A technique in foiling where you generate speed and lift by rhythmically shifting your weight, allowing you to ride a foil without wind or waves.
Pumping is what separates foiling from all other board sports. By shifting your weight forward and backward in a rhythmic motion, you can generate enough lift and speed to keep the foil flying without any external power source. Surf foilers pump to connect between waves.
Wing foilers pump to get back upwind without the wing. SUP foilers pump to ride open-ocean swells endlessly. The technique requires strong legs and core — a good pumping session is an intense workout.
The physics are similar to how a bird flaps its wings: the alternating angle of attack on the front wing creates thrust. Foils with larger front wings are easier to pump, while performance-oriented smaller wings require more explosive technique.
Example usage
"Pumped between three waves on the foil today — connected a set that would have been three separate rides on a regular board."
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