A Folding Foil Board?! A Chat with Nigel

I've had the pleasure to meet Sam in person when I took a foil building workshop. Such an knowledgeable, humble guy. Then I heard, that he was the new designer at North.In this episode, we talked about his work, his new gig at north, and all about designing new gear.Check out https://www.onix-foils.com to see all about his heart project.Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show.Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.appThanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment.Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfearsThanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast:www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here!Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoilCheck out my Website: www.uponfoil.comChapters00:00 Introduction and Wingfoil Championship Overview03:14 Judging Criteria and Competition Insights06:11 Transition to R&D and New Role at North08:54 Designing Foils and Prototyping Process11:58 Time Management and Balancing Multiple Roles15:09 Mast Development and Performance17:54 Ventilation and Material Considerations21:12 Future Innovations in Foiling Equipment23:46 Discussion on Boards and Connection Systems26:39 Pump Foiling and User Experience30:08 Foil Hive Project and Rental Service Update

Robert Ross has talked about his retreat in Ecuador a couple of months ago and it really sounds amazing. This time he invited two other legends. to the table (and the staff): @paulcooperfoils and @Mizofoil who. explain here on the show how to improve your surf foiling. If you're curious, check out https://6czkvd.short.gy/foilecuador or hit up any of these three pros on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizofernando/# https://www.instagram.com/paulcooperfoils/# https://www.instagram.com/ecuadorfoil/# Chapters 00:00 Foiling competitions and recent contest results 08:13 Choose a foiling discipline that fits your background 10:31 Why forgiving waves and beginner equipment matter 13:41 Early foil setups and lessons from the pioneers 17:12 Build paddle balance before downwind foiling 21:25 Use foil assist to practice bump reading 24:23 Surf-learning fundamentals: paddle strength, straight lines, whitewater 28:00 Inside the Ecuador retreat and its coaching options 30:24 Foil assist as a way to reach uncrowded swells 37:08 Coaching experience and Ecuador's consistent conditions 46:01 Sushi versus Skate: matching foil design to the wave 51:04 Foil sizes and gear advice for different skill levels

I've watched @Sickos videos for a couple of years but never realized that he rips on the parawing like not many of us. In this episode, Will Crumpacker talks about his first parawing sessions, how to start super sinker boards and how they go about when filming their fun but dangerous looking videos. Thank you Will for taking your time! Check out their amazing channel: ⁨@Sickos⁩ Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app Thanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment. Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfears Thanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast: www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here! Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoil Check out my Website: www.uponfoil.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:58 Journey into Parawinging 09:07 Gear Talk: Boards and Foils 12:05 Techniques for Getting Up on a sinker 18:04 Video Creation Process and Ideas 20:47 The Importance of Fun in Videos 24:00 Collaboration and Competition 27:14 Reflections on Growth and Challenges 31:14 Future Plans and Closing Thoughts

I thought that Brands have figured out Parawings by now but the Lotus was the second one this year where I wasn't 100% happy. This is why I wanted to talk to them directly. Florian Heldens, R&D at Core, took time out of his day to talk about the work he does on Parawings, Wings and Kites. Thank you so much man for chatting with me! Check out Core: https://ridecore.com Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app Thanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment. Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfears Thanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast: www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here! Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoil Check out my Website: www.uponfoil.com Chapters 00:00 Intro and Flo's Role at Core 03:36 Development of the Parawing 14:42 Technical Features of the Lotus Parawing 27:41 Understanding Wind Ranges and Performance 32:18 Quality Control and Product Reliability 34:34 Future Developments in Parawings 42:54 Transitioning to Winging: Trends and Insights 51:43 Balancing High-End and Standard Gear 53:42 Innovations in Foil Technology

Ever since I've seen that foldable board on the socials, I was curious: Is this for real? Is this really better than an inflatable board? How does someone come up with that? In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Nigel about the story of the waka board. Check them out on waka.surf on the Internet and on @windwaterwaka on Youtube and Instagram. You'll get €100 off your purchase with the code: MATTONFOIL Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app Thanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment. Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfears Thanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast: www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here! Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoil Check out my Website: www.uponfoil.com Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Creating Waka Glide 06:11 Challenges in Board Design and Development 09:11 Innovative Solutions and Material Choices 12:02 Testing and Refinement Process 14:53 Market Positioning and Product Features 18:24 Design Philosophy and Future Directions 36:45 The Origins of Waka: A Cultural Connection 38:01 Innovating with AI: Business Automation in Manufacturing 41:28 Launching Waka Glide: From Concept to Production 44:50 Market Validation: Feedback and Industry Response 47:27 Balancing Functionality and Aesthetics 54:15 Travel-Friendly Design and Custom Bags 01:01:08 Foil Drive Compatibility: Enhancing User Experience 01:05:00 Next Generation Boards: Innovations on the Horizon 01:09:57 Community and Adventure: The Waka Experience

Omen makes such nice products but they always seemed inaccessible to me. They look expensive, maybe too difficult, who knows - So I wanted to get a better look at it and wanted to learn all about it from the man himself - Greg Falck, Founder of Omen. Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app Jens is such a fan of Omen that he wanted to be part of it as well :) Thanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment. Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfears Thanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast: www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here! Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoil Check out my Website: www.uponfoil.com Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 03:45 Reflections on AWSI and Community Engagement 07:38 Exploring Foiling Equipment and Preferences 16:46 Diving into Omen Foils and Products and the Company 26:22 Optimizing Board Design 33:10 Prototyping and Production Process 45:10 Future Innovations in Foil Technology 54:50 Aesthetic Choices in Board Design 01:03:22 Understanding Board Volume and Foil Dynamics 01:13:41 The Philosophy Behind Omen Foils 01:26:18 Navigating Beginner Foil Choices 01:37:21 Closing Thoughts and Future Conversations

Dominic is always on for a chat about foiling. Today, next to all the parawing chatter, we also talked about what FoilDrive brought to the table in 2026. Check it out for yourself: https://foildrive.com Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app Thanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment. Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfears Thanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast: www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here! Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoil Check out my Website: www.uponfoil.com Chapters 00:00 Catch-Up and Recent Experiences 06:04 Parawinging and Downwinding Adventures 08:55 Foil Drive Innovations and Product Releases 11:55 The Fusion and Its Impact 15:03 Prop Variations and Their Benefits 18:12 E-Foil Racing Insights 20:48 Mini Pod and Integrated Mast Discussion 23:50 Upcoming Product Launches and Features 43:22 Exploring the Slim and Max Foils 50:54 Advancements in Battery Technology 53:50 Navigating Airline Regulations for Batteries 01:01:21 Competition in the Foil Assist Market 01:03:23 Upcoming Events and Races 01:06:54 The Future of Parawings

I've wanted to chat with Guy for a while. But when he did a crossing from the Scilly Islands to the mainland, I knew this was the time!If you try to find the most enthusiastic foiler on the planet, Guy Bridge might be the one.Check him out on his Youtube: @guy_bridge or on his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guy_bridge/Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show.Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.appThanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment.Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfearsThanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast:www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here!Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoilCheck out my Website: www.uponfoil.comChapters00:00 We didn't even start yet09:00 Start of the episode12:06 Life Changes as a New Parent15:06 Safety Precautions in Foiling26:20 Planning and Logistics for Downwinders32:02 Content Creation and Video Planning38:15 Balancing Life and Foiling50:03 Future Adventures and Goals

The Foil Assist market has been dominated by FoilDrive, or at least that's what it feels like from the outside. So when competitors come along, I'm super interested what drives them, how it looks and if it is good.In this episode I chatted with Seth who started to work for Manta Foils just a couple of months ago and got an insight into the brand and product.check them out here: https://www.mantafoils.comor here: https://www.instagram.com/mantafoils/Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show.Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.appThanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment.Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfearsThanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast:www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here!Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoilCheck out my Website: www.uponfoil.comChapters00:00 Seth's Background and Journey to Hawaii05:56 Transition to Foiling and Its Impact08:51 Evolution of Foiling Techniques12:08 Manta Foils: Innovations and Features17:55 User Experience with Manta Foils20:59 Remote Control and Session Tracking26:55 Mantafoils: A Community-Driven Approach46:37 Global Reach and Market Expansion54:56 Safety and Sustainability in E-Foiling

An Insight in a (to me) unknown foil brand! In this episode of Up and Foil, we get to know Peter Stiewe, the CEO and founder of Elevate, a company specializing in watersport gear. We discuss the origins of Elevate, the challenges of building a brand in a competitive market, and the importance of product development and testing. Peter shares insights into the evolution of their product line from kites to wings, the significance of a global presence, and the balance between personal life and entrepreneurship. The conversation highlights the continuous improvement ethos at Elevate and the passion that drives the team. In this conversation, Peter Stiewe discusses the intricacies of wing design, the importance of visibility in wings, and the evolution of parawinging. He shares insights on product development challenges, the balance between innovation and market demand, and the significance of supporting local shops. The discussion also covers pricing strategies, customer trust, and upcoming innovations in wing technology. Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app Thanks to the team around SurfEars for their commitment. Get yours here: https://6cZKVD.short.gy/surfears Thanks to the newest sponsor of the Podcast: www.vaikobi.com - You’ll find great watersports apparel here! Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoil Check out my Website: www.uponfoil.com Chapters 00:00 The Birth of Elevate: Building a Brand in Watersports 06:06 Product Development: From Kites to Wings 12:02 Personal Journeys: Balancing Family and Entrepreneurship 17:56 Product Testing: The Importance of Hands-On Experience 20:59 Wings and Innovation: Adapting to New Trends 39:21 Exploring the World of Parawinging 44:28 Navigating Product Development Challenges 47:44 Balancing Innovation and Market Demand 52:13 Foils and Boards: A Minor Focus 57:46 Sales Strategy: Supporting Local Shops 01:05:25 Upcoming Innovations in Wing Technology