Sandpoint hosts high-flying Inland Northwest Hydrofoil Fly-in

SANDPOINT — While it’s fairly common to see waterskiers, wakeboarders or windsurfers flying through the air doing tricks on Lake Pend Oreille, last weekend a different brand of aerials were on display.

Sandpoint hosted 18 sit-down hydrofoil riders from Idaho, Washington, Monatana and Canada in the first-ever Inland Northwest Hydrofoil Fly-in. Sandpoint’s Joey Few put the event together, and was surprised how many riders showed up.

“I didn’t know I had that much interest,” said Few, a 32-year-old among the top riders in the niche sport. “At the last minute it blew up.”

Few planned the event and provided food, boat parking and shelter for the tired and bruised riders after two big days of riding in the sun. Mike Still, who lives near Riley Creek, also hosted a dinner for the spent riders on Saturday night.

Unlike water skiing or wakeboarding, a hydrofoiler’s body and the board rise above the water, supported by a pair of front and rear hydrofoil wings which are still under the water. This reduces the drag of the water, allowing for a smoother ride on rough water and a lesser need for strength.

Riders are towed behind competition ski boats and glide through the water on wings, flying high at speeds ranging from 15 to 28 mph. When they point the wings toward the sky they are sent to extreme heights allowing for a wide range of tricks including big airs, front flips, back flips, side rolls, spins and much more.

Few, one of a small handful of hydrofoilers on Lake Pend Oreille, had an apt description of the sport.

“Flying on the water,” described Few, who can jump more than 15 feet while performing aerial tricks. “It’s low resistance, quiet, you can hear everything.”

Among those in attendance was Spokane pro Ben Ferney, who currently holds the world record for Big Air. The riders went up and down the river from Murphy Bay to Riley Creek, performing jumps and wrecks along the way. On Sunday, they put on an exhibition at City Beach.

Two boats went side-by-side to create an extra kicker wake, and Ferney was catching upwards of 20-25 fee of air at one point.

Few is hoping the sport continues to grow, and plans to make it an annual event. First, he is hoping to perform another amazing feat in 2013.

“I want to go (hydrofoiling) at least once every month on Lake Pend Oreille,” said Few, who has made it through July. “People see me on the bridge in the middle of winter and they think I’m nuts.”

For more information regarding sponsorships and attendance for next year’s event, contact Few at (208) 610-8542 or by email at “rm2fast@yahoo.com.”