3058 flips - new world record

(redsupralaunch)

I read this on
http://www.usawaterski.org/default.asp?Display=479

Yesterday (Monday 11/3/2008), Bill Von Zabern of Canyon Lake, CA did 3,058 consecutive flips on a hydrofoil in one continuous run. It took him 6 hours, 26 minutes. He rode 56 laps around Canyon Lake for a total of approximately 126 miles. He says he's not tired, but his back & kidneys hurt.... The old record for flips on a hydrofoil was 1,416, set by Geno Yauchler in the mid-to-to-late 90s. We thought that record would never be broken, but Bill hit his goal of doubling it. Bill has been training for over 6 months toward setting this record. Now, I have to wonder if there are any other Watersports with a 6 hour + endurance record. I’m confident no one else has done 3000+ flips behind a boat on the water, and I have to wonder if anyone has done 3000 flips in one day on any device on or off the water.

(andy_nintzel)

WOW a while back I think that Shapiro, Parks and some others had a flip contest to see how many Roll they could do in like 5 minutes. I think Shapiro won. E-snow would have the Mag with the article in it.

(dmac) · (dmac) **Join Date: Jul 2003** 11-13-2008, 10:45 AM

sick, now can he do anything else on that hydrofoil?

(westsidarider)

that gas tank had to be darn near empty. im surprised that it lasted that long

(wakerider111) · (wakerider111) **Join Date: Jul 2006** 11-13-2008, 11:43 AM

i remember reading somewhere about a submission for a record for longest continuous cable run... i forget where i read it or how long it was

(ralph) · (ralph) **Join Date: Apr 2002** 11-13-2008, 11:50 AM

Oh, I want to watch the video. The whole thing. All 6hrs worth. That would be awwwwwwwesome.

(helix_rider) · (helix_rider) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 11-13-2008, 12:04 PM

Does that mean he never fell? I don't care how lame a flip on a foil is in someone's mind...doing 3000 anything in a row without falling is impressive to me.

(mcook77) · (mcook77) **Join Date: Feb 2004** 11-13-2008, 12:39 PM

Yes, he can do multiple other inverts on a foil. He basically did 3058 consecutive inverts without falling or stopping the boat. A few times, he did cruise around for 5 minutes just to get his head straight and relax a bit.

He went back and forth across the wake doing wake rolls / switch wake rolls (equivalent to a backroll / switch backroll).

They refilled the gas tank while underway.

Short video is here: http://www.idiotboyz.com/water.html (click on the Hydrofoil link on the right).

(Message edited by mcook77 on November 13, 2008)

(andy_nintzel)

I watched that video. Does anybody ever hit the bottom in shallow water with that foil? Seems like that would kick your a$$.

(mcook77) · (mcook77) **Join Date: Feb 2004** 11-13-2008, 1:28 PM

Andy - yes it happens....we are very careful watching the depth. That foil will stop and send you to a rapid faceplant. Just have to hope not to damage the foil considering they run anywhere from $1500 to $5000.

(brhanley) · (brhanley) **Join Date: Jun 2001** 11-13-2008, 2:14 PM

That is amazing. I doubt I have done 3058 flips in my entire 18 or so years of wakeboarding/skurfing.

(stephan) · (stephan) **Join Date: Nov 2002** 11-13-2008, 2:57 PM

Switch wake roll? He came in backwards? I thought hydrofoils only went forwards, that would open the sport up a lot if you could go forward and backwards.

(bstroop)

On a foil switch is a weakside trick.

Loren, does a gainer on a foil equal the lameness of watching a heelside hero all day long?

(westsiderippa) · (westsiderippa) **Join Date: Dec 2006** 11-13-2008, 3:30 PM

dude that was pimp, congrats to that dude, that showed some serious skill and endurance.

(to_blind) · (to_blind) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 11-13-2008, 3:42 PM

i feel so bad for the person who had to drive, and also for the "official counter"..,imagine, flip #798, flip # 799, flip # 800...they are the real heroes in my opinion.

(mcook77) · (mcook77) **Join Date: Feb 2004** 11-13-2008, 5:52 PM

Correct, switch is also knows as "weakside" or "offside" in hydrofoiling.

The guy driving was Mike Murphy - the inventor of the hydrofoil. Pretty cool for him to see such an amazing feat completed on the crazy contraption that he invented!

And for anyone curious, 360's are done by multiple riders these days (called Heli's) and one guy (Jake Bradley) has landed a 720. Jake has also landed the double gainer (2 backflips in a single air trick).

(westsidarider) · (westsidarider) **Join Date: Feb 2003** 11-13-2008, 6:40 PM

yea i couldnt imagine sitting in a boat for just under 7 hours counting the same trick over and over again. the boat crew is deffiantely the real heros of this event. having to lean over the side of the boat to fill up on gas without stopping.

(westsidarider) · (westsidarider) **Join Date: Feb 2003** 11-13-2008, 6:41 PM

i think the hydrofoil guys need to figure out a way to hit rails. that would really be a head turner

(wakeslife) · (wakeslife) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 11-13-2008, 6:57 PM

Anyone know if he ended up falling, or just gave up and called it a 'set'???

(dustin140) · (dustin140) **Join Date: Aug 2008** 11-13-2008, 9:03 PM

i bet he was a little dizzy

(mcook77) · (mcook77) **Join Date: Feb 2004** 11-14-2008, 5:46 PM

Roddyrod - no falls...he finally just said enough is enough and stopped.

Another reason he did wake roll / switch wake roll was to keep the rope from getting all twisted up from doing the same rotation, etc.

(wstr01) · (wstr01) **Join Date: Feb 2001** 01-11-2009, 7:52 PM

January 3rd, 2009, while riding during the Canyon Lake Polar Bear Day, Bill was in the middle of a backroll when (according to witnesses on the boat) the line went slack as he fell to the water. When reached by the boat he was not breathing and was later pronounced dead at the hospital after mouth to mouth and a defibulater failed save him. I'm not sure of the official cause of death and I'm not going to guess.

I didn't personally know him, but did see him ride several times while on the water. Amazing.

He was 42.

(Message edited by wstr01 on January 11, 2009)