Greek foilboarding lord Nikolas Plytas made action sports history by finally landing a double backflip. It is the second time in 12 months that he revolutionized the sport and it took him more than 800 attempts.
However, this is the first time his trick was not contested by one of the biggest legends in surfing.
Foilboarding, also known as hydrofoiling or foil surfing, continues to grow in popularity despite some pushback from the older generation of traditionalists. Unlike a standard surfboard, a foilboard features a wing-like hydrofoil structure beneath the board. It acts like an underwater wing, which generates lift as it moves through the water. The hydrofoil lifts the board above the water’s surface as the rider gains speed to reduce drag and increase maneuverability. It also allows for riders to get up on smaller waves and flat water conditions that would not typically suit a traditional surfboard.
Hydrofoils are not only specific to surfing. It is also becoming more popular in kiteboarding, windsurfing and wakeboarding. The foil creates a completely new avenue for the ever-evolving world of water sports.
Nikolas Plytas is perhaps the most well-known foil surfer. Although he cut his teeth on all different kinds of action sports as a kid, he actually started his professional career as a water skier.
He has since become the biggest name in aerial hydrofoil surfing by constantly going even bigger.
Plytas first made history last February with the first-ever Surf Foil Backside Rodeo 5.
Kelly Slater later contested the name of the trick but he did not discredit the insanity!
I’m sure I’ll get tarred and feathered for this comment but…I get that skaters call rotation based on direction of rotation but in surfing, everything done facing the wall is and always will be considered frontside. The first rodeo (clowns) were done going (and called) backside rotating opposite to this. If skating is a precursor for direction of spin, then should this just be called a backside mctwist and not a rodeo? Seems the medium you’re riding matters when distinguishing and thus the confusion we surfers suffer. Super sick though no matter what.
— Kelly Slater
There is no question about Nikolas Plytas’ latest feat! He stomped the first-ever double backflip in foilboarding.
The trick took him more than 800 attempts to land. One particular try sent him soaring above the water.
I am new to the world of foilboarding and the “controversy” it brings to water sports but I am a firm believer that we should not prevent new innovations from pushing the limits of what we can achieve. To see Nikolas Plytas do a double backflip and be upset because we have strayed too far from our roots is a loser way of thinking. There is room for both. Let’s see just how high we can go!