Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 17 i Foiling Magazine

Hello Julian! First up, tell us how old you are and where you live… My name is Julian Ricardo Diaz Castro but everyone knows me as Juliancito! I am 14 years old and I live in La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico, which is one of the top North American wind destinations. Our windy season runs from November until May and it blows 20 knots almost every day all winter long. The town is small, but it is growing quickly with all the tourism for wind sports. Everyone in town does wind sports, when I was younger I was the only windsurfing kid but now I have so many friends who wingfoil! Is this where you grew up? And how did you first get into foiling? I grew up in…

Exciting times! So, the first and biggest question - why is North Foils falling back under the parent company name? I wouldn’t say we’re falling back; I’d say we’re returning home. North Sails, est. 1957, licensed the North trademark for many years. After our recalibration five seasons ago, we’ve had the opportunity to be more authentic to our North Sails roots. We're proud of how our new logo re-establishes our connection to this heritage. Although the logo has changed, the North Foils brand has not. We continue to remain strong in our core values. The North Sails logo represents a horizon. Can you tell us the significance of this in terms of how it represents the North brand? It’s all about the alchemy of the elements. The magic happens when…

01 OCEAN SUNGLASSES RHINO HELMET Water in your helmet an issue? Not with Ocean Sunglasses’ new Rhino Helmet, where their WDS (Water Drainage System) keeps the water on the outside, where it should be. Their Strips Fitting System (STS) also means you can customize your helmet to fit your noggin snugly and securely. Helmet available in two sizes. 02 FFB TC PRO You’ll find out more about the TC Pro in the Inbound slot later in the mag, but suffice to say, when you have the former World Champ surfer Tom Carroll involved in your board design, you know you can expect pretty great things from it. Built for progressive paddle and tow foiling, and signed off by the man himself. 03 ARMSTRONG APF RANGE The new Armstrong Pump Foil (APF)…

WEAPON NAISH WING - SURFERADX RIDER HEIGHT 5’10 RIDER WEIGHT 180 LBS Development on the Naish Wing-Surfer ADX began about sixteen months ago. I have been riding the production wings full-time since the spring of this year. I do not really have a preferred ADX wing size, as they all work great. For wave riding I like to use as small as possible, and for flat water I ride a bigger wing than most people. My size of choice for this session was the ADX 3.5m. The canopy and the trailing edge are made of ripstop, and the leading edge is constructed with dual weight Dacron. The heavier Dacron at the center of the leading edge and face of the strut make the wing stiff at the center and bomber…

LOCATION ENGLISH CHANNEL DATE SATURDAY JUNE 10TH, 2023 On the 10th of June, the perfect opportunity came about to bring together a group of friends. Half were hydrofoil addicts, the other half Zapcat racing boat addicts. Jonathan from @foilhub organized a day of fun, capturing content and combining the two sports. Mike Chapman and I picked up fellow foiler Jonathan from our neighboring county of Cornwall on our way to meet Elite Marine Service’s Lewis Huddy, Ben Lawly, Steve Putt and Matt Pearce at their base at Turnchapel, in Plymouth Docks. Everyone gathered on the side of the docks, deciding on a “let's head out and see what the conditions are like” approach to the day. If there was very little ground swell maybe there’d be some further offshore action,…

We’ve seen various collaborative affairs in product development from ION recently, first with Wingman on their high hook harness jacket and now with WIP on an all new wingfoil-specific helmet in the form of the Slash Core. All foiling sports, as we know, have the inherent danger of being smacked by the foil or board, as well as some fairly heavy crashes from height in general, and particularly when we enter heavier wave, freestyle or even tow foil environments, things can go wrong quickly so protecting your head is, without a doubt, a sensible idea. Being foolishly slack on the head protection front, I was intrigued to see what a water-specific helmet would feel like, and whether it would impede my performance. The first thing I noticed about the Slash…

The Appletree Skipper concept transcends all foiling disciplines across their board range; in this instance we get to grips with the Apple Skipper Short, available in two stock sizes 3’4 and 3’10. The lightest and lowest volume board in the Skipper series, it’s aimed as a minimal pocket board for kite, wake, tow and pump foiling. The 3’10” we tested comes in at a skinny 18.4l. Designed like a dam busters style bouncing bomb, or perhaps even a skimming stone, the Skipper has a pronounced bulge that sits a little lower than the foil box and naturally bounces when it hits water to seriously aid recovery on harsher touch downs, but as a bonus also feels like a natural position to place volume when taking off from the water to…

While the Armstrong high aspect series have been and still are great pumping foils, Armstrong has hit the pump and flatwater game head on with their new APF series. Aptly called the Armstrong Pump Foil, the 1880, 1675, and Pump 202 tail are here to redefine pump foiling for beginners and experts. Engineered in collaboration with aerospace engineer and renowned aftermarket tail designer, Chris Porter, this unique wing was designed with the clear objective to provide progression for flatwater pumping, personal records, and the first tastes of downwinding on small bumps. The key to unlock the potential of this series was to offer significantly low stall speeds and pitch stability without losing maneuverability for wings their size. For our testing, we used the APF 1880, which Armstrong advises for advanced…

So a brand new wing and this time with three letters after its name. Please first tell us what the XPS stands for? It’s short for cross panel sail design, which is the way the various panels that make up the canopy are arranged. The XPS layout optimizes tension with diagonal seams radiating from the load points at the center and the tips of the canopy, distributing the warp and stretch of the fabric evenly under load. This is something inspired by the sailing world and does a lot for the wing’s performance and durability. How much evolution can we expect from the previous A-Wing? The XPS is a brand new wing from the ground up. Like with every Armstrong design, the goal in development was to meticulously craft the…

Hi team. Firstly, please give us an overview of the new GT1+, and how it sits in the range alongside the WFS V4… The new GT1+ was developed in response to the need for a high-performance wing that's very lightweight to meet the demands of the advancing wave and freeride market. As the sport has evolved, we see that experienced wing foilers require more performance with very direct control. The GT1+ is a bit more specific to this market with a lighter and stiffer frame and our exchangeable handle system which gives the rider some custom piloting options. In comparison, our WFS wing is a classic all-rounder suited to all levels and conditions. In which disciplines does it excel in, and why? The GT1+ is a performance freeride wing with…

Firstly, tell us what the key concept is behind the all-new Nomad? The Nomad concept was centered around building the ultimate light wind wing board that is also versatile enough to use as a surf, paddle-up, and downwind SUP. We knew that if we could get a certain amount of glide speed, you would be able to pop up onto foil with ease. We also wanted a board that was very comfortable off foil, as we believed that anybody who was chasing light wind would most likely spend a fair amount of time off foil. Once on foil, we worked to optimize the length and swing weight of the board, making it fun to pump and still maneuverable enough to throw around. As a light wind and downwind focused board,…

Hey guys. How did the design process work with Tom? It all started with an Instagram message! Tom Carroll (TC) has been pushing the boundaries of water sports since day one and working with him on the TC Pro showed us all the true depth of his knowledge and experience. The TC Pro you see today is a product of a year and a half of development with multiple variations of the board until we got to this winning design. Tom’s approach to foiling is all about power and drive and the TC Pro is a combination of these two key design points, maximized by using FFB’s unique construction and build processes. With a softer rail, progressive nose rocker and pulled-in tail, the TC Pro is as catch-free as boards…

Downwinding is probably one of the oldest “disciplines” in water sports. Whilst it wasn't explicitly called downwinding, the act of navigating the ocean and using the energy that lies beneath the surface has been something that mankind has done throughout history, with many cultures built around their ability to navigate their crafts across the oceans. In modern day watersports, downwinding has a rich history across many disciplines; oc1, surfski, stand up paddle and prone paddling to name a few, with many legendary events around the world (M2M, M2O, The Gorge Paddle Challenge to name just a recent few). With the rapid development and adoption of foiling, we have seen the implementation of foiling across almost every conceivable water sport discipline including downwinding (possibly one of the best use cases for…

The East Oz Foil Fest is one of the first foil comps in Australia, that’s if you can call it a competition… Everyone was just so stoked to meet up and foil with a bunch of like-minded people, no one was all that focused on competing! The idea originated with Zane Westwood creating a group chat with about 15 foilers and proposed the idea of doing a foil/surf tag team event. The word spread, and the final turnout for the event was unbelievable. I would say around 50 foilers from all over the east coast converged for three days of absolute foil madness. The conditions in the lead up to the event were superb. Friday brought glassy, clear water conditions with small rippable lumps in the comp zone and bigger…

Brands Starboard and FreeWing have recently come together to form a new one-design wingfoil racing class, the X-15. With the intention of creating a completely level playing field, where it’s predominantly rider skill that determines who is the best in class, the X-15 already has a number of events lined up around the world, across the year. We spoke with Starboard’s Svein Rasmussen to get the full inside line on why it was created, how it works, and where it got its inspiration… Hi Svein. So firstly, can you please give us a little background about yourself, and how you first got into windsports? We have a beautiful coastline in Arendal, Norway. I started sailing with a towel and inflatable mattress in 1967, the same year Jim Drake and Hoyle…

Hey Cyril. So starting out, what’s your own personal history in the industry, what were you doing before Takuma? I have been immersed in this industry for a significant part of my life, which has been pretty cool. In the early days, I had an amazing eight-year stint as a professional kiteboarder. During that time, I was sponsored by Naish and also worked with them in their R&D department, specifically focusing on kite and board development. It was an incredible experience, especially being based in Maui. At the same time, I opened a center in my hometown in France, which was both a shop and a school. I was really passionate about gathering feedback from clients to create the best possible products that everyone could enjoy. It was a cool…

LOCATION DUOTONE PRO CENTER, LAKE GARDA DATE MONDAY 29TH MAY, 2023 The anticipation was palpable as I arrived at the picturesque Duotone Pro Center Tobole on the shores of Lake Garda. It was a beautiful day, with clear skies and the promise of adventure in the air. I had been eagerly waiting for the southerly Ora wind to kick in, and during that time, I took the opportunity to explore the amazing center. As I wandered around, marveling at the state-of-the-art equipment and vibrant atmosphere, my friends started to arrive one by one. Nia Suardiaz, Gollito Estredo, Rocco Sotomayor, Tom and Aleks Acherer and photographer Emanuela Cauli joined me, and we all shared the excitement of the day ahead. Finally, the thermal wind began to show signs of picking up,…

If the GWA season started the season with a bang with ground-breaking events in New Zealand, Cape Verde and France, it moved on to another plane with the back-to-back competitions in the Canaries, Spain. In less than two weeks in July, the teenage athletes moved the wingfoil dial with stellar performances that were, quite simply, astonishing. First, in the windsurfing "bunker" of Pozo Izquierdo, Gran Canaria, where the GWA was welcomed to make its debut thanks to organizer, windsurf legend, Bjørn Dunkerbeck. The second stop was equally historic, as the GWA made its first appearance at the 35th edition of the Fuerteventura World Cup on Sotavento beach. The conditions delivered by two events could barely have been more contrasting, but the end result was the same: performances that marked a…

Last year’s North Mode was a decisive leap into new materials for the brand. Its race and high-end freeride focused design and concise range of sizes worked well, and it proved a performant and well-received wing. For 2024, we’re presented with the all new Mode Pro, this year extending the range into five sizes from 3.5 through to 6.8m. As we are proudly reminded in their marketing, North Foils are part of the North Sails group, giving them access to a massive bank of knowledge and resources from a brand at the forefront of the world’s yacht sail manufacturers. This puts North in a unique situation where rather than source airframe material from an existing manufacturer, they can simply develop and manufacture their own, affording them a huge amount of…

Tahe, the brand resulting from the union of the legendary water sports brands BIC Sports and Tahe Outdoor, surely has in its DNA a focus on beginner-friendly, durable products designed to maximize time on the water and family fun. In fact, the result of such a fusion is a brand - as they put it - “dedicated to endless play time on the water with family and friends of every skill level”. And it is with this concept in mind that their new wing foiling gear has been developed. This approach to the development of wing foiling gear is evident in the Alizé: a wing designed for beginners looking to embark on their journey of learning how to wing foil, but also for enthusiasts and intermediate riders seeking enough performance…

Kudos on two new wings, team! Please tell us what kind of conditions the Ventis is built for, and what’s been the thinking behind the design? Ventis wings work in the lightest of winds for the heaviest of riders. Their truncated leading edge tips minimize tip strikes, their deep profiles maximize power to get foiling, and their superior canopy tension and stability maximize wind range and controllability when they get fully powered up. Tip struts add weight, but they permit the leading edge to be truncated. The truncated part of the leading edge is the part that hits the water most on other big wings, so Ventis wings are easier to pump up on foil without tip strikes. Tip struts also offer an opportunity to make the profile of the…

We’ve heard good things already team! Firstly, give us an overview of the TAO’s technical highlights… We were focusing heavily on weight reduction to improve the overall feel of the wing. Keeping the wing affordable was another primary goal. The noticeable technical changes include an ergonomic strut, front handle, thinner leading edge, and the absence of windows and extra handles. Furthermore, the wingtip twist, V-shape, and sail tension have been revised. It joins the MOJO in the Flysurfer wing lineup. What are the major differences between the two, and what kind of rider will lean towards the TAO? The TAO is simply more playful, performant throughout the wind range, and less exhausting to ride. It is better for freestyle, quick turns, and advanced gybes or tacks. The MOJO is perfect…

So guys, firstly is this a fully new version of the popular Wind Wing? Hi! Yes, this is a totally new wing, new shape, new construction, totally new system to attach the boom. What I can say is it’s a real revolution. Its monolithic boom-ends and the increased middle strut diameter make the wing super solid, allowing you to control every single move, with millimetric precision, especially in gusty conditions. Tell us about the boom construction – what marks this one out from the rest? It is a two-piece full carbon boom, featuring an iron push-pin connector and enhanced with a manually sanded grip. The unique feature of the Wind Wing Boom lies in its attachment system. The boom can be securely affixed to the middle strut through a stainless…

The Raptor returns! Please fill us in on the latest incarnation, and what marks it out from V2… Our team of experts has engineered a wing designed to meet the needs of even the most demanding riders with exceptional features and unparalleled performance. Our new lower aspect ratio shape, combined with a segmented leading edge, provides better wing tip control while turning and increased stability while free-flying and wave riding. The new thicker center strut design with mini booms offers superior comfort and power management for pumping efficiency. And the stiffer durable fabric with the new paneling alignments provides better tensioning to help reduce fluttering and improve wing longevity. Windows were also added for better visibility/view for high-speed flying and safety. Talk to us about your material choices for the…

Hi Steve. So, can you initially give us an overview of the Stealth, what it’s built for and who’s gonna love it? The Stealth is built with an early take-off in mind so you can get up on foil sooner than anything else out there. We designed it with tucked under rails that firm up at the midpoint of the foil box. This helps with stability, more importantly the flushing of water out past the tail. The bottom shape has a spoon-like shape because it makes the take off and plane out stage much easier. When a board has hard or defined channels, it often feels “stuck”, which makes it very hard to have it release or it rails out in a direction you most likely don’t want to go.…

ADAM BENNETTS Adam, this was a bit of an all-star casting. Who did all the organizing and managed to get everyone at the same place at the same time? That would be our Marketing Director Pip, she’s epic! (Ed – We asked Pip: “When Brian said he was going to drop into Byron Bay to meet the team at Flite, I reached out to the team riders that live close by and everyone jumped at the chance to get together. The planets aligned with Eric being in town, and Benny Taylor, Beau Pilgrim and Mike Egan being available to shoot. It was the Avengers Assembled.”) We’re aware that Flite founder David Trewern lives in Byron Bay. Was this filmed at his place? Usually we do a lot of filming at…

This is one of those unique places that isn’t only a secret beach but also a place that’s really difficult to reach. Not just because of the miles of inaccessible cliffs, but also its exposure to the full force of the weather systems that constantly hit this area. Usually this spot has a crunching shore break and deadly rips that sweep the coastline, but on this day I was able to use my Fliteboard to gain access to what is the most picturesque section of the Jurassic Coast… riding along the pre-historic coastline with the incredible colors of the cliffs reflecting in the waters is an amazing feeling. I’m able to ride right next to the beach as the steep shelving beach dips into the sea. The water teeming with…

So, big news! Could you first please give our readers an overview of exactly what’s taken place. Till Eberle (CEO, Boards & More): “Boards & More will continue to distribute Fanatic products from the wing foil sector under the Duotone brand name in the future. With Fanatic and Duotone, we had two powerful brands that occupy very similar positions. Fanatic has a heritage of over 40 years. We grew up with Fanatic and we made Fanatic great. But since we founded the new Duotone brand for our kiteboarding products in 2018, this brand has achieved incredible strength, competence and acceptance among our customers. Duotone already covers a large part of the water sports world, from kiteboarding boards/kites and to windsurfing sails and wings for wing foiling. Duotone brings together a…

Doing airs on a foil is extremely fun because it is so accessible and the learning curve is fast, transforming frustration into satisfaction in no time. In surfing, it takes years to learn how to do an air, just because it’s so hard to get the right wave/conditions for it! In foiling an average wave does the job. You can put yourself in the right spot by pumping out, you already have tons of speed, and even a mushy wave can be a good ramp for practicing.. and you wear straps, which makes it that much easier. A small/bumpy day can become fun by practicing airs, and the frustrating phase does not last long, you will get it in no time. Here are some pointers from me… STEP 1: Get…

LOCATION HO’OKIPA, MAUI DATE SUNDAY MAY 21ST, 2023 (AND A BIT OF MONDAY) This day started just like any other. The wind was blowing through my window, and I could hear the trees shaking. Then, abruptly, my mom wakes me up. She was all hyped saying, “Kaden! The west side is firing right now – Oluwalu is going off!" I was so stoked. I couldn't waste any time. I made a peanut butter and jam sandwich, and we hopped in the car to drive an hour to the break. When we pulled in, I could see the waves were straight-up insane! I mean, there were back-to-back air sections and barrels everywhere. I didn't wanna leave the water, but my mom reminded me that it was my last day before heading…

The original Armstrong A-Wing was notoriously powerful per size, and suited many riders at the fledgling stages of the sport, where priority was to get on foil and thrust oneself along without prejudice. As wingfoiling has progressed so rapidly in the last couple of years, equipment needs to match increasing skill levels, and with more refinement in power delivery required for more complex and subtle maneuvers, it was time for the A-Wing to evolve and that’s exactly what Armstrong have done. The XPS has been through a ground-up redesign process stretching over two years, with around 100 prototypes produced across the size ranges with various new potential materials tried and tested. First of all, let’s hit on the hot topic of airframe materials. The bulk of the airframe is made…

The Freedom Foil Boards Dagger, known for its debut as one of the earliest downwind-specific SUP foil boards in the market, has been at the forefront of the downwind game for almost a year now. Available in four sizes, ranging from 6'9" (90L), 7'0 (100L), 7’5 (110L), and 7’10 (122L), the Dagger boasts several standout features that set it apart in the realm of pulled-in SUP downwind boards. FFB has harnessed a transitional hull design and a distinctive TV Tail, ensuring a blend of chop-slicing speed, frictionless flow, and stability. The Dagger's design revolves around one ultimate goal: efficient take-off onto foil. Drawing inspiration from big wave style surfboards and non-foil powered racing SUPs, its narrow outline and pulled-in pin tail facilitate faster planing speeds for easy lift off. For…

Dutch brand Gaastra originally started up as a Victorian sailmaker at the turn of the 19th century but are most famous recently for being one of the enduring windsurf brands founded in 1980. This timeframe is probably longer than half our readership have been alive. They were onboard with windfoiling early doors, and it’s a natural progression for a brand with such a rich heritage to aim some products specifically for the wingfoil market, and we were presented with the GA Foils sub brand which contains all their wing-related offerings. On test is the GTX Wing Foil set, which bases itself around an extremely stiff tapered, full carbon mast sitting at 97cm long (sidenote: we have it on good authority that there’s an 85cm version coming soon too). The whole…

The Spitfire has been a whisper on the lips of foilers for quite some time now, with some very exciting photos floating around the internet. Has it been a simple process to get it to market? From a product development and design perspective, much of the foundation for Spitfire stemmed from the ARTPRO development programme that started almost two years ago. About a year ago we identified the need for a modern versatile performance medium chord length wing in our range to rejuvenate our Surf offering. Design progression was rapid, but we took our time to rejuvenate the packaging and appearance of the product to reflect our vision. What were the key points that set your design direction? We had a very ambitious vision for this new wing – Its…

Well the Rise looks like a sleek machine indeed. Could you give us an overview of what tech lies within the board? The Rise truly embodies our excitement for this year! We've combined the technology from our other wing and prone boards to create the Rise model. The G-Deck, a total game-changer, revolutionizes comfort and take-off dynamics by establishing a perfect 50/50 balance between front and back foot, ensuring optimal posture. Additionally, we've incorporated ample volume at the nose, a strategic move that significantly enhances take-off capabilities, balance, and offers a gentle touchdown. When it comes to construction, we've gone the extra mile to ensure it's the epitome of lightweight, durability, and impact protection, especially when used with a paddle. This technology is crucial in achieving the ultimate all-round board…

Another wing we’ve been hearing good things about. Tell us all about the Flux V1, and the kind of rider who should be popping it on their Christmas list nice and early? Our aim when setting out the parameters for the Flux was to try to design a wing that put the highest priority on the things that aid the improvement of freeride wingers most: speed with control. A lot of your riding progress comes from the management of speed and we felt that, while the foils themselves were speeding up underwater, we needed a wing to match them. That’s not to say you need to be riding fast on the Flux all the time because one of its greatest handling benefits is the stability and big wind range that…

Hi team. Firstly, a new wing with the Halo Pro. Please tell us about this wing, and how it sits alongside the existing XC wing. When developing the XC, we focused on building a wing that not only delivers a very high performance but is also very accessible for everybody, from beginners to advanced riders. With the Halo Pro, we decided to sacrifice a bit of comfort and accessibility to get a full performance driven wing. It comes with a flatter profile, offering not only more top end speed, but also more agility during maneuvers. In combination with the carbon boom, you’ll find a very progressive and high performing product in your hands. You’ve integrated the lightweight Aluula material into the airframe of the Halo, and your CoreTex 2 material…

+ Who thought foiling would give me an entirely new perspective on riding the river or the ocean? For six years I’ve lived from my passion for wind and water through my wing and windsurf school on the Magdalen Islands, northeast of Quebec City. My first contact with foiling was on a windsurf foil. I can’t say that I was hooked. Then, winging arrived. Right away, I saw the potential ahead to maximize my time on the water and to re-discover my local spots. To ride my favorite spots in a whole different way. + Since I’ve started foiling, it’s incredible how my perspective of the Magdalen Islands has changed. Downwinders, wave riding and many more adventures around the Islands are now possible with the wing. For example, one day…

Dr Rex, when did you first discover a love for being in the water? My family moved to Vernon in 1977, when I was nine years old, and my parents leased a cabin on Okanagan Lake and a small boat. My dad was a three-event water skier in his youth and passed his passion onto myself and my siblings. We spent most weekends at the cabin being dragged behind the boat. My dad, brother and I enjoyed trick skiing most. When I was 13 I skied in the British Columbia Summer Games, a provincial-level competition, and I took my gold in tricks which further fueled my passion. Growing up, my dad, brother, and I spent countless hours on the water every summer and traveled around doing local and provincial-level competitions.…