Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2021 i Foiling Magazine

Hey Kaden! First up, tell our readers how old you are, where you live, and what you’re plans are for today… Hi I am Kaden Pritchard. I just turned 12 years old. I live in Maui, Hawaii. My plan for today is to go surf at my favorite wave, Ho’okipa, which is five minutes away from my house. When I get back I am going to go winging with my grandpa at Upper Kanaha and have fun! In order, which are your favorite foil disciplines and what do you love about them? Wave riding is first on the list because it’s just so fun to really try to rip the wave to pieces. Downwinding is my second favorite because it’s just like riding a wave. Freestyle is my favorite thing…

Firstly, where do the roots lie of you guys working together? Had you worked together before the FreeWing concept? Svein: Clinton and I were both professional windsurfers, enjoying traveling the world and helping our sponsors develop cutting edge equipment from boards, fins, sails, masts, EVA textures, booms, even wetsuits and drysuits. We have a few lifetimes together in the water and in the equipment “think tanks”. In April 2004, Clinton joined our Airush R&D team in Perth as a designer and product manager, with Ben Severne who was our Airush kite designer at the time. We have been working closely on kiteboarding development and cross brand development for nearly 20 years. How were the responsibilities divided up between the brands? Did either one of you take the lead on development?…

RIO’S PERSPECTIVE Hi, my name is Rio Blue, I am 16 years old, and I am currently making a hydrofoil! The massive foiling community here creates a constant drive for improvement and new ideas. I have been winging since the summer of 2020 and building friendships through learning with the rest of the community here. I have had the privilege of testing out all brands of foils, boards, and wings. This gave me so much insight and narrowed down my preferences to what gear best suited my riding style, comfort, and future goals. Once I became a Naish team rider, I had a whole new world at my fingertips… After a few weeks of riding I realized that racing and speed are where I find myself having the most fun…

WEAPON GLIDE HL-SERIES RIDER HEIGHT 182CM RIDER WEIGHT 75KG I’ve been riding the Glide HL-Series wings since I was given a prototype at the beginning of April 2021, so that’s about six months now. My favorite one for big freestyle maneuvers is my 4m. It has a smaller span, so it’s better for landing the tricks without putting the wing in the water. I have seen the Glide evolving with the different prototypes that I’ve tested on the water. But I have to say, the first prototype was already pretty perfect due to the Ocean Rodeo R&D team’s prior 20-year knowledge in developing kites for kitesurfing. For racing, the 6m HL-Series is one of the best! I used it in my last Race Wingfoil European Championship in St Moritz, and…

LOCATION LAKE POWELL, USA DATE WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2021 If you’ve ever been to Lake Powell, you know that no matter how clear the pictures are, nothing does it justice. It really feels like you went to Mars and discovered a lake on it, or like if the Grand Canyon had a lake at the bottom for you to explore and enjoy. I’m not one to get super “out there” or psychedelic, however there is a deeper connection when you’re in this place. Whether it’s gazing into the deep blue water that can be 400 foot deep one step from shore, or sleeping under the sky looking at the millions of stars, in complete silence, there’s definitely a deeper sense of peace then I’ve found in any other place. My…

The Indiana wing foil range is based on a very compact wing platform, designed to offer the best volume/size ratio for beginners to advanced wing foilers. The heavy duty multi-layered carbon/PVC construction coupled with its compact outline and volume distribution gives an extra amount of control to get you up and flying as quickly as possible, and protect the boards against dings. It comes available in eight sizes from 4'4 (55L) to 6'0 (155L), covering a huge range of wind conditions, and has a full sandwich EPS/PVC carbon vacuumed epoxy construction with extra layers on the rails and boxes. The result is a compact, ultra-light and incredibly stiff board with a bulletproof construction. It is CNC-shaped with a very flat, square and straight outline, with a rounded square tail with…

+ We have no real and definitive idea where foiling is taking us because it is moving so much, so quick and in so many directions. For example, one of the first revolutions with foiling was to pump, and to be able to take two waves in a row but now that’s seen as a very basic thing in foiling. Today, foiling is present everywhere, in all conditions. You can foil in 20cm waves and yet see guys foiling huge waves in Nazaré. You can ride zero waves by doing dock starts, or use an eFoil, or even the wind to foil. Wherever the foil is present, limits of foiling are being pushed. Almost any day that you open Instagram, you can see someone breaking the limits of foiling and…

On August 12 I became the first person to cross the English Channel by eFoil. I was closely followed by my son Morgan, who joined me riding a second board. We set off from Cap Griz Nez, France at 11.20am UK time to take advantage of a following tide that would push us towards the Atlantic and then switch in direction towards the North Sea at the halfway point. The 37km crossing took 1 hour and 40 minutes of riding, and I arrived on the shingle beach at Folkstone harbour with only 4% battery remaining. I’ve been riding a Fliteboard pretty much every day since 2018, but it was back in March 2021 that we started experimenting to see how far we could travel on a single charge. It didn’t…

The land of the lefts? The land of infinity waves? The dreamy chocolate wave land? I don’t know how to name Peru and how to start telling you about this trip: Peru just has everything. Coast, mountains, jungle… It’s simply insane. Peru post covid was one of the best trips of my life. No tourists around, more waves than I could handle, and just insane wildlife and nature. Let’s perhaps start by saying I took around 20 waves of around five to eight minutes each in just one day. My legs felt like they were not part of my body anymore and it was the first time in my life I had to take a break while still being on the wave. Here you can literally surf the wave for…

01 AXIS PNG 850 The PNG in PNG 850 stands for Pump and Glide, and these new wings from AXIS are built to do just that. Combining their medium and high aspects with a thinner foil and a high camber, the PNG series are fast and efficient. So much so they even have a time challenge under way: #foilpumpchallenge 02 NORTH SONAR CF85 CARBON EDITION An 85cm carbon one-piece mast, C600 carbon fuselage and an S01 Stabilizer make up this stealthy, modular number from North, and features their patent-pending GeoLock system for effective load transfer between the mast and fuselage. Light, durable, with improved pumpability and earlier takeoffs assured. 03 FFB WINGNUT Freedom Foil Board’s dedicated wing board is designed to help you get up and stay up and have…

Hey Chris. So let’s start from the beginning… tell us how the concept of Freedom Foil Boards first came about and who were/are the main players… The journey of Freedom Foil Boards is really about the collision of good old fashioned hard work combined with a pure froth and passion that only those who foil understand. For years, the back of my garage had been used as a personal shaping bay, and a place to daydream while shaping classic California cruisers. Those shapes and dreams were flipped upside down to images of endless high-speed foil carves about three years ago. Up to that point I had only seen some random Instagram videos of Kai flying and linking waves in Fiji, however, I really didn’t grasp the full essence and spirit…

RIDER ARIIHOE TEFAAFANA LOCATION SECRET REEF, TAHITI DATE FRIDAY AUGUST 13TH, 2021 Even photographer Pauline le Meur admits there was an element of being in the right place at the right time on this sunny day on the west coast of Tahiti, when conditions aligned and she witnessed (and captured) one of the largest swells to hit the island all year, with rider Ariihoe Tefaafana front and center. But truthfully, it’s testament to her commitment, steel nerves, and the trust she places in her jet ski pilot that put her there… Early morning, somewhere on the west Tahitian coast, the sun was slowly rising, and the air was already charged with the mist from the waves. The whole team was there: jet ski pilots, riders, all friends with each other,…

LOCATION CARRO, FRANCE DATE SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER, 2021 When you are living in the south of France and you are passionate about water sports, you definitely have to manage your planning according to the weather. During the winter, south-easterly storms are the sessions we chase. This direction of wind coming from the middle of the Mediterranean Sea provides strong winter conditions and a solid swell. This session happened on a Tuesday, between two courses at school. It was in September, the winter storms were not there yet, but the forecast looked good for a week now. I just received the brand new Eleveight gear and trying out this foil, board and wings was my only objective of the week. The night before I called Christian, who’s a former wave windsurfer,…

As more and more riders from varying sporting backgrounds and skill levels approach hydrofoiling, impact protection is without a doubt a very sensible idea. Originating in California, Ride Engine have developed a hydrofoil sports specific impact vest in the Defender, which packs a little extra beef. In line with their wetsuit range, the vest is mainly comprised from flexible limestone-based neoprene and some raised impact shell panels. Most of the protection is intelligently placed to cover your upper torso and ribs, and the tough padding is going to protect the vital organs from any foil and board impact as well as the usual hard slaps from water at speed. The Defender is not horribly bulky, and you can still prone paddle in it without too much interference. We found the…

It’s Y26 and the RRD Beluga is now in its second year with a whole array of smaller sizes added to the range for the building market of more advanced or smaller wing enthusiasts. At 55 liters, the 150 is going to be a sinker for the majority of users. In the hands, the LTE construction feels tough, and the matte finish doesn’t seem too sensitive to the usual scrapes from day to day use. A well placed and sensible thickness EVA pad gives you great grip and a decent connection to the board; the rear pad kick is also very useful for your rear foot placement, which works well with the relative position of foil track. From a practical perspective, the rear-mounted handle makes it easy to negotiate shore…

Since 1976, Sunova has built a solid reputation in surf, SUP, wind, kite and more recently, has been a huge player in the emerging sport of foiling. I remember seeing Sunova SUPs and surfboards under the arms of many ocean-lovers like me since I was a kid. Fast forward 20 years and introduce a new sport where surfers are elevated above the water riding parts of a wave never thought possible, the landscape is no different. In my local area of Sydney, Australia, Sunova boards are the Toyota of the foilboard scene – available, reliable and shreddable in every way. In particular, the Casey signature range of Sunova foil boards are a common pick for anyone who knows good equipment. These boards were developed over many iterations by local legend…

Congratulations on a very good looking board range guys. We do love a bit of stealthy blackness… Who decided on the look of the line up? Thank you, we can only agree! Nothing better than some carbon seeing through on the board. And that is exactly why we decided to go with this look. Less is more on the design side and we wanted to show that these boards are made out of 100% carbon. Something that is very important to us – showing the high quality of the boards – we believe it needs to be reflected in the look. So you’ve moved into the dedicated foilboard world with the Boom range. Could you first walk us through the range, and then tell us how the name came about?…

Hey DK. We’re told under pretty good authority that you were one of, if not the first person to be out there foiling in New Zealand. Is this a matter of fact? And how were those early days and what were you riding? I started riding those alloy foils with snowboard boots and bindings. Success was slow, and it was hard to convince my friends that they should give it a go. My friends preferred to drive the ski and watch me get hammered. I picked up a lot of knowledge in those early days, trying to foil. Laird Hamilton came to Raglan to tow foil, and we had the opportunity to watch the best foilers in the world ride my home break. They were still using boots and bindings,…

Nice video Dale. How did this come about? Thanks so much – I’m very happy with how it came out. I was actually approached by the AK Durable Supply Co team with this idea and I was super stoked with what they came up with. You talk of the perils of competitive surfing. Do you regret the time spent on that, or do you feel without it you wouldn't have had the epiphany you had? I don’t regret the competitive side as I had some great times and really enjoyed it, but the losses and being a South African trying to accumulate the money to get to all the events with minimal backing is really hard, so the lows are really low… But I think that just made me a…

Wingfoiling is so much more than just a water sport, it is about experiencing new places on our oceans, no matter the conditions. When it all started I could not imagine the possibilities this sport has to offer. Flying over the ocean at spots like this one, that are completely off the radar, by myself… well, for someone who loves water sports such as myself, it’s magic. And I guess I am addicted to it. Felix The magic of a secret spot is that only you and your friends know about it. Nowadays it is difficult with technology and social media to keep a site undiscovered by the masses. A clear example of freedom is this desolate and spectacular volcanic land that was active 15,000 years ago. It is…

If you book a cabin on a 5-star cruise ship or an all-in vacation in Spain, you'll want to find the pool area and drinks just like you do in the Insta ads. No nasty surprises, everything five-star comfort. Relaxation is virtually guaranteed. A road trip up north, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. When wind and waves are your compass, you usually won't find any relaxation. There’s rarely even time for an extensive breakfast… A good coffee and a banana are the ultimate in luxury before getting back into that wet neoprene. And despite the inconveniences, uncertainties and exhaustion in the evening, every day holds adventure. Unforgettable moments that we would never exchange for 14 days of ultimate relaxation on a cruise. We, myself and two KOLD…

STEP 1 READING THE BUMPS • The best way to learn to read these bumps is to sit out the back and watch the bumps roll past you. Instead of looking out to sea (upwind) look into shore (downwind) and follow the backs of each of the bumps. The steeper and shorter the trough behind the peak the easier it will be to use it to paddle up and onto the foil. The big drawn-out troughs look like they’d be the ones you’d want but don’t be fooled, they move too quickly and are near impossible to paddle onto. • Identify the short sharp troughs… sometimes you can’t even see them but only feel them. The best way to feel them is by not overpowering them by paddling too much.…

LOCATION HAWAII DATE WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25TH, 2021 From the moment I started surf foiling four-and-a-half years ago, I was hooked. Finding something that gives you the ability to turn an unbroken wave into a playground was a dream come true and opened up a whole new world in terms of what I would consider a fun wave. In the past, summertime in Hawaii was a drag as the whole north shore goes pretty much flat. It’s either drive to town and fight it out with all the other hungry surfers on Oahu for some slow south swell or pick up some small wind swell scraps on the north shore on a longboard or SUP. With the progression of foils and especially the new aspect of wing foiling, those days have…

While its smaller sibling, the 150 v2, might’ve received the lion’s share of media attention upon release earlier this year, Lift’s 200 Surf v2 is a terrific foil for riders looking to expand their Lift quiver or join the brand’s ecosystem. If you’re familiar with Lift’s preceding generation surf wings, the v2 iteration is broadly an all-round performance improvement from that series. The new family covers the gamut from beginner to pro with impressive consistency between models — in all, it’s one of the most diverse, high performing, and yet accessible ranges in the industry. Certainly something to consider if you’re in the market for either an upgrade or a starting point. As always, starting with some numbers behind this test: I come in at 155lbs/70kg, and tested the 200’s…

AK Durable Supply have responded to the demand for higher performance surf foils as ability levels increase and wingfoiling continues to see a huge surge in take up. Clinton Filen and Zane Schweitzer have worked closely together to extend their range of surf foils into the higher aspect realm with the Plasma range. As with most, it’s a completely modular system with cross compatibility for the main components. The connection system is a refreshingly simple and fuss-free affair. The mast slots into a sleeve in the top of the fuselage and bolts straight through with two large M8 bolts with hex heads. The sturdy M8 bolts hold on the front wing, and the fuselage tucks fairly neatly into a pocket in the composite on the top side. The stabilizers we…

What a broad term foiling has become. Is it prone foiling? Wing foiling? Kite foiling? The foil has grown into a water genre of its own and has caused a whirlwind of attraction in the past few years. To me foiling is just another way to enjoy the ocean, and here on Maui it’s a foiling mecca, as we have so many different ways to enjoy this incredibly dynamic sport because the island has wind and waves year round. It is accessible to the young generation as well as the old. It is accessible in the ocean and in other bodies of water. It is accessible in big waves and tiny ones. It allows people to get in the water and I believe being in the water is an important…