Paris 2024 Olympics: Grae Morris’ dangerous quest for speed on crazy iQFOil windsurfer

Grae Morris loves nothing more than cracking a crash highlight reel by pushing himself to the limits in the edgy new foiling windsurfer class - as long as it not at the Olympics.

Foiler Grae Morris at the Paris 2024 Olympic test event at Marseille Marina. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

He looks more like a Junior Wallaby than a sailor and the giant foiling windsurfer has applied some old rugby skills to help him cope with the “big bangs” of racing fast for a prolonged period.

The strangely named iQFOiL is the new board being raced by 193cm, 100kg debutant Grae Morris, who has become a “crash test dummy” in his bid to make a memorable debut.

Concussions, bruises and big crashes are all part of the new game as sailing works to update its image to appeal to a younger audience.

But crashing can cruel a campaign in a split second. Morris, 20, has worked overtime in the lead-up to the Olympics to push the boundaries without crashing.

Grae Morris, is the youngest and biggest sailor in the Australian team.

“Part of the attraction is we go fast and crash and it makes us sound tough and cool,’’ Morris said.

“But when you go fast there are crashes and consequences.

“When you crash it’s because the foils are out of the water and there’s no flow and you lose all momentum.

“You could be going 70kmh and it’s like hitting a brick wall without a safety belt. It can get a bit loose.

“We like to be on the highlight reel. That’s cool. But not at the Olympics. It’s risk versus reward, but in training it’s all risk.”

He believes playing schoolboy rugby has helped him with his body control and movement.

“We are all good at crashing so we can get out of it safely,” he said.

There’s been little opportunty for anything but sitting around for the big windsurfer in Marseille so far with light winds keeping him and his rivals out of the racing on Sunday..

Originally published as Paris 2024 Olympics: Grae Morris’ dangerous quest for speed on crazy iQFOil windsurfer