MEET TEAM RIDER: BRADY HURLEY
BRADY’S Q&A WITH FOUNDER CHRIS SAYER
Q: Hey Brady! We’re so stoked to have you with us as an integral player here on team Freedom! What most may not know is that you and I have known each other for quite some time. I remember maybe about 4 years ago you were foiling with your Dad, Uncle and the rest of the West Coast Foil Club (WCFC) down at the San O Dog Patch. Tell us a little about your beginning days learning to foil. Did you ever go tow with Dad and Ryan or were you mostly prone foiling?
A: I started foiling on December 24th, 2017. My first couple sessions were at Malaekahana, a spot on Oahu. I surprisingly never had any sketchy/scary falls while learning which made me get comfortable quick. At home in California, I was mostly foiling in waves at San O and Trails, occasionally going to Seal Beach. I towed a little bit with my dad and uncle while I was in Fiji on Tavarua.
Q: WCFC and Freedom have teamed up to bring some new collab boards to the foil market here in 2023. We’re all super stoked to keep the WCFC name alive and reintroduce the new Frequent Flyer and J.A.T.O. board models to the foiling world. What do you think of the new boards and do you have a favorite that you like to ride?
A: I prefer to ride the 4’2 Frequent Flyer over the 4’6. The 4’2 is lighter and better for pumping. I have also been doing a little bit more strapless riding, where I prefer a smaller board. Even though the J.A.T.O. is mainly a tow board, it is still really fun to paddle into waves. It is super responsive, and I can really feel the foil underneath me.
Q: Let’s talk a little about your foiling. Your roots are surf but based off your performance in Hood River a few weeks ago, you’ve become proficient at SUP down-winding. Is there anywhere you practice locally? Tell us a little about the conditions you look for to make the call of whether its windy enough to down-wind?
Q: We all know you can pump forever… Do you see yourself competing in any races or crossings? Do you have any partners you train with or friends who give you advice in the down-wind world?
A: I would love to compete in the next races. My friend Mala’e and I learned how to downwind together last summer. There were a few mile long paddle ins, but we figured out how to read the bumps pretty quickly.
