Big Dave

Backstory

Big Dave wasn't born in a cave or hatched from an egg like the other weirdos in the Foiling Freaks menagerie. He washed up during a Westport winter swell, a blue, tattooed bundle of stoke with a laugh loud enough to scare seagulls into a new zip code.

The locals figured he'd lumber off into the dunes, but Dave did the opposite. He stared at the ocean as it owed him money, spotted a clean set stacking on the outside, and said the only words anyone remembers from that day: “Yep. That one'll do.”

Somewhere along the way, he “borrowed” a bright yellow fisherman's hat (it's become his trademark), inked himself up with salty swirl tattoos (nobody knows if it's art or a tide chart), and made hydrofoiling his entire personality in the best way possible.

If you see a blue monster in a yellow hat grinning through the spray, don't panic. That's just Big Dave, doing what he does, turning every session into a story worth sticking on a board, a bottle, or the side of your rig.

Big Dave's Merch Shop

Big Dave's Foiling Discipline

First Flight

Big Dave's first real flight didn't happen on a calm day with a perfect plan. It happened the Westport way: cold air, a pulsing set on the outside, and Dave staring at the water like it was a dare. He paddled his foil board into a shoulder-high runner, felt the hydrofoil lift, and everything went quiet for half a second. The wave was still doing wave things, but Dave was suddenly doing foil surfing, flying above the chop like the ocean had switched modes. He came off the wave laughing, not because it was pretty, but because it was real. From that day on, surf foiling became his anchor, and every other flavor of hydrofoiling he tried just turned into another excuse to get airborne.

Personality

Dave is equal parts fearless and welcoming. He'll send a wave foiling line that looks way too committed, then circle back to cheer when you finally get a clean run. He loves the puzzle side of the sport, the way a tiny change in stance, foil wing choice, or foil setup turns a sketchy run into smooth ocean foiling. He also has that classic Big Dave energy: one minute he's calm and dialed, the next he's hooting like a foghorn because someone just tried their first wake foil drop or made their first real carve in the pocket.

Favorite Conditions

Dave loves anything that offers a runway. For surf foiling, he wants a Westport swell with a clean shoulder and enough face to draw a long line. For wake foiling, he's happiest when the boat wake is crisp and the pocket is steady, so he can practice rope drops, pump back into position, and mess with speed control. And when the ocean takes a nap, he'll grab his efoil for a glassy cruise, because he believes hydrofoiling should never have an off-season.

Big Dave's Code

• Respect the foil: the hydrofoil rewards smooth inputs and punishes ego.
• Gear matters, but feel matters more: dial your foil setup, then listen for the foil to “sing.”
• Share the stoke: if someone is a wake foil beginner, you become their hype crew.
• Commit to the line: whether it's wave foiling, efoiling, or a quick wakefoil lap, hesitation is the real wipeout.
• Laugh fast: if you crash, pop up smiling and run it again.

Beginner Tips

• Start with the basics: a stable foil wing and a forgiving foil board make learning faster, especially if you're working on wake foil progression.
• For wake foiling: keep your knees soft, eyes forward, and focus on staying relaxed in the pocket before you chase extra speed. Those simple wake foil tips save a lot of early swims.
• For surf foiling: pick mellow waves and aim for clean takeoffs, not hero drops. Think of it as learning balance and timing first, then adding turns later.
• Treat the rope like a tool, not a crutch. Start smooth, build speed gradually, and learn to manage your stance before trying anything spicy.
• Most important: take at least one lap before you overthink the gear, then adjust your setup with intention, one little change at a time.

Preferred Ride

Big Dave is a three-discipline menace:

• Surf foil in Westport whenever there's a wave to glide
• Efoil on glassy days when the ocean takes a nap
• Boat wake foil when a friend says, “We've got a rope and questionable judgment, let's go.”

What Makes Him Big Dave

Dave is big, fearless, and somehow always has the most fun. He's the type who'll hoot for your first clean lift, then immediately try something ridiculous and wipe out so hard it resets the timeline. He swears he can hear the foil “sing” when it's trimmed right, and if you ask him to explain, he'll just grin and say, “You'll know.”

Signature Move

The Westport Wide-Grin: A committed line down the face, a little extra speed, and that full-tooth smile that says he's either about to thread the section or become part of the whitewater.

Fun Facts

• Collects “lucky” washers, mast bolts, and anything that looks like it came off a foil setup.
• Shows up early, leaves late, and never admits the water is cold.
• Will absolutely talk gear but only after you've taken at least one lap.

Big Dave's Motto

“If it flew, it counts.”