide stance mimics a continuous squat, rapidly exhausting leg muscles. Pulling the back foot slightly forward allows the rider to stand tall, reducing physical exertion while increasing gliding efficiency.
- Offset Footing: Rather than keeping feet parallel along the stringer line, offsetting the stance—moving the back heel toward one rail and angling the front foot forward roughly 45 degrees—opens up the hips and chest. This posture improves rotational freedom and smooths out pumping motions.
Rotational Turns & Center of Gravity
- Core Alignment: The body’s center of gravity should form a straight upright column. Bending excessively at the waist breaks this balance, whereas pulling the back knee inward helps lead smooth, rotational maneuvers.
- Head-Led Rotation: Turns follow sightlines. Looking over the shoulder and leading with a low trailing arm guides the board into clean, controlled rail carves without throwing the balance off.
Wave Reading & Power Zones
- Top-Third Exploitation: The upper third of a breaking wave offers maximum power. Riders should use this zone to generate momentum rather than trying to force speed on flat water.
- Speed Generation via Turning: Turning a foil on its rail generates more speed than flatline pumping. When losing speed out on the shoulder, rolling into a turn back toward the power pocket re-engages the foil and builds immediate speed.
