Chris Doerfel (Hydrofoil Academy Australia) on Coaching, Gear Evolution & Learning Foiling

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 communityWhy beginner gear has changed massivelyThe real reason beginners struggleChris’s approach: tow behind a boat vs Foil Drive assist (who should do what, and why)The underrated skillsThe most common mistake Chris seesWhy prone foiling is booming in AustraliaGear trendsBig-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.🎧 Subscribe to FOILERS for more interviews with the people shaping foiling — from designers to coaches and riders.