Uproar over 'dangerous' new beach trend on the rise in Australia - before ... trends now
Beachgoers have raised concerns about a new surfing trend on the rise across Australia that's banned at some of our most popular beaches.
Hydrofoiling is an emerging sport where riders use a surfboard-like craft equipped with a curved, wing-shaped fin underneath.
This fin suspends the board above the water, allowing riders to effortlessly glide above the surface — even on flat water.
While some are propelled by ocean currents or a rider's 'pumping' motion, others are also equipped with a lithium-powered jet propulsion system.
Despite the rising popularity of hydrofoiling around the world, it has been banned at some of Sydney's most popular beaches, including Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra, Bronte, Bondi, and Tamarama.
However, some hydrofoilers —also known as foilers — are choosing to disregard it, which has sparked tension between those in the water.
One incident occurred earlier this year at Bondi Beach, where a hydrofoil rider was confronted while riding a wave by a beachgoer who said it was dangerous.
A hydrofoiler was confronted at Sydney's Bondi Beach, where the sport is banned
The beachgoer who confronted the rider shared on Facebook: 'I spoke to one of them thinking he must not know, said he knows and doesn't care'.
'Saw so many near misses, one dad and his young daughter surfing had a near miss with them and then guy told them to watch out for his foil.'
However, Bondi local and prominent foiler Joshua Ku said the ban was an overreach from the councils.
'Instead of using common sense with the situation, the councils think that they just need to create a rule, and then the rule kind of protects everyone,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
'To an untrained eye the activity looks dangerous, but if you look at all the reports no one on a foil board has actually hurt anyone at the beach.'
Mr Ku added that hydrofoiling is not banned at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii,
