Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 16 i Foiling Magazine

Hey Hugo, firstly please tell us how old you are and where you live… Sure! I’m 16 years old and I live in Mission bay, Auckland, New Zealand. Where’s your local spot? My local spot is Kohimarama beach, just a few hundred meters from my house. How did you first get into foiling? I first got into foiling for the purpose of kitefoiling. My dad first learnt behind our small inflatable boat then just shortly after my brother and I learnt behind the boat. After one go behind the boat I progressed to kitefoiling and from there I have been addicted to the foil ever since. Who are you sponsored by Hugo, and what’s your gear setup of choice? I’m sponsored by Armstrong and Flysurfer. My go-to all-round wing setup…

New Caledonia is a stunning archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, located approximately 700 miles east of Australia, and only 400 miles from Fiji island. It is renowned for its breathtakingly beautiful lagoon, which is one of the largest in the world. The New Caledonia lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and stunning coral reefs that make it one of the most spectacular natural wonders on earth. The lagoon is home to an incredible array of sea creatures, including turtles, dolphins, dugongs, sharks and so many fishes. The vibrant coral reefs are bursting with color. The water is so clear that you can see right down to the ocean floor, and every time we go and ride on a glassy day, we’ll see…

I teamed up with my friend and photographer Gumby to shoot big Cloudbreak. We had access to a jet ski, so we planned it out with Gumby’s brother-in-law, Ari, who we lined up to tow me into some Cloudbreak bombs. Cloudbreak is known as one of the heaviest waves in the world. It is situated in Fiji, a stone’s throw from its two most famous islands, Namotu and Tavarua (both now on the bucket list for plenty of foilers). This outer reef takes about 20-minutes to get to from the surrounding islands, and on any given day it is packed with tourists coming to have a crack at the famous wave. The wave is a fast left hander that barrels in spots and slows down for turns in areas not…

WEAPON AK DURABLE SUPPLY CO. COMPACT WINGBOARD. RIDER HEIGHT 5’11 RIDER WEIGHT 65KG The Compact has been fully optimized for wingboarding, with its highly concentrated volume, and low swing weight. The stable platform and centralized volume create a board that is easy to throw around when jumping and doing progressive maneuvers. The high apex rail maintains the feel of a narrow board, with stability provided by the additional width when not planing. The Compact wingboard boasts a Carbon Innegra construction with a full Carbon Innegra top deck, wood sandwich standing areas, and heavy-duty foil connection. I have been riding V2 for six months, and it still fascinates me how well the board works. It’s been my favorite board to learn new tricks. One of the first boards that I learned…

LOCATION VALDEVAQUEROS, SPAIN DATE WEDNESDAY APRIL 19TH, 2023 I t was a very ordinary Wednesday in April, at home in Tarifa. The forecast looked promising for the week ahead, but that day the wind was not good and the weather was generally awful. I’d awoken early and had been really looking forward to riding that day, but sadly it was a super cloudy and stormy Levante day. I phoned Samuel Cardenas, and we met up to have lunch together at his family’s restaurant. We were speaking about the idea of going for a photo session after lunch, but every minute the weather seemed to be getting worse and worse. By the time we had the food in front of us, it even started raining… we knew then it was probably…

Slingshot is leaning into the one board quiver with the re-vamped Flying Fish V2. Sporting a wider outline with a little added volume, combined with a flatter rocker, the Flying Fish V2 is designed to be a prone paddling wave catching machine with versatility for wing foiling. Slingshot has done a great job with their shipping and packaging with the Flying Fish V2 arriving in a plastic-free shipping box that was well padded and thoughtfully packed. Initially the versatility of the design is apparent in the foot strap insert configuration which allows for up to three footstraps (two Y in the front and one in the back) as well as a variety of spacing and offsets. There are only three holes for each insert in the front, and four in…

Takuma are not a brand who cause too much confusion with their line-up of foils. There are not hundreds of front wing, rear wing and stabilizer options to navigate, and you don’t need to spend three hours on the beach discussing your set up with fellow foilers before you get in the water. They are a brand with a “trust us on this one: go ride it” attitude to foil design. We’ve been with them on their Kujira journey since day one. The Kujira Helium was a revolutionary foil in this particular tester’s winging journey. Stepping from a ‘big’ learning wing down to the Helium 1500 was a Eureka moment and immediately sold the Kujira concept to me. The bumps on the leading edge (inspired by humpback whales) have gone…

The Starboard and Airush collaboration has now spawned its third version of the FreeWing which has stuck to its roots as a well-rounded, multi-purpose wing, sitting alongside the Nitro which hits the performance freeride sector, and the FreeWing Pro which is a race-focused X-Ply construction. The FreeWing AIR V3 is made from traditional and proven Dacron and ripstop, and is relatively lightweight compared to its freeride competitors. Visually its shape looks like a very straight evolution of the series, with the trademark squat mid-aspect layout and boxy leading edge, with a subtle and minimal dihedral shape. The strut has had a redesign this year with far more curvature built in to amplify the wing’s profile and a direct connection to the canopy in its last quarter at the tip. The…

The AXIS ART caused a bit of a stir on initial release with its blend of speed and glide, perhaps the pick of the first swathe of true high-aspect ratio foils. Two years in development, the ART PRO is the range set to supersede it, and AXIS sent out a pre-release ART PRO 1201 (denoting its span in mm) for us to test. AXIS state it sits between the HPS 1050 and PNG 1300 somewhere, and having back-to-back tested all of these foils extensively we’d definitely agree that this claim is on the money. The original ART 1099 was a solid performer, with extremely high glide levels and a generally efficient feel. The 1201 sits slightly above this in terms of size, with it clocking in at a projected area…

Unifoil has hit it out of the park with an amazing collaboration between legendary foil designer, Clifford Coetzer, and the Progression Project podcast’s host and foil lord, Erik Antonson. This foil is the fruit of relentless testing, delivering an unparalleled experience with focus on glide, maneuverability, and pitch stability. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned rider, this foil has got you covered. As I unboxed this kit, the first thing I noticed were the aesthetically pleasing, protective wing covers that boast “Progression 140” and “Progression 170” on embroidered labels. As I unsheathed the wings, I couldn't help but admire their smooth dihedral curves and slightly inflected wingtips, aimed to prevent ventilation while breaching through turns. Even though a portion of the fuselage is molded into the front wing to…

What’s the major difference that riders are going to notice between the regular Slick and the D/LAB version, and who would you pitch the D/LAB to? D/LAB wings are lighter and have a faster response. They are also stiffer when pumped to recommended pressure, which is a good feature for lighter winds and also for heavier riders. The D/LAB is mainly for the riders looking for maximum performance and obviously for those with a higher budget. That being said, the regular Slick is still a very good wing! Have you augmented the shape of the D/LAB version compared to the standard version to accommodate the Aluula material? The leading edge diameter of the Slick D/LAB is slighty smaller than that of the standard Slick. This gives a bit less aerodynamic…

Hi team. So, let’s start with the new front wings, the Riblets. What kind of rider is this range primarily aimed at? Crafted with precision, the Riblet wings are the perfect upgrade for seasoned riders who have mastered our Hi Aspect Glider wings. We embarked on a mission to create a wing that would surpass even the fastest wing, our renowned 1250 Glider. But we didn't stop there; we aimed to design a wing that offered a wide range of versatility. The Riblet’s cutting-edge design guarantees unparalleled speed and is your go-to wing for all foiling adventures, whether it’s winging, conquering exhilarating downwinds, or riding radical surf breaks. The Riblet is also a pumping machine! With each pump, you'll effortlessly glide through the water, expending less energy and maximizing your…

The Skipper concept spans into an entire new cross discipline board range for you, can you explain the ideas behind the shape for us? The Skipper Wing and Skipper Short are part of the Skipper concept of boards. Four boards with the same design language, but tuned for the specific needs of each discipline; prone, wake/kitefoil, wing, down wind. In general the boards are much narrower and designed around a completely new bottom shape that is designed to “skip” off the water surface without losing speed. Together with the narrow outline this allows for much tighter turns. Each board in the Skipper range is optimized for the specific discipline. Their shape is roughly the same, but the balance between length, width and thickness is very different, as each sport requires…

Let’s start with the V3. This is the third incarnation of the VVING - what are the updates here? The Vayu V3 is a brand new design that has undergone significant updates compared to its predecessors. One of the most notable changes is the new lower aspect outline, which gives the wing a more user-friendly and playful feel. Additionally, the V3 features increased dihedral and longer wingtips, resulting in improved stability and control. To further enhance its performance, the V3 also has a higher tension leading edge profile and a lightweight proprietary X-Ply window, which helps to reduce weight while maintaining the wing’s overall shape and profile. Overall, the V3 represents a significant step forward in wing design and is sure to impress riders with its exceptional performance and versatility.…

SiFly team! Let’s start with a little intro… Can you give us a bit of background about SiFly? Hey! SiFly is a Bulgarian-based eFoil manufacturer founded by Alexander Bachev, a Formula Kite racing athlete. Our main goal, as reflected in our slogan "The easiest way to start flying," is to develop the smartest and most user-friendly eFoils at the most competitive prices. Since our launch, we have experienced rapid growth in Europe and the Middle East, carving out a unique sector in the market. Our range of eFoils caters to both business and leisure purposes, covering all levels of experience and preferences, from beginners to experts. We take pride in the innovations we bring to the eFoil industry and are excited to share our passion with enthusiasts worldwide. So you’ve…

Hi team. Firstly, one thing we’ve always wanted to ask and now we have a chance… What does TAHE mean, and how is it pronounced? The TAHE brand was born from the merging of the purchase of BIC Sport, a French company, by the Estonian group Tahe Outdoors in 2019. TAHE is the combination of these two cultures. TAHE means “willpower” in Estonian, and we have the three colors of the French flag in our logo. Our factory is based in France and we design and manufacture safe, reliable leisure sport products built to last, to guarantee endless playtime and fun on the water. If you want to pronounce TAHE, first of all, take your best French Accent: “TA” would be pronounced as "tah", similar to the English word "tah"…

Hosted by one of the world’s most prestigious sailing clubs – St. Francis Yacht Club – the Spring WingDing became the first-ever wingfoil regatta of its kind on San Francisco Bay, taking place between the StFYC clubhouse, Alcatraz Island, and Golden Gate Bridge. We caught up with Event Co-Chair Geoff Headington and a few of the podium winners for their take on the event… GEOFF HEADINGTON (EVENT CO-CHAIRMAN) The St. Francis Yacht Club was delighted to host its inaugural Spring Wingding regatta, which served as the platform for the first ever Pacific Coast Wingfoil Championships. The competition took place over three days on the San Francisco Bay “City Front” zone, right in front of the Yacht Club and Crissy Field Beach, from where the competitors launched. 60 Wingers came from…

The mountains are tall and steep, the beaches are covered with white sand and surrounded by crystal-clear water. The mountains are covered with some of the last snow of the season. There are no people around and most of the time you’ll be wing foiling completely alone within this crazy beautiful place. On the water, the wing soars along with the crispy northern wind and you have the breath-taking view all to yourself. This time of year when the tourists are not here yet… I have to say, I love it. Lofoten is an archipelago of islands with a huge amount of wing foil potential, in every direction you look. When kiteboarding, we always have to figure out where the best spot is based on the conditions, but with wing…

01 ARMSTRONG A-WING XPS The XPS stands for ‘cross panel sail’, and is a key feature in Armstrong’s all-new A-Wing XPS, providing an outstanding level of connection when riding, incredible speed and sublime upwind performance. The proprietary hybrid molded carbon handles are ultra-light and direct. Get out and test one, stat. 02 FLITESCOOTER This may or may not float your particular boat, but there’s no question that Flite’s new Flitescooter is a super-efficient and relatively safe way of learning how to eFoil (and thus foil). Plus, I’d commute on that to work every day if I could… Beats a car. 03 ELEVEIGHT GT1+ Fresh to the foil scene is the GT1+ performance wave to freeride crossover wing. Featuring all-new XTC TEX material construction, the GT1+ is light, stiff and highly efficient.…

Roberto, what were the first stirrings of RRD as a business? Where did it all begin? Well, I started shaping windsurf boards in 1986 for a company called Drops in Italy. And from then, I was able to develop my skills as a shaper and also as a windsurf rider. I became a professional rider around 1988 when I decided to start my own company and brand, RRD, which was founded between the island of Maui and Grosseto in Tuscany. That’s where I live and where the company is based today. So, that’s where things began. So at what point did RRD turn its attention to foiling, and what was the very first foil product you developed? I started foiling thanks to one of our team riders, Thomas Yannick from…

LOCATION COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA DATE SATURDAY 11TH & SUNDAY 12TH MARCH, 2023 Unfortunately I started off the day on only four hours of sleep, being all messed up from the time change, traveling from west to east, and I didn't really prepare for the event as much as I should have. We showed up to Cocoa Beach a little bit before 8am, most of the tents were set up and everyone was getting their gear dialed in. Waves were about shoulder high on the sets with light offshore winds, mostly all closeouts. High tide was mid-morning and then dropping into the afternoon. Some people were getting reps in the waves, with most people watching from the beach. I chose to ride the newly released Lift 110 HA X with the…

LOCATION NORTH COAST, MENORCA DATE MONDAY MARCH 27TH, 2023 It was the first days of spring when nature bloomed again, and the thermal winds started to rise. I set off on a five-day van trip to Menorca. I love traveling by van to discover places, to immerse myself, and to make the most of riding conditions. The forecast was looking good with a strong north wind. My friend Fred Bonnef had told me about the potential of Menorca’s windsurfing spots. I was super excited to see how it could work for wingfoiling! I first checked the southeast point of the island where the swell hits a rocky reef and delivers endless waves. This day, the wind was good, but the swell wasn't big enough, yet I had a nice session…

The Indiana 3’7 Pump Foil Carbon is a board developed and shaped by Indiana team rider Steeve Fleury and, compared to its bigger sister, the 4’0 / 30L, a more versatile option also suitable for surf and wingfoiling, this one is conceived from a complete pumping and dock start foiling perspective. This 3’7, 24L board is a true no-compromise, dedicated pump foil board. First off, the board, with its 109cm of length, looks pretty small and compact, while retaining the shape of a surfboard with a classic rounded outline and a pretty very flat rocker line with no channels or concaves whatsoever. While being only 3’7 the board is still thick enough (2 3/8’’) to allow for some volume under your feet which facilitates re-starts in case of accidental touch-downs.…

One of the most unique and intriguing designs to hit the foiling world comes from a Canadian company, Triton. Taking a different approach to the traditional hydrofoil design, Triton produces a monofoil, a single wing foil concept that is just a mast and front wing, no fuselage or tail. What looks like a boomerang on a mast, the X-1 is a wingfoiling specific design that will surely draw attention at your local launch. The X-1 is 1885cm2 and comes with two mast options, 75cm and 85cm. This unique design is incredibly simple, with just two bolts at the top of the mast to connect the pedestal, and two bolts at the bottom to connect the foil. The X-1 mast is an aluminum extrusion that is very stiff and does not…

The legacy of the West Coast Foil Club has finally been reignited by an iconic collaboration with Freedom Foil Boards. The WCFC Frequent Flyer and J.A.T.O. shapes are timeless performance boards that pay homage to the OG influential designs of the Hurley Brothers, Jeff and Ryan. Both being some of the first surf foilers in Southern California, let alone the world, the WCFC shapes have stood the test of time. While Freedom has updated the construction, graphics, and made slight adjustments, these original surf-style shapes are back to meet all the needs of everyday foilers. With a flat deck and bottom, slight reverse tail rocker, sleek chined rails, and a narrow outline profile, these exceedingly rigid boards are as good as it gets for prone, tow, and even as a…

Hi team. So we’ve been waiting for these… Please break down the Aero Glide range for us. Yes for sure, we’ve also been very eager to get these high aspect front wings out on the market. As the name of the range indicates, high aspect front wings are all about the extra glide they deliver to the rider. They are great for riding small rolling swells as the rider is able to carry a lot of speed from one bump to another, which makes connecting the waves a lot easier, and a lot more fun. The range crosses the spectrum of foil disciplines nicely, but who do you think will get the most benefit out of these? I would say people wanting to do downwinders on long unbroken swells, whether…

Hi Urs. Firstly, please tell the key differences riders are going to notice in the latest edition of the Poison… The new Poison is a completely new design actually. Key differences are a significantly higher tension in the sail, a stiffer frame, more sophisticated panel layout, removable rigid handles, new materials, new valves and so on. We put a lot of work into this! The overall stiffer wing allows you to pump more efficiently and start flying early. It has a bigger wind and speed range than its predecessor as well and the sail itself is much more stable. This leads to a huge performance boost. How is the Poison positioned against its stablemate, the Cross? The Cross is more freeride-oriented and focusses on easy lift and a very good…

Tell us about the DIAMOND and what kind of rider is going to love getting on the water with this new wing… Any rider looking for a good wing offering a perfect balance with stability and efficiency will love the DIAMOND. All the wing foil pioneers who have ridden with our WILF will find a nice evolution of our first model that was already appreciated by so many. We have worked on a more stable wing that increases both the speed and the range of use. The stiffer profile offers really good power in light wind and the perfect balance offers good control and tolerance in the high winds. How does the DIAMOND fit in the line-up alongside your established WILF and WILD wings? The DIAMOND wing is an…

Firstly Gunnar, could you please give us an overview of the High Performance range? Exactly what does it contain? The HP or High Performance Range features a completely new fuselage and mast system. Masts and fuselages are available in either aluminum or carbon and are interchangeable. This means you can mix the aluminum and carbon parts, eg. aluminum mast and carbon fuselage or vice versa. For this new system we have three new ranges of front wings and stabilizers too. We have the X-AR, H-AR and M-AR ranges for front wings and a full range of different stabilizers. We also have two ranges of Carbon Masts. The LW Masts (Low Weight) offer maximum stiffness and lowest weight on the market and LD Masts (Low Drag) offer a thinner profile for…

The Wingman SL looks like a more stripped back version of the original harness. Can you tell us what it’s all about? After the great success we had with our “original” Wingman in the racing and freeride segment we thought it was about time to get out something new. So last October during a visit from Balz Müller at Lake Garda, we started to work on the new Wingman SL. Lighter, smaller, slimmer. The idea was to make another harness with our high hook concept. We believe that’s the way to go and all our Wingman riders confirmed it. So we also kept our “breathing harness” technology for the Wingman SL, which allows you to breath freely even with a super stable hook position on your chest, as the harness…

WATCH THE FILMS If you’ve been keeping up with the content on thefoilingmagazine.com, there’s a very good chance you’ll have caught at least some of Ride Engine’s recent ‘El Camino’ YouTube series, covering multiple team riders (including trip videographer and producer, Kylie Zarmatti) on a multi-sport mission down to Chile. It looked like a whole lot of fun, with some serious envy-inducing waves. We put some questions to a few of the crew who went down there… KYLIE ZARMATTI How long were you all down there for? As a Ride Engine group we were there for a total of 10 days. Once that was over, Reed and I drove our rental car from Central Chile all the way down to Patagonia. Who’s got the house with all the steps?! That’s…

The most beautiful swimming pools in the world can be discovered in the South Pacific, not to be confused with tacky over engineered infinity pools sitting alongside your 5-star over water bungalow. With a bit of determination you can still find pristine natural swimming pools, also known as atolls, just out of reach from corporate resorts. Some of these atolls even have narrow passageways just big enough to sneakily slip your vessel from a wild 1000m deep ocean to a 10m tranquil paradise in a matter of seconds. With the anchor down and no one around, it’s time to bust out the foils and soar across the turquoise. Certainly a session to be remembered with my buddy JP.…

Working in the R&D department at Slingshot offers some very intriguing perks. One such perk is the ability to work off site in the winter months, as our base of operations in Hood River goes into the snow-globe and testing opportunities slow down. There seems to be no easier place to get this work done than Southern Baja. Not only is the living rather affordable, but the conditions are also pretty much all time for wingfoiling. The daily El Norte winds blow from mid-November to March and bring in plenty of wind and swell to the Sea of Cortez, making for consistent, rideable conditions perfect for the job of testing. Not only does the wind blow regularly on the Sea of Cortez side, but there is also ample opportunity to…

As a professional kitesurfer, I’ve been to some amazing places, if not some of the best spots in the world… but nothing compares to the feeling I get when I'm home. Home is where I can be myself and where I feel most comfortable, and it’s also my all-time favorite playground. My home is in Africa. My home is Mauritius. Mauritius is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, known for its crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches, and diverse marine life. What makes it even more special is the fact that I only just moved back here after living in Europe for five years. It is where my friends and family are, and where I can truly unwind and enjoy my time off. Now that I’m based here again, I…

Step 1: Read the wave to position yourself where you can maximize speed right before the air section. For example, fading left before turning right to increase speed down the line. Step 2: Step on the gas! Start going as fast as possible by doing a few pumps down the line and staying pretty high on the wave face. Step 3: Get low and eye up the section. Bend your knees to prepare for the explosive pop you need to get the flip around. Step 4: Project the flip up and back towards the beach. Try a mix of slamming down on the back foot for the pop while also having weight on your heels. Think about ripping the feet over the head as this will bring the foil around…

LOCATION TÉNIA ISLAND, NEW CALEDONIA DATE THURSDAY JANUARY 19TH, 2023 I am a municipal police officer in Pérols, near Montpellier in France, but working as a constable under contract. I lived and worked on a contract in New Caledonia 10 years ago and recently returned eight months ago as my wife also got a transfer to Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia. We’re here for another four-year stay, and I’m good friends with Hugo Marin, a renowned wingfoiler. We follow the conditions closely and always keep in contact over the forecasts. At this particular spot, it’s rare to get the right conditions and it’s tricky to score a session. You need wind but also long swells at the same time, and you need everything ready, with a boat to take…

GWA WINGFOIL WORLD CUP TAURANGA, NEW ZEALAND Tauranga, New Zealand 4th–11th March The opening round of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup played out in the dramatic shadow of New Zealand’s ancient Mount Maunganui. But the Men’s Surf-Freestyle final was a showdown between two of the tour’s youngest riders. Current world champion Malo Guénolé, 17, was up against Christopher MacDonald. Both went toe-to-toe, MacDonald opening with a 7.43 point Back-flip. Guénolé responded with an outstanding 8.63 point Frontside 7. But MacDonald continued building scores, nailing a Frontside 7 and Front-flip. It was enough to give 16-year-old MacDonald the win by less than one point. The Women’s Surf-Freestyle final was a similarly tight affair – a battle between two of the tour’s strongest riders. Spain’s Nia Suardíaz, still just 16, and Bowien…

Naish has brought a new, lighter weight, leaner version of the of the Matador series with the Matador LT. Built off the same overall design of the original Matador, the LT version offers the same wave-oriented riding performance in a minimalist design. The Matador LT kit includes a high-quality large storage bag, coil leash, and a pump hose adapter. The bag has ample space for the wing, pump, and additional accessories like wetsuits, towels, etc. The one-pump inflation system uses a SureLock valve which requires the provided adapter for your pump. This adapter connects to the pump hose and secures into the wing valve with a 90-degree twist. Once the hose is connected to the valve the inflation is quick and easy, the pump hose was very secure and does…

The original round of wing board designs started off looking pretty boxy and clunky, but we’ve come a long way in a few short years with designs gradually smoothing out and turning into far more streamlined and I daresay traditional and elegant shapes. Harsh chines and stepped tails are disappearing and fast becoming old tech. The Skipper Wing epitomizes this evolution and has extremely smooth lines drawn from the rest of the Skipper board range, which includes downwind, wing, prone and short models. The whole series is more along the lines of a performance yacht, sporting more of a displacement hull rather than planing hull. The outline places the bulk of volume up front and below the front foot, and tapers back to an efficient-looking teardrop tail. There’s a generous…

North has introduced their highly anticipated Surf Series foils to their trusty Sonar foil system. Featuring the SF930, SF1080, and SF1230 front wings, this series was designed for those looking for the ultimate foil for surfing, winging, wake, and downwinding. This wing delivers effortless pump, low stall speeds, and smooth, predictable carves. Whether you're a dedicated surfer or an avid winger, the SF-Series foils are progressive foils for all levels of riders. Unveiling the package, your attention is immediately drawn to the sleek aesthetics, soft wing covers, and North’s timeless color scheme. As you uncover the wings, the pure carbon finish combined with the streamlined North Green striped accents, are smooth and flush to the touch. These intricacies are just the surface of how much detail was put towards designing…

With their extensive and well-respected windsurfing lineage, Tabou have a wealth of experience in the world of board building – and boards built for windsurfing take a heavier pounding than any other water sport craft. As they have dived into the world of foiling, they have kept their foil board line up pretty straightforward. The fact is that – whatever your discipline – you are essentially looking for similar characteristics in terms of how your craft enables you to move from an ‘on the water’ to an ‘out of the water’ state. The first board in their line-up, the Pocket Air, is designed to meet the needs for pretty much all winging disciplines. We tested it in the larger and medium sizes and overall were very impressed with the build…

Lift has released some of their most anticipated foils to date with the launch of the 150 HA-X and 110 HA-X front wings. Both of these originally experimental foils were designed for pure speed, pump, glide, and efficiency. Pulling these foils out of the box, one of the first things you’ll notice is that the protective covers have been redesigned to fit the broader span of these wings. After removing these foils from the bags, it’s clear that their classic, sleek, and satin black carbon finish stays true to Lift’s lightweight, minimalist style. Although they may look like the general outline of the previous HA series, like the 120HA and 90HA, a closer look unveils the intricacies that went into these latest shapes. Not only are these the widest and…

Hi team - the new HA850 is pitched as one foil for all sports. Can you let us know the range of use it covers? The HA850 is super versatile, for kite foiling you can enjoy its performance from light wind to nuking conditions. Wing foiling starts at 15-16 knots with no upper limit. This wing performs in freestyle action, foiling waves or just for cruising around. Overall, the HA850 completes our HA series perfectly not just for wingers, but also expands our kite foil range. What kind of wing rider is going to want to ride it? The HA850 makes maneuvers easy due to its great balance in roll and pitch movement; it is stable and simultaneously agile to freeride, freestyle or foil it in the waves. The extremely…

Hey North crew. So a new range of surf-focused front wings… Can you please give us an overview of what’s in the line-up first? The SF Series is our new range of full Carbon Surf Front Wings and Stab, created for prone, wingsurf, pump, downwind and wake foiling. They’re available in sizes SF930, SF1080, SF1230, and S215. This is the first foil by North to make prone foiling really accessible. It’s not an extreme foil, it’s user-friendly, predictable and connects multiple waves with ease. It feels like you’re in control. It rolls nicely, has a lot of drive/acceleration out of the turns and it doesn’t feel locked in. With the SF-Series, you can really stuff up your turn but still have time to get around because the stall speed is…

For those who weren’t aware, the original (and latest) Kujira design is based on the pectoral fin of the humpback whale. Firstly, who originally came up with this concept? It’s difficult to trace the origins of the concept, which draws inspiration from nature and biomimicry. This design can be found in various products such as windmills, paragliders, and sailing foil boats. At Takuma, the concept evolved through a lot of discussions with our R&D team and feedback from our riders. Developing the first Kujira 1 took over 18 months, but the process was super interesting. We collaborated and worked with engineers from various industries and we spent hours and hours testing with our team and riders to finally come up with the Kujira. The Kujira caused quite a stir…

Matt, it’s the 4th generation of the Lift eFoil. Tell us what’s new, what’s been upgraded, and what riders can expect from the new system… With the LIFT4, we’ve taken every piece of the eFoil experience and perfected it to the Lift Foils standard. This includes Fast Charging, with 30 minutes to 80% charge on the Gen4 Light Battery, and 50 minutes on the Gen4 Full Range Battery. Then we have new carbon fiber latches with a new ergonomic shape and precision tensioning to automatically regulate hatch pressure, making it easier to open and close in all conditions. The hand controller has been updated for more precise throttle and power control as well as being upgraded for improved extreme-use scenarios. Then we have evolved the battery ergonomics with a new…

Good morning team! First things first… what does RSF stand for? The name comes partly from our top-selling crossover freeride kite, the RS. For our kite range, we used a two-letter system to indicate the related riding category. We thought we'd carry over this idea to our newly developed foil range. The R stands for cRossover, the main focus of this product, the S stands for Series, and the F indicates the foil range. To make a bit more impact it’s RSF for short! So this is a crossover foil, but is the RSF optimized toward any particular discipline? As the name indicates it is a versatile product which will fit many different riding levels and styles. Our main focus was the wing market and as a perfect pairing for…

The Raptor. It sounds pretty cool… Give us a little overview of the board and how it sits in the range. The Raptor 4.11 is the ultimate board for high-performance wingfoiling within our revolutionary Raptor Pro shapes. Designed to maximize efficiency with minimal board size, this board is tailored to elevate your freestyle, surf foiling, and speed riding experience. Who’s this board built for and what can they expect from it? The Raptor 4.11 was engineered for freestyle, speed, and surf foiling. With minimal thickness and even foam distribution, the Raptor 4.11 forges a direct connection to the foil, enhancing control. The foams even distribution ensures a natural stance, optimal body positioning, and efficient pumping. The bottom chine provides smooth lift-off and superior glide. Easy launching is possible with this…

Foiling is going to save relationships, marriages, and make better parents. Foiling landed into my life just in time. With my first child nearly a year old, I was entering the stage of fatherhood that left me with less "me" time and required more "us" time. As an avid surfer, I would spend at least five days a week in the ocean for two hours. Add transport and you're away from home for two-and-a-half hours. My shortboarding lifestyle was not conducive to this new role as a father, but as a foiler, I could still satiate my wave riding needs and my imperative duty to be a present father. Foiling reduced my time away from home while increasing my time riding waves. Growing up surfing some of the most crowded…

Brian, firstly please tell us about your nickname, ‘deAcTioNman’. Where did that come from? I slowly became named deAcTioN Man because I always used the word for different situations. Then people and the media started calling me deAcTioN Man. It’s a word I use that is part of my way of life; that describes how I feel and energizes me. I use AcTioN to describe a situation; also to say good bye or hello. I use it in many different ways to express my feeling. What is deAcTioN Island? deAcTioN Island comprises all my apartments, surf school and bar and grill but it’s also about the vibe and energy that surrounds the place. I’ve also painted a fishing boat next to my shop with my art and spoken words which…

Where I was Before I tried foiling on a Fliteboard, I was not in the best place physically or mentally. When I was young, probably about 5 years old, I was a busy child, so my parents enrolled me in athletics and rugby. My coaches were impressed with my talent at a young age and had me competing for these sports at a high level. At the age of 15 I was selected to train in a talent squad for the Australian Institute of Sport, and the trainers were preparing me for the London Olympics in 2020, five years away at the time. During this period I was also playing rugby for my school in a team that was two grades above me. At the age of 16 I was…