Advanced Foil Surfing: How to do wave transfers -- The Fish Ladder

The “fish ladder” is a transition from the first wave to the second wave. This transition can be done with a short rope and it is a great way to train. Take off on the short rope, pump out back to the second wave, then do the fish ladder down to the third wave, out to the fourth. Follow up by four to four and three to three transitions, take off the gas and come back to the first wave. Now you’re ready to start all over again.

If you can learn how to become proficient at the fish ladder well, it really helps with your boat pirating skills. You’ll learn how to come into that second wave with different angles and be able to snap that foil in multiple different ways. This transfer is also going to help all of your wave transfers, even when you're out in the ocean catching waves from freighters.

Typically, before we start doing wave transitions, we take a few turns to explore the water. We’ll get loose and ready to go. Then drop back a little deeper, to the edge where the smooth water meets the bubble line, to get a run. Come up the wave, dipping the board down and loading it with power. Rise up to bring all that power to the top and begin to pump out.

Pump away from the boat, turning so that you are going almost 90 degrees from the outside of the boat. You’ll make a fairly aggressive turn, almost a fish hook. Sight your target, where the eyes go, the board goes. Aim for the spine at the front end of the second wave, just a couple of feet up front of where you think you’re going to come in. Come in a little bit behind. You’ll use the exact same principle to come in for the third or fourth waves.

The fish ladder isn’t always on the outside, you can stay inside too. Without hesitation, cut into the second wave, load up with power, then turn back aiming towards the leading edge of the third wave. Coming over the top, you will have a little bit of front foot pressure from the water pressure. Aim a little bit deeper than where the wave is to give yourself time to turn.

The fish ladder works great in many situations. Want to go first to first? You just have to deal with the turbulence. Keep the board low, burying your foil about three quarters of the way down.

In summary, the fish hook wake foiling transfer is:

1. Drift back

2. Get speed

3. Sharp turn away from the boat

4. Sink low

5. Bring it up for power

6. Pump away

7. Sight your target

8. Turn back, aiming high

9. One last turn and your good