Will foiling be banned in France?

01/04/2023

This is of course an April Fool's joke, the practice of foil in all its forms remains free in France!
Thank you for your comments and for the few private emails/messages of insults we received. We don't blame you, come back whenever you want... ;-)

The foil, a technology that allows watercraft to sail above the water, has generated a lot of enthusiasm in recent years. With its astonishing performance and spectacular appearance, the foil has quickly won over many water sports enthusiasts. However, according to our exclusive information, this new toy is in danger following the recent submission of a bill aimed at banning the practice of foil in France, in all its forms!

This bill, which should be debated in the National Assembly and then in the Senate before the summer, is the result of a group of MPs who claim that the foil presents numerous risks for other users of the sea, as well as for the environment. The authorities found that foils considerably increased the speed of water sports, making them more difficult and dangerous to handle. In addition, foils could cause serious injuries if they collided with other sailors or swimmers. In the meantime, other voices have been raised in support of the foil ban.
Environmental groups have highlighted the ecological damage caused by foil-equipped craft, which can disturb marine life. In addition, some associations have highlighted the risk of noise pollution linked to the use of foils, which can have harmful effects on the health of marine mammals.
In fact, it is only a simple bill at the moment, but it follows a precedent, this municipal decree adopted on 29 May 2018 by the town of Anglet in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, which banned foiling on its beaches, stipulating that "any activity that could pose a risk to the public (in this case bathers) is formally prohibited".
As the information was only leaked at the end of the day on Friday 31st March, those involved in the sport and in foiling in general have not yet had time to react, except for a few who responded to our last minute requests... Of course, we will keep you informed in the coming weeks on the development of this information, which will undoubtedly be the talk of the town between now and this summer, and the possible promulgation of this law...

Didier Flamme, technical advisor of the French sailing federation: "I heard the news on Friday evening, I don't dare believe it, is it a joke? My experience with our politicians is that we have to expect everything, even that this law will be passed quickly this summer. With this in mind, the French sailing federation is going to ask the Ministry of Sport for an exemption so that the athletes can continue to train all over France and so that the sailing events can take place in Marseille during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Otherwise, it will be the death knell for French excellence, in iQFOil, in kitefoil as well as in wingfoil...".

Svein Rasmussen, official iQFOil equipment supplier: "France is a strange country! They are among the youngest in the world to retire and now they want to ban foiling? The iQFOil support is incredibly successful, it is the showcase of modern windsurfing and the French are among the best in the world, it is totally illogical. As the official supporter of the Olympic windsurfing events, I will make an explicit and official request to the IOC for the foil events to be held elsewhere than in France in 2024...".

Pierre Mortefon, professional windsurfer: "It was in our faces! Foil is a tool that should not be put in the hands of just anyone and I understand the caution of our institutions. There have been no major problems in competitions and only a few injuries to sailors. But we know that we live in a world where we prefer to legislate and ban rather than understand. I remain a competitor at heart and I will adapt. But at least in France, if this law is passed, we won't have to ask ourselves if we should go out on the water in a foil slalom!"

Bruno André, initiator of the foil in France: "I am one of those who have spent the most time on a foil since my first experiments in 2009 and I don't understand the outcry from ecological associations. Here at home in Cap Sizun in Brittany, where there is a nature reserve not far from where I sail, the fauna and flora are doing wonderfully, we have never had so many periwinkles and herring gulls. I even personally know a dolphin in the bay that has been there for about ten years and has never complained!"

Nicolas Goyard, professional windsurfer and great chance of winning a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics: "I heard the news in the early hours of this Saturday morning, I am in shock. The first thing that came to my mind was to get out of France, to leave. So, in the heat of the moment, I plan to ask for political asylum in Monaco and too bad for a gold medal for France and for the Marseillaise on the podium...".

Hervé Berville, Secretary of Department for the Sea: "For several months now, we have been receiving very negative feedback about foiling and all the practices involved, such as windfoil, kitefoil, wingfoil, surffoil and SUPfoil. I will be tabling this bill, which has been sent to me by MPs from the western part of the country and also some from the Mediterranean. Since last summer, we have been receiving very accurate information. Future summer visitors call the tourist offices of the seaside resorts and want to know if there are people practising foil in the community. This becomes a psychosis and some people cancel their reservations for fear of being injured while swimming! The foil phenomenon happened suddenly and we didn't anticipate all the consequences, a bit like TikTok for social networks, which the government is watching and trying to regulate. We are in a free country, but not everyone does what they want, especially on the water!"

Jean Dubricard, windfoil expert on Facebook: "I saw the news late Friday night and we talked about it with the other members and experts of the Facebook group I run: "Foiling or nothing". It's a conspiracy! Windsurfers are sheep and won't say anything. If the law is passed, I will continue to foil in my place, it is my right! I am free to do what I want. Wake up, we are being lied to!"

Source: Windsurfjournal.com
Photos: Markus Greber/NeilPryde - Alan van Gysen/NeilPryde - Si Crowther/Fanatic