What happens when a casual catch-up with a few foiling mates grows into a four-day festival?

In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, Pete chats with Marty, event director of the Great Southern Foil Fest and one of the people behind the new Western Australia Foil Association (WAFA).

Returning to Denmark, Western Australia, from 15–18 October 2026, the festival brings together competition, gear demos, social foiling and a whole lot of froth—with more than $16,000 in prizes up for grabs.

Marty shares his journey from surfing and kitesurfing to prone foiling, what he learnt from organising the inaugural festival last year and what’s planned for this year. We discuss prone, foil assist and tow foiling, opportunities for downwinding, and why you don’t need to compete to get plenty out of the weekend.

We also explore how WAFA came together, why membership matters, and how local events can help riders progress, build friendships and grow the sport.

Whether you’re an experienced foiler, finding your feet or simply curious, this is a great introduction to a great bunch of people who are bringing the foiling community together.

Register for the festival and join WAFA: wafoil.org.au

Hugh Mitchell returns to the FOILERS Podcast with plenty happening behind the scenes.

From emerging technology and testing new equipment concepts to racing, filmmaking and the growing Western Australian foiling scene, Hugh has found himself at the centre of some fascinating developments.

He joins Pete to discuss what he's been testing, ideas that could shape where foiling goes next, his move to Appletree, the latest products from CODE Foils, and more.

It’s an open and revealing conversation about innovation, change, risk, and how foiling continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace.

In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, I sit down with Keith Teboul from KT Foiling, one of the most respected shapers and designers in watersports.

From growing up around the ocean in Madagascar, discovering windsurfing in the Caribbean, shaping boards in Maui, and working with some of the best riders in the world, Keith has spent decades refining the connection between rider, board and ocean.

We dive deep into the design philosophy behind KT Foiling and explore how Keith takes feedback from elite riders and turns it into boards that work for everyday foilers.

Keith shares insights into:

• His journey from surfing and windsurfing into foiling
• The early days of shaping and building high-performance boards
• Working with riders including Kane De Wilde and Kai Lenny
• Why Maui is the ultimate testing ground for foiling gear
• The design evolution behind the KT Super K, Drifter and ARC boards
• Why longer and narrower boards are changing foiling
• Designing boards for winging, prone, Foil Drive and parawinging
• Why Keith believes parawinging is the future of downwinding
• How foils are changing what is possible in board design
• The importance of stance, subtle movements and technique

Keith also explains why the future of foiling is so exciting — with gear becoming easier, more accessible and opening the sport up to more people than ever before.

Whether you’re into wing foiling, prone foiling, downwinding, Foil Drive or just fascinated by the evolution of foil board design, this conversation provides a rare insight into the mind behind KT Foiling. Enjoy

In Part 2 of my conversation with Greg Falck from Omen Foils, we dive deep into the details that can completely change how your foil feels and performs.

Greg also shares the thinking behind Omen’s Agent foil range and why they’ve focused on refining one aspect ratio rather than chasing endless options. We explore how designing for everyday passionate foilers — not just elite athletes — changes the approach to performance, glide, control, and connection.

We also get into one of the most overlooked areas in foiling: tuning your setup. Greg explains how small changes like mast position, base plate shims, stabiliser shims and understanding front foot pressure can unlock performance you may already have — without constantly buying new gear.

Greg also shares what foiling means to him — from problem-solving and creativity to those rare sessions where everything clicks and you’re simply connected with the ocean.

If you’re interested in improving your foil setup, understanding your equipment better, or simply getting more enjoyment from your time on the water, this episode is packed with insights.

Listen to Part 1 first if you haven’t already, and don't forget to subscribe to get the latest episodes when they go live.

Greg Falck from Omen Foils joins the FOILERS Podcast for an in-depth conversation about the thinking, engineering and testing that goes into creating high-performance foiling equipment.

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we explore Greg’s journey from mechanical engineering and working with advanced composite materials at Aluula through to launching Omen Foils, and why he felt there was an opportunity to create gear designed specifically for passionate everyday riders pushing their progression.

We discuss:

• The origins of Omen Foils and the gap Greg saw in the market
• Why “performance” means different things for pro riders versus everyday foilers
• Balancing engineering, computer modelling and rider feel
• Why Omen has chosen a focused product range rather than chasing every category
• The design philosophy behind the Flux V2 and Emissary boards
• Board volume, width, hull efficiency and why bigger is not always better
• How board design changes for winging, prone, parawing and Foil Drive

In Part 2, we dive deeper into the Omen foil range, foil tuning, setup mistakes, baseplate and tail shimming, and Greg’s tips for getting the absolute best performance from your gear.

A great conversation for anyone interested in not just what gear works — but why it works.

On this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, we chat with Pat McHale from F4 Foils Australia about his journey from chasing downwind runs in Maui to bringing F4 Foils to Australia.

After struggling in lighter Maliko conditions, Pat jumped on the F4 Orca for the first time — and instantly knew something felt different. We dive into that experience and explore what makes the Orca range stand out, from its impressive glide and early lift to the feeling of flow and control on the water.

Pat also shares insights into F4’s background in high-performance wind and wing foil racing, before talking us through their foil and mast ranges (i.e., including the new skinny AK Mast) and the conditions, disciplines, and riders they are best suited to.

We also discuss the continued growth of downwind foiling, the emergence of parawinging, and why sometimes the best gear isn’t just about numbers and specs — it’s the gear that creates the biggest smile.

Whether you’re into downwind, prone, SUP, winging, parawinging, or simply chasing endless ocean bumps, this is a great conversation about design, progression, innovation and the pure joy of foiling.

This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, adventure, fear, progression, and finding confidence in the ocean.

How does someone who grew up in the remote outback of Western Australia — with no pool, no ocean, and a fear of water — become a King of the Cut winner and complete the legendary Maui to Molokai crossing?

In this episode of the Foilers Podcast, Pete sits down with WA downwind foiler and Code Foils team rider Krystal Cotterill to unpack her incredible journey from Leonora to some of the wildest ocean runs in Australia and Hawaii.

Krystal shares:

• Growing up in the desert with zero water sports background\
• Learning to foil during COVID while stranded on a sailboat in the Caribbean
• The brutal early days of foiling and why she almost wrote the sport off
• Massive downwind runs in WA’s southwest and Ningaloo
• Scary moments offshore and the safety gear she relies on
• Entering foiling competitions in Australia and Hawaii
• Why more women aren’t getting into foiling — and what the industry can do about it

Whether you’re into wing foiling, downwind SUP foiling, or just love stories of people pushing themselves outside their comfort zone, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Enjoy

There’s a new player in the foil assist space—and it’s doing things very differently.

In this episode, I sit down with the AMP Jetboard designer and developer, Chris Reynolds, to unpack the thinking behind this new take on foil assist systems.

From a backyard prototype to a fully engineered product, this is a story of curiosity, persistence - and a completely different approach to getting up on foil.

But here’s the thing - this isn’t just about technology.

It’s about how we ride, where we ride, and who this kind of system is actually for and what is coming down the pipeline.

We get into:

• Why this design took a totally different path
• Where it shines (and where it doesn’t)
• The reality vs expectation for everyday foilers
• What’s coming next—and why it matters

If you’ve been watching the evolution of foil-assist systems or wondering where things are headed next, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear. Enjoy!

In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, we go deep into the all-new Cabrinha Union foil system — a complete rethink of their foil design built around stiffness, simplicity, and performance.

Joining me are John Modica (Chairman of Cabrinha) and Lars Moltrup (Product Development Manager) to unpack:

• Why the Union system was built from the ground up
• The thinking behind the Mike’s Lab inspired connection

• How stiffness, drag reduction, and design choices impact real-world riding feel
• What makes riders say it feels “buttery smooth” on the water
• How to choose between the 760, 905, and 1150 front wings
• Why the 905 is the ultimate all-rounder
• The role of stabilisers (and why they matter more than most riders think)
• A sneak peek at the upcoming Tweaker stabliser and Whippet foil

We also dive into the balance between engineering and rider feel, the realities of building a new foil platform, and Cabrinha’s philosophy of high-performance simplicity without the BS.

If you’re into wing foiling, prone, downwind or just want to understand how modern foil systems are evolving — this is one not to miss.

In this episode of the Foilers Podcast, Pete Walmsley sits down with Western Australian foiler Hugh Mitchell—one of the most inspiring young riders in the sport today.

Hugh’s journey into foiling started in 2019 with his dad’s first foil setup on the Swan River. Just a few years later, he’s chasing adventures across Australia downwind, competing in the legendary Molokai-to-Oahu race in Hawaii, coaching new foilers, running 'The Foil Project' podcast, and producing the adventure film 'Desert Winds'.

In this conversation, Hugh shares the full story behind his rapid rise in foiling—from working at the Foil Shop in Perth to embarking on a 300km remote downwind expedition along Western Australia’s coastline, encountering sharks offshore, and pushing his limits in some of the world’s toughest downwind conditions.

We also dive into:

• How Hugh discovered downwind foiling

• Lessons from working in the foiling industry

• The making of the Desert Winds film

• Touring the film around Australia

• Racing in the Hawaii Downwind Race Series

• Creating and running the 'Project Flow' foiling event

• Coaching foilers in Perth

• Becoming a sponsored rider

It’s a story about passion, pushing boundaries, and building community in one of the fastest-growing watersports in the world.

If you love foiling, adventure, and the people driving the sport forward, this episode is packed with inspiration.