Is Pumpfoiling Hard for Beginners?

Pumpfoiling… it looks pretty wild, doesn’t it? No kite, no boat, just you seemingly levitating above the water on a foil. If you’re a beginner watching someone pumpfoil around a lake, you might think, ‘ I’d last two seconds before falling in!’ But is pumpfoiling really that hard for beginners? Let’s break it down in plain English and get you stoked to give it a go.

What Is Pumpfoiling, Anyway?

Pumpfoiling is a new foiling discipline where you ride a hydrofoil board without needing wind or waves. Instead, you generate momentum by ‘pumping’ the board with your legs and shifting your weight. 

Essentially, you bounce the board up and down in the water to create lift on the foil, propelling you forward. It’s a bit like an endless no-wave surf: once you get going, you can glide almost magically. 

Pumpfoiling is actually easiest when there’s little to no wind making it a perfect activity for those calm days when kitesurfers are stuck on the beach. So if you’ve ever been gutted by a windless weekend, pumpfoiling could be your new best mate!

Do You Need to Be Fit to Learn?

Absolutely not. At first glance, pumpfoiling can look technical (and maybe a tad silly) as people bob up and down. But beginners of all shapes, sizes and ages are learning to pumpfoil. You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete or a pro surfer - if you have decent balance and a willingness to fall in and climb back on, you can learn this. 

Of course, it helps if you’ve done some board sports or foiling before, but it’s not a deal-breaker if you haven’t. The key is understanding the rhythm and developing the leg strength/endurance to keep that pumping motion. Think of it as learning to balance on a bike: wobbly at first, but soon it clicks. 

Yes, you’ll probably spend a fair bit of time in the water on your first tries (everyone does!), but that’s part of the fun and learning curve. Each short flight you achieve will have you grinning and motivated for the next go.

How to Get Started as a Beginner

The easiest way to start pumpfoiling is in a controlled setting, calm flat water and ideally from a platform or dock. Many beginners actually start with a dock start: you stand on the board next to a low dock, take a couple of quick steps and jump on the board to get initial speed, then pump away. Sounds tricky? It can be, which is why getting some guidance is golden. 

At Northern Kites, for example, our instructors often hold the board for you at the end of a dock. This hands-on help means you spend less time flailing and more time feeling that sweet glide. 

We’ll teach you how to safely get on and off the board, how to position your feet, and how to find the rhythm of pumping. It’s all about small movements: bending your knees to push the board down (you’ll feel the foil lift you), then unloading weight to let the board rise. With a bit of practice, you’ll link those pumps into continuous motion.

Top Tips for Pumpfoil Newbies:

Start on big, stable gear: A large front foil wing (for easier lift) will make learning way easier. Bigger foils lift at lower speeds, meaning you don’t have to pump like mad to get going. We can advise on the right setup or provide gear during a lesson.

Use safety gear: You might not be going at wind-driven speeds, but you’ll still tumble off and the foil has sharp bits. Wear a helmet and an impact vest (and a wetsuit, of course) so you can attempt new moves with confidence. No shame in padding up!

Perfect the basics: Focus first on simply getting the board to rise and ride for a few seconds. Don’t worry about trying to go far initially. Master the take-off pump and controlled touch-downs. As you improve, your balance and leg timing will naturally get better, and you’ll go longer distances.

Consider a lesson or buddy: Pumpfoiling solo can be a workout in persistence. Having an instructor or a mate with experience to give pointers (or physically assist your starts) can jump-start your progression big time. Two heads (and four legs) are better than one!

Is Pumpfoiling a Full-On Workout?

100% it will get your heart pumping (pun intended). Pumpfoiling uses your leg muscles and core strength intensively. Beginners often find a few short runs can leave them pleasantly knackered. 

But the good news is, you build fitness as you practice. It’s actually fantastic cross-training for other watersports, your balance and leg strength gains will translate to better kitefoiling, wingfoiling, even surfing. Think of pumpfoiling as a fun way to get fit without hitting the gym. 

Take breaks when you need, enjoy the fall-ins as a chance to cool off and you’ll find your endurance improving each session. Before long you’ll be stringing together minute-long rides and treating a dock as your personal endless wave playground.

How Northern Kites Can Help You Get Foiling

At Northern Kites, we’ve fully embraced the pumpfoiling craze and we love introducing newcomers to this addictive sport. We offer dedicated pumpfoiling lessons where we provide all the gear and step-by-step coaching. Worried it’s too hard? We specialise in teaching beginners, our instructor will start you off with the simplest method which is by stabilising your board from a dock so you can focus on feeling the foil. 

Before you know it, you’ll be pumping around West Kirby Marine Lake with a massive grin, wondering why you ever thought it looked hard. Get in touch to book your pumpfoil lesson now or ring us at 0151 662 0318 to chat about pumpfoiling, we’re always happy to help. See you on the water!