At first glance, Fontainebleau evokes the majesty of its forest, its legendary climbing blocks, and its natural atmosphere just a stone's throw from Paris. But recently, a new sound of foiling has been breaking through the silence of the Seine: that of dockstart pump foil enthusiasts. A look back at an original session, combining flat water, rhythm, and adrenaline.
An unexpected playground for Arthur , local Ambassador.
Who would have thought that Fontainebleau would become a pump foiling hotspot? And yet, some of the area's calm ponds and bodies of water offer the perfect setting for practicing dockstarting: easy launching, flat water, low crowds, and enough depth for foiling.
With a simple floating ramp or pontoon , motivated riders transform these peaceful places into real pumping laboratories.
Dockstart, the essence of Pump Foil
Dockstarting is the art of taking off from a pontoon without the aid of a wing, a cable, or a boat. Just you, your board, your foil... and your momentum. The goal: to generate enough lift and maintain a pumping rhythm to stay airborne.
In Fontainebleau, the calm of the ponds and the Seine provide ideal conditions for focusing on your technique : timing of the push, torso position, pumping frequency. A session here is the assurance of a precise, almost meditative workout... until your thighs burn!
Takoon gear put to the test
For this session, the Takoon setup worked wonders:
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Frontwing Pump Pro : immediate lift, smooth glide, perfect stability for racking up the meters.
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Short body: for more leverage and a slower pumping rhythm, ideal for working on endurance.
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Adapted stabilizer: to maintain control during stall phases.
All mounted on a rigid mast for better responsiveness with each restart.
What this session teaches us
Fontainebleau proves one thing: you don't need an ocean to improve your pump foil skills . With the right gear, a calm body of water, and a little resourcefulness, you can turn any quiet spot into a technical spot. That's also the spirit of pump foiling: the freedom to fly wherever you want, whenever you want.
Want to try the experience?
If you're looking for a foil to get started with dockstarting or take it to the next level, take a look at the Takoon Pump range, specially designed to offer lift, glide and forgiveness - an ideal ally for those flat water sessions like at Fontainebleau.