There's a simple way to measure a watersport's potential popularity: If, upon seeing someone
engaged in a sport for the first time, you say, "That's crazy," the sport in question has major
potential. In watersports, crazy equals good because watersports enthusiasts aren't just adrenaline
junkies; they're bleeding-edge types who always want to be the first ones in on the newest, wildest
thing. This is why, for years now, it's been worth keeping an eye on hydrofoil waterski chairs,
arguably the hottest unknown watersport around and coming soon to water near you.
You may have seen a hydrochair rider in action without realizing exactly what you were watching.
It's like nothing else on the water. Start with a supersized ski, extra wide and extra long. Then
attach a pedestal seat (with seat belt) at the rear of the ski and a pair of foot holders up near
the nose. Now, take a hydrofoil, a wing attached to a strut, and affix that to the bottom of the
ski near the tail. Voilà! A hydrochair. To ride, you sit on the seat, put your feet in the holders
and hang onto the rope. Just like practically any watersport you can think of, riding a hydrochair
sounds ridiculously simple, but in practice, it's a whole 'nother story.
The hydrochair
learning curve is steep, but the payoff is worth the effort. The easiest way to learn is to attend
a hydrofoil camp or to take personalized lessons, but you can also learn using the old-fashioned,
trial-and-error method. Aside from getting used to the notion of sitting down (and sitting a foot
or more above the water's surface once you're under way), you have to overcome your natural
tendency to lean forward or back to find your balance. If you lean, the foil beneath the water acts
literally like an airplane wing, and will either launch you skyward (if you lean back) or pull you
in (if you lean forward). Instead, you adjust your altitude in the water by raising or lowering the
towrope handle. It takes a few faceplants and unplanned takeoffs, but you'll quickly get the hang
of it.
When you're up and going, the benefits of the hydrofoil become obvious. First, because the foil
operates below the water's surface, the hydrochair is much less affected by chop than any other
watersport gear. Second, as a result of the hydrofoil's inherent lift, it takes much less physical
strength and effort to hold onto the towrope while you're underway. And third, the foil's lift
allows the hydrochair to operate at low speeds, adding safety and a sense of security for
first-timers.
As with all watersports, you're only a hydrochair first-timer once, and from then on, the sky's the limit. Advanced riders can get incredible air, soaring 20 feet or more above the surface of the water. Once airborne, the back flip seems to be the trick of choice, with some riders actually linking so many flips that you can get dizzy just watching. It's also possible to stand up on some of the newer models, and there are even confirmed reports of true zealots taking their hydrochairs out into the big waves and hydrosurfing. When it comes to tricks on a hydrochair, if you can dream it, odds are, you can do it.
Of course, you can't
do it if you don't have the right gear. For the most part, you'll need the same gear for
hydrochairing as for any other watersport. You'll need a 75-foot towrope with a handle and a PFD
that gives your arms a wide range of motion. You may need a wetsuit if the water is cold. A good
pair of neoprene gloves with leather palms will save your hands. If you have any intention of
getting crazy with the back flips and such, you'll want a helmet. And, of course, you'll need a
hydrochair.
There are only two manufacturer of hydrochairs - Air Chair (www.airchair.com) and Sky Ski (www.skyski.com) - so that makes choosing your chair a little easier. Whichever manufacturer's product you choose, prepare to spend a bit. Prices for brand-new, entry-level chairs start around $1,400 and can climb drastically. You'll definitely want to start with an entry-level chair, as they're designed to be easier to handle and more forgiving than the advanced models, which can be rather difficult for novices. Wait until your skills improve to spend the big bucks on the advanced models.
You can, however, save a few dollars by purchasing a used chair from a dealer or rider. As with
all watersports equipment, be sure to visually and physically inspect the chair and all its
components for damage or defects before purchasing, and take a test ride or two if at all possible.
Steer clear of chairs that have been modified in any way.
You can save even more money and get your feet wet at the same time if you participate in one of the "fly-ins" held throughout the United States. The U.S. Hydrofoil Association (USHA; www.hydrofoil.org), a USA Water Ski affiliate organization, typically conducts these events. At "fly-ins," you can meet and learn from experienced riders, dealers and manufacturers, and if you ask nicely, you can finagle a test ride or two at little or no cost. Best of all, you'll be able to try the gear and learn the sport from experienced, enthusiastic and often downright evangelistic hydrochair riders. And if you fall in love with the sport, you can upgrade to a full USHA membership on the spot and qualify for tournaments, which include all the other benefits.
It's been awhile since the first Air Chairs hit the market in 1990, but remember that wakeboarding simmered below most radar foryears before it took off. Over the past few years, hydrochairs have been enjoying a bit of a technical revolution with vastly improved foil designs being offered; don't be surprised if hydro-chairs, like wakeboards in the '90s, use technical advances to soar to new heights. And then, in the great watersports tradition, onlookers will no longer shake their heads and say, "That's crazy," when they see you flying in your hydrochair. They'll smile and nod, saying, "That's cool."