Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 25 i Foiling Magazine

WATCH NOW WILLIAM CAWLEY (WRITER) William, the film weaves Laird and Daniel’s narrative with some pretty stunning visuals of eFoiling and flying – what was your initial vision for how foiling would feature within the story? The story came to me as one central filmic thread that weaves two stories, so the edits can go back and forth to both subjects, but the central story keeps unfolding. The comparisons start with two modern day heroes that need to be ‘ready to go’, either for a swell or for military maneuvers. So training is probably 90% of their day, and innovations within training have a huge impact on that readiness. Their mindset and analysis of risk is also exactly the same, and at the forefront of every decision. Equally, foiling is…

There’s remote, and then there is Beran. Set deep in the outer atolls of the Marshall Islands, Beran is a speck in the Pacific surrounded by reef passes, deep ocean trenches, and wind corridors that almost no one has tapped into. There are no neighbors, no phone reception, and no shortcuts. Getting there involves a flight to Majuro, then an hour’s hop in a twin-prop plane over nothing but open ocean. When you finally see it, it feels like a mirage. This year we brought the KT Surf and Foil Weeks to Beran. Not just a trip, but a chance to disconnect from everything, ride every style of foiling, and experience one of the most untouched and uncrowded ocean environments left in the world. Beran is the passion project of…

They flow with such effortless beauty, you catch them out of the corner of your eye and sometimes they come to visit, just as they have for the generations of voyagers before us. Watching the shearwaters cruise and glide always makes me smile! I’m in the middle of the Ka'iwi Channel, the "channel of bones", and the vastness of the open channel makes me feel so small. I spent most of my life playing in the dirt, chasing a flow state and looking for the perfect turn in loamy dirt and flowing trails on my mountain bike. When I wasn't chasing the perfect dirt, I started chasing the wind with my kite on the coast of Santa Cruz, which in time turned into wingfoiling, and then downwind foiling. This path,…

Cyril, let’s start right at the beginning – what first drew you into water sports, and how did that then evolve into a design career within the industry? I grew up in the north of France, close to the sea, and was naturally drawn to wind and water from a very young age. My family was passionate about sailing, and I quickly discovered windsurfing, then kitesurfing when it first emerged – which immediately hooked me in. By the time I was 15, I was competing professionally on the kite world tour, which gave me the opportunity to travel, meet people, and test gear in all kinds of conditions. I’ve always been curious and hands-on with gear, and even during my athlete years, I was constantly adjusting and modifying my equipment…

DATE MONDAY MAY 12TH, 2025 LOCATION UTAH, USA Jouke van der Meer doesn’t really do sitting around. He’s a commercial pilot by trade, the kind of guy who sees a five-hour layover and starts googling “surf spots near Patagonia”. So when he and I woke up at 5:30am in a tipi in the middle of the Navajo Reservation in the Utah desert, it wasn’t because we couldn’t sleep, it was for a distinctly different kind of foil mission, and it was time to begin. A few hundred meters away, the state line changes and so does the timezone. Luckily this was no trouble for a pilot used to shifting timezones daily and we started as we wanted: a sunrise ride into Lower Antelope Canyon, one of the most surreal places…

The GWA Wingfoil World Tour landed in Tarifa, Spain, in June, for the second stop of the Surf-Freestyle competition. The sixth edition of the Tarifa Wing Pro hosted the tour once again and served up a mix of Poniente breezes and punchy Levante wind that was perfect for the freestyle action. Reigning world champions, the US’s Chris MacDonald and Spain’s Nia Suardiaz, had opened the defense of their crowns with convincing wins at the opening stop in Leucate, France, with each going for a third successive title. But Tarifa had big surprises in store that suggested it was not going to be a walk in the park for either athlete… It was on to Sotovento, Fuerteventura, for the third stop in Surf-Freestyle and the second round in FreeFly-Slalom. The historic…

It’s fair to say wetsuits have come an extremely long way even in the last decade, with modern suits fitting and stretching so well they feel more like a second skin than a garment. Recently, with the release of The Big C documentary, the wetsuit industry has had a major shakeup when it comes to sourcing and sustainability, leading to large brands like Mystic reacting fast and taking a stern look at where their raw materials are coming from, and redeveloping their suits from all-new natural materials. Mystic have opted for Natural Foam as their neoprene alternative, which is USDA certified and comprises of a mixture of naturally occurring ingredients including tree rubber, oyster shells, sugar cane and plant oils. What’s also impressive is that the inner and outer linings…

I’ve been wearing wetsuits since I was 10 years old so I was hyped to test this one and how it compares to the many brands I have worn over the years. When it comes to combining eco-innovation and high performance, Soöruz has carved out a strong reputation. Their latest wetsuit, the Guru, is no exception designed for riders who demand both flexibility and durability. I took it out for a few sessions to see how it holds up, especially in the context of foiling and winging, where mobility and lightweight gear are really important. Right out of the box, the Guru feels premium. Soöruz has crafted it using their Oysterprene technology, a next-gen material derived from oyster shell powder, a smart eco-friendly alternative to traditional neoprene. This new generation…

We had the chance to test the all-new North Mode Pro 2026, and by the time you’re reading this, the wing has likely already hit the market. We were lucky enough to score several sessions with it and here you have our impressions. Like all North products, the Mode Pro is crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Its airframe is made from the lightweight yet durable N-Weave45 material, while the canopy features Matrix fabric, a low-stretch material that feels thicker and more robust than standard canopy fabrics. Assessing long-term durability is always tricky in a short test period, but based on its construction, the Mode Pro gives the impression of a highly resilient wing that should maintain its look and performance over time. Both N-Weave45 and Matrix feel noticeably stronger…

Let’s start broad! What was the vision behind the Phazer V5 line, and how does it build on the previous incarnations? The original Phazer was developed as a carving and surf-oriented crossover foilboard. The new Phazer (v5) continues to evolve in this space. Its capabilities are largely size-dependent. Generally, the smaller sizes (46L and below) are ideal for surf foiling and are also great for winging and kiting. Medium sizes (55L-90L) are best suited for wing and parawing. The larger sizes (90L-135L) are ideal for beginners, light-wind winging and parawing, as well as SUP crossover use. Both the Duratech and Active Carbon models feature the new V5 shape. Can you talk us through the reasoning behind the reduced width and the increased length? We’ve been doing extensive development on longer,…

Hey team. So the EVOs have evolved into the new Y30 Evolution Wings! Please give us a little overview of the two new wings, and their major differences… The new Y30 Evolution Wing and Evolution Gold Wing represent the latest step in the ongoing development of our wing line. Both wings are built on years of design evolution and rider feedback, but they cater to different needs. The Evolution Gold Wing is our high-performance model, built in Aluula for maximum stiffness, control, and lightness. The Evolution Wing, while using more traditional materials, still delivers excellent performance with a very balanced and accessible feel, ideal for most riders. What was the design philosophy behind the new Evolution Gold Wing, and how does it build on previous models? The Evolution Gold Wing…

What was the core idea behind the Super K 2, and what were you trying to solve or evolve from the previous model? The goal with the new Super K 2 was to create the most versatile high performance midlength possible. We started with the original Super K’s all discipline DNA and refined every element through team rider input and a massive range of local and custom order feedback. We pulled insights from the OG Super K, Drifter, and Dragonfly lines and blended them into one design. While the original Super K midlength leaned more toward wingfoiling with limited size options, we wanted to expand the range from 30 to 120 liters to cover everything from prone to SUP. With the rapid rise of parawinging and foil assist systems, we…

+ I discovered wingfoiling in 2021 while living in New Caledonia. I was originally a gymnast and gymnastics coach, but the moment I tried wingfoil, I was hooked. The feeling of freedom, the possibility to add foot straps and jump, it was just amazing. Foiling opened up a whole new world. You can explore the ocean, cruise, surf, jump, or even pump with no wind, it’s limitless. It offers something for everyone, whether you’re chasing adrenaline or peace. + The gear is evolving fast, and that’s something I’ve experienced firsthand as an athlete. It’s becoming lighter, more accessible, and adapted to different body types, wind conditions, and riding styles. I love how it welcomes people from other sports like surfing, windsurfing, or kitesurfing, or even people like me, who had…

Hey Oscar! So first tell us how you got into foiling? You were into windsurfing first right? My mum was an Olympic sailor and my dad was an Olympic windsurfer. When I was a lot younger my father introduced me to windsurfing. I didn’t take to it immediately, but it did get me into the water which I played in all day long. As lockdown happened, my brother Thomas was getting quite good at windsurfing, it started to look like a lot of fun. My dad has a theory on learning to windsurf, never learn in light winds, it’s boring. To learn fast you must learn in the wind, so even though I didn’t know what I was doing I was ripping along, crash and burn style. I loved it!…

Hi Sam. So you’ve been with Eleveight since day one – how has your role as designer evolved as the brand has grown? Hi team. Yes, I jumped at the opportunity from the beginning. I have known the founders for a long time, since I first moved to Spain and started dabbling in design for the kite industry. Working for people I respected made me 100% confident to develop my work, even from the brand’s inception, as the team are really experienced, motivated, and passionate. In this industry, creating a new brand name, logo and marketing graphics ready for launch was my initial challenge, but a really exciting one. My design role later evolved into more of a product graphics focus, but that was before wingfoiling was even a thing…

WEAPON FLITELAB* SYSTEM RIDER HEIGHT 184CM RIDER WEIGHT 85KG I’ve been using the FLITELab* system for just over two years. I’m a perfectionist and our last round of testing wasn’t quite up to our high standards so we are hoping the next round of prototypes are the final ones and we can go into production. My preferred setup for the FLITELab* system is the 707 FLUX_Wing, the short fuse, 125 stab, 82 mast. Can’t go wrong with that. We originally had a completely different system which was based on the original Fliteboard system. What we soon realized was that we needed to completely redesign that system to get the highest quality and performance from a foil system that would sit at the pointy end of the surf foil market. And…

LOCATION OBERRIEDEN, SWITZERLAND DATE SUNDAY JUNE 30TH, 2025 Between the glassy water, scattered boats, and a crew of riders from every level, the day quickly turns into more than a demo. It’s a chance to question your own riding, appreciate the new generation’s style, and remember why you started foiling in the first place. “Get up! It’s morning, time to move!” That’s what my body says. My brain fires back: “Fuck!” I don’t know about you, but I hate going to bed and I hate getting up – must be some kind of syndrome, right? But this morning it’s for foiling, so I can live with it. Today is Indiana’s Ambassador Day, and we’re at the brand’s headquarters on the shores of Lake Zurich. The plan: wake up, swim, set…

The 2025 FreeWing AIR Team V5 is a no-compromise, high-performance wing built for riders looking for maximum responsiveness, durability, and lightweight control. This new version features their exclusive Ho’okipa Ultra PE for the leading edge and strut, an Ultra-X canopy, and a pistol grip prepreg carbon boom. All geared toward delivering a stiff, light, and highly efficient ride. FreeWing’s use of Ho’okipa material sets this wing apart, with this material combining incredibly low elongation under load with exceptional tensile strength. It rivals and, I would suggest in some parameters, outperforms even Aluula wings, while maintaining competitive weight thanks to optimized seam designs. And the AIR Team V5 brings a refined geometry with a medium aspect ratio, and a relatively short center strut, all designed to offer compact power, and no…

The Stream, the latest creation from the AFS Lab, is a wing dedicated to surfing and free-fly. AFS had already made a strong impression with the Diamond V2 a high-performance wing focused on freeride, freestyle, and wave. The Diamond V2 delivered a direct, responsive ride with excellent power control and twist stability. It was all about precision, efficiency, and versatility, especially for experienced riders pushing boundaries across disciplines. The Stream, by contrast, is shifting the focus toward free-fly and surf-style riding, less about raw performance, more about glide, lightness, and effortless control when the wing is neutral. In a way, it feels like AFS took everything they learned from the Diamond’s handling and build quality and applied it to a wing that’s designed to disappear in your hands once you’re…

The Boost Ultra is Stoke Foils’ second-generation clamp-on assist system, designed to give foilers a low-profile, removable power source that helps with lift-off and time-on-foil in marginal conditions. Building on the original Stoke Boost, which introduced a compact motor pod aimed at supplementing rider technique rather than replacing it, the Ultra brings major upgrades across the board. It improves runtime by 50 percent and increases output to 31 kilograms of thrust, thanks to a redesigned high-voltage motor, larger battery, and a new control system. While still based on short, targeted bursts of thrust, the Boost Ultra now operates with enough power and endurance that it edges into retrofittable e-foil territory for some users. This extra grunt doesn’t just get you up. It’ll tow you in when you’re feeling lazy, letting…

The Mantis has been in the Cabrinha range since 2021, and the Apex version was first introduced a couple of years ago, being the lighter-weight, higher-performance model with enhanced tube material. For 2026 they are releasing a limited production run in three sizes: 4, 4.5 and 5.5m. Build-wise this year sees Aluula intelligently utilized in the center section of the wing to solidify the strut and the all-important T junction where it connects to the leading edge, making up the first couple of segments towards the wingtips. This stiffens the most important structural areas of the wing, helping it maintain canopy tension under load and translate power efficiently. The elegant strut design is slightly curved towards you, allowing a very controlled and well-tailored canopy profile; it then takes quite an…

Morning team. So tell us about the design brief behind the WFS V6 and WFS Pro V2 – how do the two wings differ for their intended riders? Great to catch up with you. The WFS was our very first wing, developed back in 2019. As the sport has grown and evolved, so too has the WFS. The core DNA remains the same though, as the WFS is designed to be a true freeride wing that’s versatile enough for cruising, wave riding, and even freestyle. For the WFS V6, the focus was on reducing weight and refining the canopy tension to make the wing even more responsive, with quick power delivery and efficient pumping. We introduced our new X6 ripstop on the trailing edge to help distribute load more efficiently,…

Team, what was your motivation for adding the Evolve wetsuit to your range? Petroleum-based wetsuits, also known as neoprene, have been the industry standard since the 1950s. And to be fair, they changed everything. They’ve let us foil, surf, kite, and windsurf year-round in cold-water regions. They’ve taken us to sub-zero zones. They’ve kept us out all day, pushing limits without worrying about hypothermia (though icecream headaches do still happen on occasion!). As our Design Director, Edwin Schaap, says; “A wetsuit is what makes our sports possible. It lets us go out in any season, in any conditions. Without a good wetsuit, you can’t ride the way you want to.” As materials and tech improved, so did our expectations for warmth, stretch and comfort. But alongside performance, the pressure to…

What was the core mission behind the new Flow Craft V2, and what are the standout updates from the original? As wingfoiling matured, and wing-specific requirements became clear, we wanted to parse through which features of past boards were relics of kite, wind, surf, or wakefoiling designs, and really create a board aimed at the pure wing-foiling customer. The Flow Craft v2 was a clean-slate design, and the design goals were directly influenced by the modern wing rider, from pure swell riding to the bump-and-jump all around riders. These goals were 1) effortless take-off, which means no compromises on the size of foils or wings you want to ride, and 2) lightweight construction, which reduces the effort when riding, and allows for a more manoeuvrable board. And who do you…

WATCH NOW What initially drew you to Cape Town for the “Endless Possibilities” series? Had you foiled there much before? I had actually been to Cape Town as a child and then returned a couple of times in recent years, mainly for kitesurfing. But this past January, I traveled there for the first time with the clear intention of going wingfoiling. Once I arrived, I was immediately inspired by the local riders out on the water. That’s when I really fell in love with wingfoiling in waves and strong wind. After that trip, I went back home to Munich and something inside me said, “I need to go back this winter and start a project there.” How would you describe the foiling scene in and around Cape Town? I have…

The 2025 Cabarete Wing Fest, hosted by Voy Voy Vela Cabarete, brought together athletes, brand reps and guests – in all, over 60 wingfoilers from around the world came together to celebrate one of the most exciting and fast-growing water sports in the world. With its steady trade winds, warm blue waters, and wind & wave oriented community, Cabarete once again proved why it’s such a premier destination for wingfoiling. The event kicked off on the Friday with a day of pro talks and gear demos. Riders and guests gathered at Vela Cabarete to hear insights from some of the top athletes and brand representatives. Among the pro talks were contributions from Dylan Shewfelt and Arland Miller from Puerto Rico together with Matt Aiken representing North, Frances Rivera from Eleveight…

FREEWING LIFE The LIFE from FreeWing is their latest freeride-focused wing that’s ready to be enjoyed by both greenhorns just entering the sport, or for seasoned rippers looking to pin down new tricks, this compact, smooth and highly balanced wing is built to help you move forward in your winging prowess! Ships with FreeWing’s new pistol grip aluminum boom. ELEVEIGHT CHASER Eleveight’s midlength Chaser is a weapon, and especially so in light winds. It blends the benefits of downwind glide with compact wingfoil effectiveness, while its light weight and shape make it super-efficient for lightwind riding, getting up effortlessly and planing nice and early. It’s the perfect option for riders looking for both a lightwind option and something with superior glide characteristics. RRD WING HARNESS If you’re in the market…

As a brand with our own manufacturing facility where we produce Appletree boards using our uniquely in-house developed vacuum infusion technique, it makes sense that we invest significant time and care into our production process and maintain full control over it. From sourcing the best available raw materials to working with the best professionals and maintaining a just, quality-driven production process, everything is done with intention. Our boards are built to last, which helps reduce their overall environmental impact. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A BOARD MANUFACTURER But what happens once the boards leave our factory? It is not like our responsibility ends once it’s off our hands, right? We’ve been thinking more and more about what impact our boards have during their entire lifecycle and what we can do to reduce…

So, let’s start at the beginning – can you give us a quick overview of how Soöruz got started and what your original vision was for the brand? Soöruz was born in 1999 in La Rochelle, on the French Atlantic coast, out of a deep love for board sports and a desire to do things differently. Back then, we were a small group of passionate riders – surfers, windsurfers, kiteboarders – who felt that the gear on the market didn’t fully reflect the spirit of our community: technical, creative, and deeply connected to nature. From the very beginning, our vision was clear: to create high-performance wetsuits and technical gear that would respect both the rider and the planet. We started small, with limited runs of wetsuits designed for surfers, but…

LOCATION VIANA DO CASTELO, PORTUGAL DATE SATURDAY JUNE 14TH, 2025 I was invited by Club North for a full day of coaching in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The event took place at Feel-Viana, a super nice sport hotel that sits just a few minutes from the beach. They even have their own cable park for wakeboarding, which is pretty cool and is the perfect spot for dockstart training. It was my first official coaching day with them, and the vibes were amazing right from the start. I arrived early in the morning, set up my dockstart gear, and got ready to help some riders improve their take off. We started with a two-hour session using the dock from the cable park. Everyone was super motivated, and we focused on body…

We tested Armstrong’s original MA series back in 2023, so two years later, with a sport that’s evolved in discipline and performance immeasurably in that time frame, it seems an appropriate moment for Armstrong to give the range a refresh. It’s available in eight sizes ranging from 490 to 1390cm2 – we tested the 990 and 690 – and as usual hooks onto the existing A+ fuselage with its tapered hexagonal fitting. The original MA had some serious performance and led Cash Berzolla to fame, pushing wave-focused winging in particular to new levels. It could handle an inordinate amount of speed, fully breach and recover miraculously. I think it’s fair to say you needed to be on your game to ride it, and the foil needed to be ridden with…

The AK Phazer V5 is the fifth iteration of an AK Durable Supply Co. classic! The Phazer V5 balances crossover utility with surf-driven shaping, designed to span multiple disciplines with a focus on performance and minimalism. The 4’7 we tested offers 36L of volume – ideal for intermediate to advanced riders looking for a compact, responsive feel, and unmatched versatility – although there are plenty more sizes to choose from in the range. This board is officially the smallest board I have been able to wingfoil on, and it honestly felt incredibly natural to adapt to. This is the Active Carbon model, as opposed to the Duratech version, and features a lightweight carbon/bamboo composite construction with a molded EPS core, giving the board a stiff, reactive ride while keeping swing…

Our recent tests of Gaastra gear over the last few years have found that their gear consistently delivers performance and ease of use at a competitive price point. So, when we heard we’d be testing their new Pure Team wing, we were looking forward to it. The GA Wings Pure Team is their highest-performance all-round wing, and it comes in five different sizes. We’ve been spoiled with this one, testing it extensively over a couple of months, giving us plenty of time to push it to its limits. While we knew the Pure Team featured a boom, our first surprise came when we saw the bag. Based on its compact size, we expected a wing with handles but instead, we found a split boom system that assembles into a single-piece…

The M-Winger PRO 105L and the Downwinder S-TEC 130L are clearly built with performance and early lift in mind, but they approach it from slightly different angles, one coming from the wingfoil world, the other from pure downwind SUP DNA. The Downwind S-TEC is lighter than expected for a 130L around 5.9kg thanks to the full carbon sandwich layup. You feel it especially when paddling or carrying it under the arm. The M-Winger also comes in JP’s premium construction, with great deck pad grip, multiple footstrap options, and a clean, stiff feel that reacts instantly when pumping or shifting weight. Both boards feature updated foil tracks with mirrored placement scales, making setup easy and fast The M-Winger is more compact, designed to bridge the gap between a traditional wing board…

What were your core goals when designing this latest version of the HALO, and how do they show up in the final product? Our goal was clear from the beginning: take the DNA of the high-performance HALO Pro and make it more accessible – without compromising the riding experience. We wanted to build a wing that brings intuitive handling, effortless control and flow into every move. The result is the new HALO – a wing that feels natural from the first pump, yet still delivers the dynamic performance advanced riders are looking for. It’s a wing that adapts to you, rather than the other way around. Can you tell us about your material choices for the new HALO, why those choices were made and how they affect performance compared to…

The new AppleSlice Prone blends DNA from several boards in your range – what was the thinking behind this hybrid approach, and what kind of rider is it aimed at? Our line-up was getting a bit confusing, with the “pro-foil" named years ago, but the board is better suited for intermediate riders, not pros necessarily. So we wanted to add a high-performance prone board, with features from the smaller Slice wing boards, but tweaked for prone use – lighter construction and inserts as standard. It’s meant for everyone from intermediates to our pro team. You have to pick the right size – the size that matches your weight and, maybe more importantly, your skill level. The board also comes in really small sizes, which are great for kite and especially…

AGE 27 HEIGHT 6’0 WEIGHT 200LBS SPONSORS ARMSTRONG, NAUTIQUE, MAÑANA, FATSAC, OLUKAI, STATIK COMPETITIVE FOIL DISCIPLINES STRAPPED/STRAPLESS, WAKE FOIL, SURF FOIL, PUMP, RACE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE STRAPLESS BACKFLIP AT FINGAL! Hey Noah. Let’s rewind a bit – what first sparked your interest in foiling, and when did you come to it? I started seeing some clips of people doing it on Instagram, and I knew I had to try it! That was almost seven years ago now. You’ve got a strong background in multiple surf-based sports – how did you settle upon wakeboarding, and more recently wake foil as your main focus? Wakeboarding has piqued my interest since I was two years old, watching the teenagers ride through my backyard since I can remember had a huge effect on me. Wakeboarding feeds the adrenaline…

Hey Guy. Tell us about your first experience with foiling. How did you initially get hooked in? I guess it all started back in 1979. I was a little kid standing on grown-up water skis. Four years later, I got on a surfboard for the first time, and from then on, I was pretty much always into water sports, all the way into the 90s. These days, I’ve been living by Lake Zurich for the past 14 year. It’s beautiful, super clear, and just around the corner. Only problem is, there’s almost never enough wind for windsurfing or wingfoiling. For that, I have to head off to other spots. I did try to take a wingfoil course at Lake Silvaplana, it’s famous for its steady thermals. But of course, the…

Most of my career has been dedicated to getting more women into windsports. This may not seem like something particularly new, exciting, interesting, or even necessary, but it’s been important to me for a few reasons. First, I was often the only woman on a photoshoot – it’s more fun with more women. Second, while I was competing on the Kite Park League Tour, we wanted more women to join us in competition. Third, when you ride with people who look like you or are at a similar level, you become more inspired. You're able to cultivate an "if she can do it, so can I!" attitude. One of the things I hear constantly from working in the industry for so long is "how do we grow the sport?" As…