FOILERS

In this episode, I spoke to Marcus Tardrew from CODE foils. Marcus has a 15-year background as a leading SUP and board shaper across multiple disciplines. Known particularly for his work with Sunova. Marcus was also the first Australian to compete in the Molokai to Oahu race on a foil in 2019.  I met Marcus a few years ago when he worked at a foil shop. He is a fairly quiet and humble guy, but in this episode, I managed to get him talking.  We chat about the latest CODE Foil releases and the background and philosophy of CODE more generally. We also talk about the team behind CODE and their design and business philosophies and reflect on the drivers of their success to date. There are some great people in this awesome sport, and Marcus is one of those very authentic and passionate foilers who is always great to catch up with. Enjoy the episode.

In this episode, I spoke to Jermome and Leopold, who design foils for Duotone. We discuss their design philosophies and approach, as well as the evolving technologies used to design and build foils for wing foiling, downwind foiling, prone foiling and pump foiling. We also discuss why they don't currently produce foils for racing.We also discuss how they respond to the market and balance the need to deliver what the market currently needs or expects while also looking ahead to educate the market and introduce new approaches and designs for improved performance. Jermone and Leopold also discuss their current foil range and their applications. It’s a particularly interesting chat for those looking to understand the thinking behind foil design and the decision-making process and steps taken in transitioning from a product idea to the launch of a new foil. Enjoy!

Dylan is a passionate waterman who distributes Kalama Performance gear in Australia and is the founder of Flow Foiling, a dedicated foiling school. He is also an accomplished athlete, participating in high-profile stand-up paddleboarding and downwind foiling events. I caught up with Dylan following the Koa Kai Triple Crown in Hawaii. We explored his background and foiling philosophy while also taking a closer look at the Kalama Performance product range.

In this episode, I’m joined by kiting legend and foiling adventurer Patrick Rebstock. From pioneering strapless wave riding to pushing the limits of downwinding and parawinging, Patrick has spent decades chasing the perfect ride. We dive into his journey from California surf breaks to parawinging with Ozone’s Pocket Rocket and explore why parawinging is opening up a whole new world for foilers everywhere.

In this episode, I spoke to Adam Stronczak from Stoke Foiling about their new Stoke Foil Boost Ultra system. This system extends their product range into hybrid foiling, with the ability to switch between a foil-assist mode for a boost of power or a full e-foil mode to spend more time powered on the foil. Is this product for you? Listen and decide for yourself. Loving the continued evolution of foiling. Enjoy

Cynthia "Cynbad" Brown is widely celebrated in the foiling community for her fearless spirit, enduring passion, and trailblazing presence on the water. Last year, at 62, she achieved podium finishes at three major downwind Hawaii events. Beyond her impressive athletic achievements, Cynthia is known for her infectious energy and commitment to sharing the stoke. She has been a pivotal figure in the evolution of foiling sports, from windsurfing in the 1980s to pioneering parawing downwinders today.She has such a great story to tell, and I know you are going to love this episode. Enjoy!

In this episode, I catch up with none other than Damien LeRoy - kiteboarding world champ, foil frother, successful YouTuber, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Damien talks about his journey from competitive kiteboarding to becoming a fully fledged foil addict. We delve into his passion for progression, the foiling gear he's currently riding and why, his thoughts on where the foiling industry is heading, and why he's so driven to share the stoke about foiling. Damien also reflects on the 100km Atlantic Ocean crossing he completed with a couple of mates, kiting from Florida to the Bahamas back in 2017, and his thoughts on future adventures. It's an epic chat for those who love foiling

Mike Raper is the  Brand Director of North Kiteboarding and North Foils. Mike is extremely passionate about watersports and has an extensive background in the area. We talk through North's philosophy as a brand and their approach to designing foiling gear. We also talk about their new Ranger parawing and midi foil board, and how they work in combination. In chatting to Mike, I learnt a lot about North Foils and the foiling industry more generally. Noting that I have no affiliation with North, I came away from our discussion impressed with how North have evolved in recent years, developing some great products for foilers at all levels. Enjoy

This episode is brought to you by the Hydrofoil Academy Australia and is part 2 of my chat with Greg from Boardriding Maui (BRM). As you probably know, in 2024, Greg launched the BRM Maliko Parawing, which created a whole new way to enjoy foiling.  Since then, Greg has been continuing to evolve and refine his design. Recently, he surprised many by launching three new parawings. In our chat, we look at the differences between the new parawings and his original design and discuss what you should consider when choosing which parawing model is best for you. It's an impressive range, and he is a great ambassador and innovator, driving the sport forward. Enjoy.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Greg, the founder of Boardriding Maui (BRM). Greg started BRM in 2012, backed by a strong watersports background. He started his career at a local windsurfing shop in Maui and later went on to be placed 4th in the 2001 Kiteboarding World Tour. He then worked as a designer for Naish International for some 10 years. In 2024, Greg launched the BRM Maliko Parawing, creating a whole new way to enjoy foiling. In our conversation, Greg shares the inspiration behind his parawing and his experience with the gear best suited to use a parawing. We also delve into the challenges and triumphs of pushing the boundaries of gear performance and discuss how innovations like the parawing are opening up new possibilities for riders around the world.​

The first thing most of us do when we head out on the water is take our sunglasses off. However, you get a double dose of UV radiation from UV reflecting off the water in combination with direct UV exposure. And, importantly, UV damage to our eyes is cumulative. Glare is, of course, also a major issue, particularly during those morning or afternoon foiling sessions. Back in 2012, a keen windsurfer who had made sunglasses for cyclists decided to make sunglasses for watersports, and so LiP Sunglasses was born. It was a challenging undertaking, but he developed a range of designs that could withstand the harsh conditions of the ocean, provide clear vision, and protect eyes. In this episode, I talked to Graham Saunders from LiP Sunglasses about why we should consider wearing sunglasses out on the water. We also chat about the features of their range and what makes them work so well out on the water. We also talk about lens options and why you might choose polarised lenses over non-polarised or photochromic lenses. If you are keen to keep foiling long term then wearing sunglasses is something you should seriously consider.

In this episode, I chat with Richard Boudia, the International Business Development Manager for AFS (Alien Foiling Systems). Richard provides an overview of the evolution of AFS and shares their philosophies in designing their foils and boards. He is a driving force behind the approach that AFS is taking, and in our chat, he shares his thoughts on global foiling trends. I am sure you will enjoy this episode.

Oskar Johansson is a team rider for Armstrong and a talented and well-renowned prone foiler. In this episode, Oscar reflects on a busy year in 2024, balancing working and foiling, shares his early experiences as a surfer starting prone foiling, and provides some great tips on gear and technique for those looking to get into prone foiling or simply up their prone foiling game. We also touch on a range of other foiling disciplines and discuss the future of foiling more generally. Enjoy.

On the 2019/2020 New Years Eve Jermy dared himself, as a New Year's resolution, to take video footage every single time he went foiling, edit it, and put it up on YouTube. Four years later, he is posting a video every week on his Oceanbound channel, and they are proving to be very popular. His videos are relaxed, informative and entertaining. Well worth a watch! In this episode, we chat about the foiling gear he has tried and is currently riding, the growth in popularity of downwinding, the gear he uses to make his videos, the future of foiling and much more. Sit back and enjoy!

Welcome to a local legend episode, where I talk with people who froth foiling and are out on the water at every opportunity. In this episode, I talk to Sven Mayer, who is a local legend in Perth, Western Australia. We talk about the foiling disciplines he is enjoying at the moment, the gear that works best for him, and his views on the future of foiling. Sven also posts regularly on Instagram with some great content - check him out @sveny_foils. Enjoy!

Balz Müller is best known for his crazy freestyle wing foiling and windsurfing manoeuvres and is one of the most passionate water sports enthusiasts around. In this episode, Blaz talks about growing up with a family of watersports enthusiasts in Switzerland, his experiences in the early days of wing foiling, his involvement with Ensis and Sabfoil product development, his perspective on the future of foiling, and much more. Enjoy!

PPC is a leading foiling company with a growing range of world class products. In this episode, I spoke to Sam from PPC about the evolution of PPC, the guiding principles that differentiate it from others companies, new product releases, the future of foiling, and much more. Enjoy.

AXIS has long been a key player in foiling sports. In this episode, I spoke to Adrian about their new foil range, their philosophies regarding foil design, the origins and evolution of AXIS, their perspectives on the future of foiling, and much more. Enjoy.

The popularity of foil propulsion systems is growing as more people want to go foiling more often. In this episode, I talked to Hamish from Stoke about his Stoke Foil Boost. Have a listen to hear where the idea came from, the ways in which the Stoke Foil Boost is different, and which scenarios it is best suited for. Enjoy.