Hang Five: Gabi Bella's five tips

This piece first appeared in Foiling Magazine issue 21 (September 2024) as "Gabriella Bella", the first of the magazine's Hang Five series, five tips from riders who know. Photos Shannon Stent. Republished with the magazine's kind permission.

Coming up in foiling, sometimes you just need a little advice from the right kind of people. Sounded like a great idea for a new section to us! So here you go… Five key tips from those who are pretty qualified to offer them. First up is Maui ripper and downwind champ, Gabi Bella.

Ride with people who inspire you.

Don’t be afraid to be the most novice foiler in the lineup, as being a beginner is a fresh memory even for the most experienced foilers, and they are excited to see new foilers getting hooked on the sport. There is so much to learn from the people around you who may be a step or ten ahead. I remember when I was first learning how to prone foil and my friend was getting his first 2-for-1s. I was so motivated to learn how to connect waves, and I progressed towards that goal much faster than I would have if that inspiration wasn't present.

Go out in a variety of conditions.

Going out in a variety of conditions is one of the quickest ways to fast track your foiling progression. There are so many attractions to foiling, and my personal favorite is that there are no more bad days when you have a foil. No matter the conditions, there is fun to be had. There is a mindset change that happens when you start foiling in trashy conditions and realize that there are no limitations to what you can enjoy. Whether it is onshore and barely breaking or gusting 50mph while riding wind swells in a river, the possibilities are endless! How good does it feel to know that you are scoring an insane session while your non-foiling friends are reloading their surf forecast page, waiting for a good day.

Break down big goals into smaller steps.

Don’t be afraid to try something that seems tough. With time and patience, you’ll get there. For me, learning to downwind SUP foil felt out of reach. I had never tried any paddling sports and didn’t see many girls my age downwind foiling. What’s cool about getting into a sport with a steep learning curve, like foiling, is that nearly everyone you see who is now successfully doing it struggled at first. Instead of avoiding challenges, try breaking them down into smaller steps. Start by paddling around in calm water or even test out your SUP foil setup with a wing to get the hang of reading bumps.

Keep an open mind.

Keeping an open mind when foiling opens up so many possibilities. You might have entered foiling as a wind sport enthusiast eager to take on kite foiling or winging but with an open mind, nothing is stopping you from grabbing a SUP or pump foil setup and making the most of those glassy days. Foiling is still new and little innovations are being made daily. Getting creative on and off the water is such a fun way to keep the foil froth alive.

Try new things.

Keep trying new things. Maybe hop on a friend’s setup or test a demo foil out or even simply swap out the rear wing on your usual setup. Explore how you can tweak things to discover a fresh sensation on your foil. While it is a luxury to be super comfortable with your ride, continually trying new things will transform you into a more versatile and adaptable rider which ultimately will keep you progressing. You never know, you might just find a new favorite setup that takes your foiling to the next level. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and keep pushing yourself.

Gabi Bella on a gold hunt, South Shore Maui. Photo: Shannon Stent. This shot ran on the issue's contents page.

Read more from Foiling Magazine, and find issue 21 online.