BETA Foils - My first Freefoil experience

Today, I want to share a groundbreaking discovery that will forever change the sport I love. The moment I took flight on a foil, I was captivated. The desire to soar longer and farther consumed me, and for three years, I embarked on a relentless quest, trying over 250 different foils. Then, I found it—the beta free foil. This innovation completely blew me away. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before. It is incredibly easy to launch and fly, enabling me to explore uncharted territories in ways I never deemed possible.

Back in 2020, I managed to stay airborne for two and a half minutes, which ignited my pursuit of boundless flight. Since then, an astonishing 350 individuals have surpassed the one-minute mark, and countless more have joined this exhilarating sport. As a 42-year-old, I knew that achieving longer flight times would demand more than just physical fitness and technique. I needed something that hadn't been created yet. That's when Todd Reichert, a visionary who spent 15 years designing and flying human-powered aircraft, entered the picture.

Todd had a dream of venturing into nature on a foil, indulging in long-distance flights, and launching from remote, untouched locations. He left his job and founded Beta Foils to pursue this ambitious dream of free foiling. Through meticulous design and optimization efforts, Todd leveraged his expertise in on-water testing to make pumping easier and decrease the power required for flight. After 200 prototypes, each better than the last, Todd's dream became a reality—the beta free foil was born.

What sets the beta free foil apart is its patent-pending design and dual mast architecture. It's optimized for pumping, eliminating the need to make a choice between each component. The foil is incredibly easy to assemble, with just three components connected by four screws. Moreover, its remarkable rigidity makes it easier to control and maneuver. And the best part? It's the most effortless foil to launch, opening up countless new locations and methods for takeoff. Unlike other foils we've reviewed, the Beta Foil free foil is designed specifically for pumping, enabling a smooth and fluid motion with minimal exertion.

With the first Beta Foil prototype, I struggled to surpass the five-minute mark. But with perseverance and the subsequent iterations, beta Foils made incremental improvements that eventually amounted to a significant breakthrough. Months later, I accomplished a monumental feat—a ten-minute flight. Finally, I could venture beyond the confines of my dock. Although it was tiring, pushing me to my limits, it was a testament to the incredible progress we had made. But that was just the beginning.

With every subsequent prototype, Beta Foil continued to enhance the foil, combining numerous incremental gains into a significant leap forward. Last week, I achieved an astonishing 24-minute flight, covering almost five kilometers—the entire length of my beloved lake. What surprised me even more was how good I felt at the ten-minute mark. For the first time, pumping the foil felt effortless, an incredible sensation that filled me with excitement and anticipation.

Eager to share this newfound freedom with others, I recently took my son to his rowing practice. I parked near a beautiful beach and launched from there. In just a few minutes, I arrived at a restaurant, traversed the marina, passed under a bridge, and even flew past my son as he practiced rowing. Admittedly, I had a little mishap and caught a weed as I went around him, resulting in a wipeout. But I quickly swam to a nearby dock, got back on the foil, and continued my journey. I flew to a boat launch, took a moment to rest, launched again, and enjoyed the tranquility of another marina. Finally, I set my sights on crossing the lake back to the beach where it all began. The experience was nothing short of awe-inspiring—a sensation I had never before encountered. My pursuit of endless flight seemed within reach, and Todd assures me that an hour-long flight is just around the corner.

In fact, earlier today, Todd himself flew on the beta free foil for an astonishing two and a half hours—three times longer than the current world record. The sheer excitement and inspiration I felt from witnessing this achievement compelled me to invest in Beta Foil. They are producing a limited number of foils this year with the aim of creating a vibrant community of free foilers. If you share our passion and want to pioneer this incredible sport, you can purchase your own beta free foil through the link in the description.

Beta Foils joins a select list of our favorite products, and by purchasing through our links, you not only support our channel and mission but also become part of a remarkable breakthrough in the world of foiling. The era of flying anywhere has just begun, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.