Foil Life Podcast

On this episode, we sit down with Sensi Graves and Brandon Scheid for a deep look at their recent family foiling trip to Alaska, the upcoming Foiling Magazine feature, and the Armstrong video that came out of it. They break down how they planned the mission around visiting friends who run the Alaska Coastal Explorer boat, the push to score sessions at Aialik Glacier and Bear Glacier before slowing down with a new baby, and the reality of making it happen while Sensi was five months pregnant with a toddler (Flint) in tow. Sensi and Brandon walk through the hard-earned parts—videographer no-show, drone crash into a cliff, limited weather windows, and near-freezing water—and how catabatic wind off the glacier actually delivered a solid hour-plus session right in front of the ice. They cover the gear (Armstrong XPS 4.5, shared mid-length board, and bigger HA foils for low wind and pump foiling), wake/pump foiling through the iceberg maze at Bear Glacier, winging in Seward itself, and the bigger idea of keeping adventure alive as a family instead of letting kids become the reason everything stops.Episode Highlights:- Planning the Alaska trip around the Alaska Coastal Explorer boat and friends in Seward- Gear choices for cold, light wind and pump foiling (Armstrong XPS 4.5, 55L mid-length, 1080 HA)- Scoring a real wing session right in front of Aialik Glacier on catabatic wind- Pump and wake foiling through the iceberg field at Bear Glacier- Handling the chaos: pregnant, toddler, no videographer, and a drone crash - Winging in Seward and the local wind that shows up when the interior is sunny- Why they refused to pause adventure just because of kids- The new baby (Steel Matthew) and Flint’s early words from the trip (“iceberg,” “glacier”)Catch the full story in the next issue of Foiling Magazine and the upcoming Armstrong video dated to be released Nov 12. 

On this episode, we sit down with Dane Gillet (Japan-based photographer, surfer, and content creator) for a wide-ranging conversation on social media, attention, and building a sustainable path as an athlete or business owner.Dane explains the shift away from traditional “influencer” thinking toward pure attention, anyone can go viral overnight because demand for content far outstrips supply. He breaks down why consistency (often multiple posts a day) beats polished one-off content, how to read Meta’s analytics to spot when the algorithm is pushing you and then double down, and why spreading yourself across every platform usually stalls growth. He shares how he gets paid directly by Meta for views, why you should treat your presence as an individual rather than a company (so the algorithm doesn’t immediately demand ad spend), and how to create content that resonates without hard selling, showing real surfing, pain points, behind-the-scenes life, and curiosity hooks instead of product pitches.They also cover the practical side for foiling athletes and small operators: chasing cash-rich non-gear sponsors (travel, insurance, phones, etc.) rather than only traditional product deals, focusing on one platform until you have real traction, and treating social media as a business that must eventually produce money or free time. Dane closes with straightforward business fundamentals—legally making that first dollar, understanding invoices and taxes, where funding actually comes from, and why the real goal is identifying the life you want so you stop working once you have enough to fund it.Episode Highlights:* Why attention (not follower count) is the real currency and how even small accounts can go viral* Consistency as the foundation: posting daily (or more) and analyzing drop-off, spikes, and engagement* Focusing on one platform until it works, then bringing that audience elsewhere* Getting paid by Meta for views once you complete the business setup* Creating content that attracts without selling: authentic riding, pain points, and curiosity* For athletes: prioritizing cash sponsors over gear deals and refusing to be pigeonholed* Doubling down the moment something starts to spike instead of taking a day off* Basic business reality: making a legal dollar, invoices, taxes, and only two places to spend money (inventory or people)* Identifying the life you actually want so you stop working the moment you can fund itFollow Dane on Instagram for his Japan surfing and daily content: @japansurfFollow Foil Life Podcast: @foillifepodcast

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, we sit down with Noé Cantaloube, North team rider and big-wave foil charger, to talk about taking a foil into the legendary waves of Nazaré.'Noé explains why Nazaré is one of the best places in Europe to train for serious big-wave foiling (consistent big conditions, not just chasing the single biggest wave), and how he approaches it differently from traditional tow surfing—using the foil’s speed and flow for big cutbacks and different lines. He walks through the evolution of his gear over multiple seasons: starting with mid-aspect foils that had too much lift, then ultra-low-aspect 400s that were almost too fast, and now settling on North low-aspect 600–700 front wings with an 85 cm mast and his regular strapless Surfle board (4.2 / 25 L). Everything is stock gear you can buy.They cover the realities of the ride itself—averaging around 35 knots, the controlled but intense feeling of banking turns on a bomb, the limited margin for error with chop on an 85 cm mast, and why the biggest danger is actually the jet-ski safety recovery (flipping a foiled board onto the sled and getting back out), not the wave itself. Noé also shares his take on foil assist / Foil Drive in bigger conditions, the difference North’s trench boards and mini pods make for drag and travel, and the value of knowing one setup deeply instead of constantly switching.Plus a look at growing up between Réunion and Bora Bora, life in Tarifa, winter prep (apnea, gym work, and training with the team), and heading back to Nazaré for the season.Episode Highlights:Why Nazaré is the ideal big-wave foiling training ground in EuropeGear progression: from mid-aspect to low-aspect 600–700 North foils + 85 cm mastRiding strapless on stock Surfle board (4.2 / 25 L) in serious wavesSpeeds averaging ~35 knots and the feeling of banking turns on a bombThe real danger: jet-ski safety recovery with a foil, not the wave itselfChop, mast length trade-offs, and why shorter masts can make more sense in big wavesFoil Drive / foil assist place in medium-to-big waves (and why you still need jet skis)North trench boards, mini pods, and integrated masts for reduced drag and travelGrowing up between Réunion and Bora Bora + life in TarifaPhysical prep and team training before the Nazaré seasonAdvice: stick with one setup and learn it deeplyFollow Noé: @noe.cantaloubeFollow Foil Life Podcast: @foillifepodcastGear: @northfoils

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast we sit down with Dane Gillett, the British expat who has spent more than 30 years in Japan and is widely known as the English-language voice of surfing in the country. From his base at Hebara Beach in Katsuura, Chiba, Dane has spent decades documenting breaks, building SurfingInJapan.com as a side project, and turning that knowledge into a full lifestyle around the water.In this episode we talk about:- Arriving in Japan on a short trip more than 30 years ago for the snow, then realizing he never wanted to leave- Falling in love with Japanese powder (and the value), spending years in the mountains, then eventually shifting fully to the coast- Meeting his Japanese wife, settling in Tokyo, and needing an escape, which became weekends chasing surf with almost zero English-language info available at the time- Building SurfingInJapan.com from notebooks and word-of-mouth in the only foreigner pub in Tokyo, then driving the country for 25+ years to map breaks, beaches, and places to stay- Turning a pure hobby into the thing that now supports his lifestyle after three decades of consistent work- The reality of “living the dream”: staying humble for years, then realizing people benefit when he talks openly about the long road and the possibility- Lessons from growing up in a family of 13 kids, work is life, don’t put all your eggs in one basket, and chase what you’re deeply passionate about so you never feel like you’re working a day in your life- Why Japanese snow still stands out globally, and why the ocean life on the Chiba coast ended up being the better long-term fitSurfingInJapan.com: https://www.surfinginjapan.com/  Splash Guest House: https://www.splashguesthouse.com/

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, we sit down with Clay Selby, Kai Lenny, and Whitney Johnson - the team behind Venturi, to talk about building the water-sports app they always wanted. What started as a foil-forecasting side project in the Philippines has grown into one place for wind, swell, tides, session tracking, gear, and community across wing, parawing, windsurf, kite, SUP, e-foil, and surf.In this episode we talk about:- The origin story: a side project about three years ago off Siargao, then Maui, and Kai pushing it from foil-only to every watersport- The Today screen in wind or surf mode, and spot pages that read like a forecast article- Live friend tracking from the Darwin soft launch and Maui downwinders, including Maliko runs- Sport-specific session metrics: wave counts, parawing stash tracking, crash impact, and gear tagged to each session- Auto-built downwind runs with instant leaderboards, plus the games and session replays- Kai AI gear recommendations and the gear garage, what to pack for a trip like Mauritius- Events and groups as a cleaner alternative to closed WhatsApp chats, including a look at Corzon Foil Festival- Private pins and friend-only sharing for secret spots- The safety beacon: Apple Watch, SOS, driver check-ins, and pings to nearby Venturi users- The name that almost became Coconuts, the parawing giveaway, and the features they will not spoil yetVenturi website: https://venturisports.com/Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/venturi-sports/id6450483725 

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, we sit down with Kieran Sammon, founder of Exit Watersports — Irish kiter, 2006 national amateur freestyle champion, automation engineer by day, and the person who turned a broken kids’ trampoline into a wetsuit hanger.He talks Rhodes 2002, a January lesson in 4°C Irish water, building the IKSA, bringing the KSP Wave Tour to Achill with Aer Lingus and Hertz, a cancer scare in 2010, and why he still prefers boosting and smacking waves on a kite even as he chips away at winging and foilable swell. Then he walks through the products that grew out of not being able to dry a suit properly: the wide hex-cut XRail, the SUX suction mount, the 70-litre oval BUX change bucket, the XTEND windchill layer Hannah Whiteley called a game changer, plus Mavericks, Dry Bell, and what’s coming next.Kieran covers the path from a second-hand Whipica LTR to a shed prototype in 2014, finding industrial designer Rudo Enserink, launching in late 2019 just before COVID, and the retailer feedback that one product is not a brand. Luc covers multi-day van trips, Thule boxes that never dry, and why a hanger that actually stands off the wall (or the car window) matters when you’re camping, commuting, or trying to get a suit dry before the next session.Episode Highlights:- First kite lesson: instructor sat in the car and said go play- Consistency beat raw talent for the 2006 Irish amateur title- Original XRail built from 25 mm trampoline tubing cantilevered off a shower pole- 75 mm width + hex holes so air reaches every surface, plus bungees for five accessories- SUX Mark II: pump suction and an adjustable nut so the rail stays level on a sloped van window- BUX: 70 L, watertight, stand-in oval stance, perforated removable base, XRail slot- XTEND PU-coated lycra over the wetsuit to kill evaporative cooling- Mavericks paddle trainer and Dry Bell sand-fill travel kettlebell already in the US- XOVER change robe (overlap / trench-coat mode) and inflatable CORE bench still in prototype- Stock from Dublin across Ireland, UK and Europe; limited US warehouse- Code FOILLIFEEUROPE10 for 10% off at exitwatersports.com- Open call: anyone flying Europe → Mauritius, Luc needs a BUX in the holdVisit: https://exitwatersports.com

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, we sit down with Camille Delannoy and Fabian Muhmenthaler from North ASG — two former pro riders now inside the Netherlands office. Camille works across AI engineering, software, and business intelligence on internal systems. Fabian is moving from Brand Ambassador Manager into Foil Category Product Manager.They talk Brazil and Tarifa roots, strapless comps and early wing years, internships that turned into real jobs, and the shift from photo-shoot travel to building the next boards, foils, and tools the team actually rides. Camille covers the path from F1 to North, studies between Madrid and Tarifa, and the data and software work that keeps operations moving. Fabian covers industrial design studies in Cádiz, the foil he designed as his thesis, the ambassador-manager stretch, and taking on foil systems, boards, wings, parawings, and what’s coming next.Episode Highlights:- Camille first as athlete; Fabian in via that intro around late 2021 / early 2022- Brazil → Spain/Tarifa → Netherlands; beach-town studies that still left room to ride- Favorite tricks: cat-coups and wave riding vs. 720s, backflip-to-360s, old-school forwards- Favorite spots: home beaches, the Canaries, and Mauritius One Eye- Office five to ten minutes from the water, prototypes on tap, sessions before and after work- MIDI Pro board upgrade and all new SF Foils (details to come!) - High-camber downwind foils staying on part of the range, not every model- Athlete knowledge plus engineering or data skills in the same person- Less free riding, more testing — Tarifa for foil R&D, Dutch winter kiting to stay sane- Keep riding, work hard, and follow the thing that actually pulls youVisit: https://northactionsports.com

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, Luc Moore sits down with Kaden of Sicko Country — the Hood River crew that just hit one million YouTube subscribers — to talk growing up on the Columbia, the jump from 30-second tow-foil runs to parawing addiction, and what it takes to film a full-time action channel around wind.They recap how a small-town friend group became a six-person YouTube operation, a COVID summer that turned a side project into a job, and idea generation that is anything but a dialed calendar. Kaden covers early kite and windsurf years, why the crew prefers parawing for the hands-free surf-foil feel, Apple Tree / F-One / Ozone setups, Rufus as the dream downwinder, when 40 knots means shuttle-only, YouTube analytics without losing the soul of the channel, close calls on foils and slip-and-slides, and a dream shred trip to Mauritius with zero algorithm talk.Episode Highlights:- One million subscribers as a milestone, not a finish line- How the crew formed in tiny Hood River — river, mountain, school, family friends- The kid who said he could film, couldn’t, and stayed because he was funny- Ideas from reels, Marketplace, invitations, and a few sit-downs a year- Windsurf as a toddler → kite at 13 → kite foil → wing → parawing- Early downwinding: old foils behind the ski, 30 seconds felt insane- Why parawing wins: surf-foil feel, nothing in your hands through the turns- Gear: Apple Tree Skipper 50L, F-One skate foil, Ozone Pocket Rocket- May–September Hood window; filming days planned around *not* windy- YouTube was never the childhood dream — COVID + camera skills lined it up- Jackson as unofficial boss; legally even, practically a glue guy- Favorite downwinder: Rufus — big waves next to a truck-stop Cinnabon- Safety they are finally booking: first aid, avalanche, water rescue- Dream video: Mauritius, forget YouTube, just shred- Home river still beats most travel spots; foiling pulled parents and grandparents back on the waterVisit: https://www.youtube.com/@Sickos / https://www.thefoilingmagazine.com

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, Luc Moore sits down with Mike Raper (newly appointed Global Brand Director at Foil Drive) and Nico Hopp (Hoppline) to talk about the foil assist revolution, why the product still feels like “surfers for surfers,” and where powered foiling, downwinding and beginner access are heading next.They recap Mike’s reset after leaving North and a 2024 brain hemorrhage, months chasing swell and wind between New Zealand and Australia, and the decision to come back into the industry with Paul Martin, Ben Jamieson and the Foil Drive crew. Nico brings the European demo-and-camp view: heat-dome summers, Baltic sessions, tool-less Mini Pod swaps, Fusion racing, and how fast first-timers progress when they get days on the water instead of a 20-minute demo.The conversation covers efficiency and testing without waiting for wind, Jerry Lopez finding empty lineup waves at 77, Fusion / Max / Slim as different tools rather than one product, camps that turn into all-day foil-drive clinics, downwind racing where you’re faster off the trigger than on it, second-hand units that still last, and why assist is another quiver item instead of a replacement for wing, prone or pump.Episode Highlights:- Mike’s new role at Foil Drive: brand look and feel plus product-to-market, working with designers across foil brands instead of competing with them- Why Foil Drive: people first, in-house manufacturing, and a product Mike was already using to get onto bigger waves on a 35L board and smaller wings- Mini Pod: tool-less, light enough that even die-hard prone riders will mount and unmount it between sessions- Teaching: first session is the trigger; multi-day camps flatten the learning curve from zero to real foiling- Systems: Fusion for power and beginners / e-foil racing, Max as the all-rounder, Slim as the underrated downwind and performance unit- Downwind and racing: short bursts to get on foil, then pump; thinner masts and smaller wings as power and thrust improve- Durability and access: modular parts, cheap wear items, a growing second-hand market, and pairing assist with a power wing as backup- Culture: evenings still end with “session first or pack down first,” and knowledge plus passion as the moat as more brands enter the categoryVisit: https://foildrive.com/

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, Luc Moore sits down with Clinton Filen (recently stepped into Chief Brand Officer at NAG) to talk about the transition after two decades in design and brand management, what it takes to keep innovation moving inside a large multi-sport company, and where foiling, winging, kiting and windsurfing are heading next.They recap Clinton’s path from childhood windsurfing on the South African coast through early kiting and wing prototypes, time in Maui and Australia (Severn/Airush), and the last six months at North Action Sports Group. The conversation covers design philosophy, building a culture of innovation versus commercial reality, lowering barriers to entry while keeping depth for obsessed riders, how foiling is connecting previously separate sports, current go-to gear, and the disconnect between a 40–60-year-old buying audience and much younger marketing.Episode Highlights:- Six months into the North role: keeping core talent (kite and wing designers), adding graphic design and admin capacity, and a shout-out to the original New Zealand team that built the brand- Design approach: thinking in systems and architecture, staying radically open-minded, questioning line lengths, aspect ratios and connection systems, then dropping back into “who is the customer and how do we make it more fun”- Innovation reality: most disruption still comes from outside the industry; entrenched connection systems can slow change; useful cross-pollination between wing, kite, windsurf and foil- Barriers to entry vs. mastery: easier assembly, lower cost and more approachable gear for people who ride a few days a month, while still offering the nuance that keeps daily riders chasing the last 5 seconds of glide- Current riding: MIDI Pro boards as a daily driver, Boost masts, exploring foil-drive, Nervas wings, and the more speed-focused Modes — plus prototypes already in the works- Growing the pie: foiling as a gateway sport (pump foil on lakes, foil-assist, wing), speaking differently to first-time buyers versus five-year veterans, and why waterman culture beats putting people in boxes- Advice for junior designers: curiosity first, radical open-mindedness, self-discipline, humility, and remembering it was a team that got you thereVisit: https://northactionsports.com/