Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 22 i Foiling Magazine

Hey Ben, tell us how your day’s going and a little about yourself! Have you been on the water today? Hi, I'm doing great. Today I was on "frozen water”, as not only am I a wingfoiler but I’m also an ice hockey player too. I’m 12 years old and live in Munich. I participate in a lot of sports and I train on the ice five times a week. This is also good for my balance and endurance for wingfoiling. We’ve seen a bunch of shots of you winging, including the ones here. Do you enjoy other foil disciplines too? Water sports are a lot of fun for me. I started windsurfing at the age of 8 and it was last summer that I learned wingfoiling. Foiling simply fascinates…

One rainy day in Norway, I got an email from a guy I knew who’s a part of the RRD family. He told me about his school and his project to encourage more females into water sports, and he asked if I wanted to visit him on the island of Limnos. It sounded fun, and as many of you might know, working on getting more girls into the ocean is something I’m quite passionate about too, but I had to admit – I had no idea where Limnos was. Have you heard of it? After a quick Google search, I was faced with photos of stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and beautiful landscapes that looked perfect for water sports. But what really caught my attention was, surprisingly, the availability of a…

Hi Peter. Firstly, please familiarize us with some of your greatest hits that you’ve brought to the foilsphere… I still feel quite young as a designer in the sport so mentioning my 'greatest hits' sounds a bit like my prime time is already over! Jokes aside, my design process was greatly influenced by my 20+ years experience in product design for kites, bars and boards. Since the beginning, my WFS wing design has been based on a boom. My experiences as a windsurfer, as well as a developer of many different kite bars, made it clear to me that a boom is the most suitable design for our wings. I think our first boom was well received in the market, and I was very happy that my vision of the…

Hi Clinton. Can you start off by giving us a little background to the Ultra X material – how and when did you first come up with the concept? As a design team working on wings and kites, we have long term ongoing research and development around new materials. We are constantly exploring lightweight laminates, woven materials and blends, looking at new primary materials, secondary materials and/or production processes. The biggest breakthrough in recent years has been the integration of Ultra PE (UHMWPE) into the materials. These Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fibers are the lightest and strongest fibers commercially available. This is also known under the trademarks of Dyneema and Spectra. A lot of work has been done in leading edges and most of this development centers around Ultra…

With just three calls on the tour, a good showing was vital for those with title ambitions. Malo Guénolé won the opening event of the season back in February after beating Cash Berzolla in an epic final. Guénolé was looking to repeat the feat in Dakhla’s smaller waves at the Oum Lamboiur break. The big shock of the competition was that Guénolé was sent out in the third round by the American debutant, Liam Coralle. In the women’s draw, Spain’s Elena Moreno was tour leader heading into Dakhla, thanks to her stunning victory at the first stop in Cape Verde. She had defeated the reigning world champion, the US’s Moona Whyte, who decided to step back from competition, leaving the door open to other riders. 29 SEP - 6 OCT,…

Downwinding’s undeniable influence on board design is well and truly upon us, and the new Midlength from Armstrong is a prime example. As skill levels increase and wingers in particular require less surface stability, the benefits of a narrow, fast-planing board are absolutely undeniable. Five sizes are available in 45 through to 85l. The build from Armstrong (as ever) is light, robust and detailed. A luxurious thin and grippy deckpad hides a ridged feature over the foilbox to help locate your rear foot, which is important when you have a board with so much real estate length wise. The extra-long forged carbon foilbox position is also clearly demarked by two blue lines in the deckpad so easy to reference with a quick glance down. The front of the deck has…

ION’s wetsuit range sees some major refreshment for 2025, and the Seek Amp is high up in the top echelons of the ION range aiming for maximum stretch and warmth. The main design change is the implementation of one of the most comprehensive and cunning neck closures we’ve seen on a suit recently – two crossing layers of neoprene run at 45 degrees to the neckline and are attached to the rear overhead flap. This makes this aperture very tight and flush proof when installed. They’ve opted for their maximum stretch neoprene in this area to make sure getting in and out is as easy as possible. The neck also benefits from a slick skin on the inner material for a decent seal here. The chest flap has another band…

Sabfoil’s newest addition, the Balz Pro line, is a mid-aspect, performance-oriented line of foils meant to boost your performance on the water while retaining an easy control and easy feeling to it. Designed in collaboration with Balz Müller (AKA Radiculo), the Swiss pioneer of radical and creative foiling maneuvers in both wingfoiling and windfoiling, the Balz Pro series of front wings from Sabfoil is aimed at pushing the boundaries of performance in freestyle, but also freeride and even wave foiling. From a construction point of view, right from the moment you unbox the Balz Pro wings, you get a sense of the high-quality engineering that’s gone into their production. These front wings are made from the finest high-grade carbon fiber, ensuring durability without sacrificing weight and stiffness. Sabfoil’s attention to…

Firstly, let’s kick things off by understanding what the difference is in the names – what do the letters X and L stand for on these M1 variations? The M1-X is our freestyle model, while the M1-L is a lightweight and budget-friendly version. Essentially, we wanted to make different versions of the M1 to suit different types of riders, considering their abilities and weight, ensuring there’s an option for everyone. Going a bit deeper into the M1-X, which itself is very lightweight – what materials did you use in this one? Correct. We used a slightly lighter grade of canopy fabric to bring the overall weight down. This, combined with our new carbon handles, significantly reduces the overall weight, giving the wing a snappier, more reactive feel. The canopy is…

Balz! It’s good to have you back in the magazine. Firstly, how are you? Yes I am doing awesome! Foiling and all its possibilities keeps blowing my mind. Lately the froth for parawinging keeps me daydreaming and follows me into sleep. Yep it’s funboarding all day long. Lovely! Now moving onto this good-looking range of foils we have here… Can you give us a little overview of what you sought to create with the range, and what kind of rider this is pitched at? My main goal in my R&D is always to create easily accessible gear that allows riders to push their level to new heights in a comfortable way. Versatility is key – I absolutely love all disciplines and want to bring a similar foil feel from one…

Hi team, so tell us where the Enduro range sits in the AFS range in terms of performance… The Enduro comes to expand our bump wing offer and allows any rider to find the wing that suits them. The Enduro sits between the Silk and Ultrarange. It’s the perfect blend of the Silk’s maneuverability and control and the Ultra’s glide and stretch, it’s right in the middle. The aspect ratio is pushed to 11 on the Enduro. What does that mean for the average user? With this aspect ratio of 11, the Enduro allows for a much more progressive take-off, it’s ideal for building up power more smoothly while maintaining good stability. This type of aspect ratio also provides better glide, reducing drag and facilitating long distances with less effort.…

Growing up just five minutes from Muizenberg Beach, the ultimate learn-to-surf spot and arguably one of the best prone foiling waves in the world, has profoundly shaped my love for the ocean. As groms, my brother and I spent every day there honing our surfing skills. As I got older, Muizenberg was no longer challenging enough, and it lost all of its appeal to me. Before I discovered foiling a little over a year ago, you’d be surprised to see me in the water there. The gentle, slow-breaking waves aren’t really great for anyone but beginners. However, nowadays, it would be surprising not to see me in the water at Muizenberg every day. Foiling in small waves can be a lot of fun, more fun than bigger waves in my…

My friend Simon and I both live in Cornwall in the UK, and have strong connections to the sea through our work and hobbies. We have been friends for many years and are both experienced adventurers. Simon was the youngest person to sea kayak around Britain in 2002, and in 2012, we rowed across the Atlantic Ocean independently from any organized event. After taking up the new and highly addictive sport of wingfoiling, we began going on “downwind missions” around the Cornish coastline. In November 2022, we wingfoiled from the Isles of Scilly to the mainland, a 43km crossing of some of the most notorious waters around the UK. Following this success, I suggested we should wing around Cornwall, to which Simon responded, “Why stop there?” So the seed was…

Hi team. So tell us first about the record attempt. What prompted this, where did it take place, and what preparations had to be made? We had been aiming to break the e-foil world speed record for a while, and the debut of our latest machine, the 'REVO,' presented the perfect opportunity we couldn't pass up. We were waiting for the right moment to attempt breaking the 58km/h record. We wanted to showcase the power of our new e-foil, and one of the best ways to do that is through speed! Our goal was to demonstrate this right in the heart of the French capital, on the iconic Seine River. Preparation involved relentless training on various bodies of water to finetune every detail. And we succeeded in breaking the record,…

TABOU FLYING SAUCER Built for speed and performance, and in conjunction with the top racing talent that is Maddalena and Nicoló Spanu, Tabou’s 2025 Flying Saucer is a weapon in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. Mid-length but low volume, expect early take-offs, maneuverability and control. Available in both HD and then the HD Team construction for those who are looking for that extra podium push… PPC M1-L Bringing the high performance without the high prices, PPC’s M1-L wing employs Dyneema for the center of the leading edge, with the rest built from Dacron, allowing the price point to be lowered while still maintaining high performance markers. Slightly softer than their M1-X, this wing still enjoys a tight canopy, and comes equipped with their full-carbon Ergo-Boom…

LOCATION FIJI DATE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024 We started the morning by rolling out of bed, each of us immediately checking the weather on our phones. The wind was light, which could be a blessing or a curse depending on how it shaped up throughout the day. Given the limited window of time we had to get the film shoot done, the pressure was on. Tension filled the air as we all knew there wasn’t much room for error. But before anything, we needed fuel, so we grabbed a quick breakfast and headed straight for the boat, hoping things would go our way once we got out on the water. The conditions seemed calm as we made our way toward the reef. The waves were small, and the light wind…

Stoke’s no-fuss propulsion system is one of the easiest new ways to electrify your hydrofoil. This simple and streamlined design clamps to any mast in seconds, its powerful motor providing up to 25kg of extra push at the touch of a button. It’s a bolt on drive unit that has the potential to change your foiling game. Double your paddle speed and stroke up easily into miniscule waves. Use it as a training tool to dial in smaller foils and boards. Wingfoil on near windless days. Paddle long distances without the effort, and escape the usual crowds to find peaks that no one else can ride. Installing it to your setup is a very simple matter of clamping the unit to the mast at the preferred height, sliding in the…

One of the exciting things about this job is the unpredictability of what gear we’ll test next! A few days ago, we received an unexpected delivery, a large package marked as Tabou Super Yaka 96L. At first, we assumed it was just another beginner board because of its size, but after checking it out on the Tabou website, we realized it was something much more interesting: a specialized lightwind board! We had to wait for the right conditions to test it, as we wanted to truly assess its performance in marginal winds. When the day finally arrived, unwrapping the board revealed a design heavily inspired by downwind SUP foil boards. The Yaka is long but, unlike some of its competitors, it’s not overly narrow and is surprisingly light for its…

For 2025 the Swell, which was previously a crossover prone surfboard from the North range, takes on some new larger sizes to give it a wider wingfoil application, as the shape lends itself to performance wave riding. The size range now stretches from 35l through to 85l in 10 liter increments. It was immediately obvious from the 65l we tested that the shape has changed considerably from last year. It’s now sporting an emphasized teardrop outline, with most of the volume concentrated three quarters of the way up the board under your chest or front foot, this board being a fairly wide 24” at maximum width. The remainder of the board, particularly the tail, runs back to be relatively narrow, with a hint of downwind board design influence with the…

Hey Gary. Long time no speak! How are you doing? We hear you’ve been traveling lots… I’ve had some fun travels lately! I’m grateful that I can combine work with amazing destinations and my love for wind sports. My latest trip took me from a couple of weeks exploring the Red Sea in Egypt to spending time in Germany and the Netherlands, where I got to do some wingfoiling and kitesurfing. Next up: Baja, Mexico! So, we’ve taken a look at this harness and it looks pretty solid. Like something out of NASCAR. Talk to us first about the 4-point suspension cradle and how that benefits the rider… The Free Float harness draws design inspiration from various sources, including classic windsurfing chest harnesses favored by wave riders, tactical backpacks built…

This new version of the Unit comes as SLS Concept Blue. For those who aren’t aware of what these terms indicate, could you please give us a brief overview? The SLS Concept Blue version has two distinctive features. Firstly it incorporates undyed fabrics, recycled plastic parts and bio-based bladders to reduce its environmental impact. Secondly, whilst retaining the deep, powerful, robust profile depth of the standard Unit, the SLS has a slightly smaller diameter, yet still quite stiff leading edge in Aluula and Penta TX materials. So that is a little band of Aluula we spy in the mid-section? The center of the leading edge of a wing has the greatest bending loads, so in the original Unit we used a stiffer, heavier, 240-gram Dacron in the center panels. These…

You recently dropped a bunch of new Hover DW boards, including the Nvision, Crossover, and the Inflatable. Can you please give us a brief overview of each? We have created a well-balanced range of dedicated downwind foilboards as well as boards that cover a certain crossover aspect between pure downwinding and lightwind winging and in some cases also standup foiling in waves. Our new Hover DW Nvision is a dedicated SUP downwind foilboard, while the Hover DW Crossover range can be used for downwind paddle foiling, SUP foiling in surf as well as a great lightwind wing board. With our Hover Inflatable range we essentially cover the same target range but in an easy-to-store and easy-to-travel package. The Nvision is your super lightweight downwind option. Tell us how you’ve optimized…

Hey guys. Talk to us first about the new mechanism in the remote. Can you explain how the adjustable throttle sensitivity works, and how this benefits riders? As our remote has been purpose designed for a wide range of foiling activities (and not just a repurposed skateboard/eFoil remote), we have listened to rider feedback and completely redesigned it to be thinner, lighter and most importantly to be highly ergonomic when held in the hand. This is especially important when popping up onto a prone foil board. The whole remote design is now omni directional and is equally comfortable when used in a pistol style grip or flipped over and used with thumb control. To minimize the remote’s size we’ve separated the mount for attaching it to a wing or paddle…

Hey Fabi, we loved this film! Made us want to go out and ride… Thank you, happy to hear you like the edit. Makes me feel motivated to keep creating! What’s the thinking behind the title? The project is named after the idea that we went to Mars for 13 days! As Leo and I spent 13 days in Gran Canaria, and the island really looks like Mars, and the whole idea was that I escaped reality for 13 days and went to another planet to film the project… it made sense to name it MARS-13. So expand on that a little and give us the full concept behind the film… The concept behind the edit is basically that, sometimes I really feel like I need to escape reality for…

This spot is a dream for every wingfoiler who enjoys riding in flat water. An infinity pool of a figure-eight surrounded by a protecting reef that breaks every little wave, making sure you are riding flat and smooth water inside the pool. Access is an adventure in itself. A scenic boat ride takes you to the spot, offering stunning views of azure waters and lush islands. As you approach, the figure-eight lagoon comes into view, its protected waters beckoning. The boat trip not only adds to the experience but also preserves this hidden gem for dedicated riders. Then, once you've coped with the walk over the reef, you get your reward. The warm tropical waters and breathtaking landscapes make this spot an absolute dream for every wingfoiler and will challenge…

Roberto, you originally started the RRD brand after developing a love for windsurfing. Briefly tell us the story of how RRD was first conceived… Back in 1986, I took on a job shaping boards for a custom windsurf board factory called “Drops” in the center of Italy, in Perugia. I enjoyed my job with those guys a lot, yet after three years of refining my shaping skills, I had the vision to go on by myself because I really wanted to make boards for World Cup riders, and I wanted to travel around the world and learn the tricks and trade of the magic world of windsurfing. So, in 1989, I decided to start up my own custom factory between Italy and Hawaii. In Italy, I set up a workshop…

Hey Nick. So tell us how you first got into foil design. And did that come before designing eFoils, or vice versa? I started my first hydrofoil design in 2009. I had learned how to foil with the original Carafino foil and fell in love with the sport. I had just graduated from university with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and hydrofoils had everything that was of interest to me; composites, aerodynamics, CNC manufacturing, CAD, surfing, sailing, etc. I was hooked and I started my journey learning how to build a hydrofoil from start to finish. Back in that day, there wasn’t too much to reference except for a Carafino and a Sky Ski. It took a couple years to even build something that would hold up and fly. Kitesurfing…

LOCATION BIELENBURG & BORSFLETH, GERMANY DATE SUNDAY AUGUST 25TH, 2024 There wasn't much that could have held me back on this Sunday morning. The wingfoil spots along the River Elbe near my hometown of Hamburg promised fantastic conditions: the wind direction was perfect, and the wind was set to strengthen throughout the day, reaching 30 knots by evening! My father and I set out early, heading to our first spot, Bielenberg. The Elbe flows directly into the bustling city of Hamburg, home to one of the largest container ports in the world – third largest in Europe, after Rotterdam and Antwerp. Many container ships from Asia pass through the Elbe to reach this massive port in northern Germany, a metropolis of 1.9 million people. And it’s this same river, busy…

With wing design leveling out a little in the last year or so, it’s good to see brands like FreeWing thinking outside the box and pushing forward with new material implementation, with the fragility of most wings made from standard materials being one of the bigger issues, particularly on such an expensive product. The FreeWing Air Team looks to rectify this by employing a Ho’okipa airframe (which has been proven as a robust and stiff product previously) and, more significantly, an all-new canopy material dubbed Ultra X, promising to be lightweight (86GSM) low stretch, and including a laminated PE mesh designed to take a kicking. Sizes range from a 3m through to 6m in half meter increments. The handle interface is neatly modularized on the Air Team, with lightweight aluminum…

AFS just released another gem from their lab. Designed by Laurent Borgna, the AFS Enduro range stands out for its remarkable lift and intuitive handling. Its engineering ensures unmatched glide and pumping efficiency. The AFS Enduro “All Terrain” series definitely pushes the boundaries of foil design. Available in four sizes – 700, 900, 1100 and 1300cm² – all foils have an aspect ratio of 11, and will cover a huge range of conditions and disciplines, and will definitely increase your riding level. Equipped with a Fuselink connection, these front foils deliver enhanced performance, compatibility, and user-friendliness, offering excellent versatility. For this test I had the 900cm and the 1300cm, together with the 80cm UHM mast paired with the HA 38 stabilizer (for the 900) and HA 40 (for the 1300),…

Firstly, please tell us where the Stellar range of eFoils sits in your lineup? What differentiates this range from the rest? The Stellar range sits at the top of the Sifly eFoils range offering the highest performance, premium materials and stunning looks. The Stellar R and S models evolved from the successful first generation Sifly R and S composite boards, bringing a 25% weight reduction with their improved full carbon sandwich construction. The lighter boards with their reduced swing weight took the eFoiling experience to a whole new level, and the special metallic and pearl paint choices proved a hit with customers. Produced at what we consider to be the best surfboard factory in the world – Cobra – the Stellar series range of eFoil elevated Sifly to ‘premium brand’…

It looks to us like you’ve used some really cutting-edge material choices in the AURA III - tell us about what’s in this wing. You are right – we have been testing new materials for a while over the evolution of the different models, both for the canopy and for Dacron. We found out that, pretty similar to the mast of a windsurfing sail, this helps to give the leading edge its unique and needed flex. That is why you’ll find the new Aluula FX86 material (Aluula Black) in the center, then the DKC 160 in white, plus the high-value Teijin Dacron – this all together gives a unique stiffness in the center and controlled flex in the tips. What updates are people going to find in the AURA III…

You’ve recently released your winter collection, and before we move to the big news in terms of materials, can you please give us an overview of the range? Sure, the Prolimit range is divided into different performance levels that have different price points due to different use of foams, linings and additional features. It is important to mention that despite working with 100% neoprene-free products for our 2025 line the prices have come down and production levels have increased, starting at €189. So tell us, from your perspective what is the issue with traditional neoprene and what new material have you decided to replace it with? Prolimit has been working for almost 10 years to improve neoprene and reduce the use of neoprene, working on sustainability. Neoprene in the past…

AGE 26 SPONSOR ARMSTRONG COMPETITIVE FOIL DISCIPLINES SURF FOIL, PUMPING, SUP FOIL Hey Naumi, tell us first where you're based and who you're riding for. I’m from French Polynesia, on a little island close to Tahiti. I ride for Armstrong Foils. How long have you been riding for the Armstrong team, and how’s it been? I’ve been riding for Armstrong for three years now. I’m so proud to be part of this team, everyone is so nice. Being sponsored by them has helped me improve my foil skills so much and I know I couldn’t be here without them. I’m able to have all the gear I need to push my limits and support me on my projects. It was a dream came true when it happened and I’m still living a dream…