In Case 53, Walt and I sit down with Magnito from the Gorge to talk about a major change in the Downwind foiling scene — the shutdown of Tunnel 4 parking, the iconic access point for one of the most beloved shuttle runs in the area.

For years, Tunnel 4 has been a gateway for countless downwinders visiting the Gorge, but with this closure, we ask the big questions:

💭 Will this change how visitors experience the Gorge?

💭 Could it spark a stronger community push to preserve access and establish more common-sense rules for the future?

We talk about the impact this could have on the local scene, what riders should know if they’re planning to visit, and how important it is to protect access to this beautiful and iconic spot and spots around the world for the next generation of foilers.

This should spark some conversation.

🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop. Support the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust:

www.KitePuertoRico.com

.📲 Follow along: @xfoils

#XFoils #Case53 #TheGorge #DownwindFoiling #AccessMatters #Tunnel4 #FoilTalk #FoilCommunity #PreserveTheStoke

Walt catches up with Frank Foilboards right in the shaping bay for a chat about his latest creations — the Mini Dart and the Dart. These new designs are the result of a collaboration with Axis, aimed at building a Parawing-friendly mid-length that also crosses over beautifully into wing and prone foiling.Walt was one of the main testers on this project, helping refine the board before it went straight into full production for the lineup. They get deep into the design process — how the mid-length evolved, how it feels under the Parawing, and why it works as such an all-rounder.Frank also shares insights on the new SUP surf board The Dart — maybe inspired for a shorter, surf-style downwind foiling sessions that keep things fun and surfy. 🎯 It’s safe to say… they hit the bullseye on this one.🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop. Support the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust: www.KitePuertoRico.comhttps://www.kitepuertorico.com/products/frank-mini-dart-axis-foilboards-pre-order?_pos=1&_sid=398f796b3&_ss=r📲 Follow along: @xfoils#XFoils #Case52 #FrankFoilboards #FoilDesign #Parawing #AxisFoils #MiniDart #TheDart #SUPFoiling #FoilTalk

Set up in the van at AWSI, Walt and I sit down with Josh Ku to talk about his upcoming film documenting his Uluwatu-to-G-Land crossing in Bali—a bold mission that turns pretty dicey at one point, and trust us, you’ll want to hear the story. The project, filmed by Dane Wilson (not Dan!), aims to show where surfing has come from and how many new forms of surfing have emerged through today’s dynamic foil scene. Keep and Eye out for the release to watch it yourself.

We accidentally get into foil and surf etiquette, the ongoing debate around local bans, and that frustration Josh is clearly passionate about, as he is continually pushing the sport forward. A true ambassador for foiling.

🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop. Support the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust: www.KitePuertoRico.com.

📲 Follow along: @xfoils

#XFoils #Case51 #JoshKu #FoilTalk #UluwatuToGLand #FoilFilm #AWSI2025 #FoilEtiquette #FoilAdventure #FoilCommunity

For our Half Hundredth episode, Walt and I sit down with Matt Elsasser, co-founder of Hydrocraft Systems, a new foil company stepping into the space. Matt needs no introduction to the foil world—his riding and design chops are well-known—but launching a brand in 2025? That’s a whole different challenge.

Matt jokes, “I don’t think people are waking up in the morning saying, ‘aww man, I need a new foil company.’” He might be right, but he is wrong! Once Hydrocraft drops their first lineup, people will. The foils aren’t released yet, but with the fine-tuning of their first range underway, it’s clear there’s room for brands that’s small, nimble, and customer-focused—able to pivot faster than the larger players in the industry. That flexibility is exactly what gives Hydrocraft a shot to carve out their own space and make some spray.

We dig into Hydrocraft’s approach to design, where Matt sees the gaps in the current market, and how staying agile as a small brand could be the key to pushing foiling forward.

🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop. Support the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust: www.KitePuertoRico.com.

📲 Follow along: @xfoils

#XFoils #Case50 #HydrocraftSystems #MattElsasser #FoilTalk #FoilInnovation #FoilDesign #NimbleFoiling #CustomerFocused #FoilCommunity

In Case 49, Walt and I sit down with Adam Bennetts from FliteLab to dive into the highly anticipated Flux foil range. Bennetts’ unique and powerful surf style really shines through in this lineup—and you can feel it the moment you step on the foil.

We chat about his design input, the development journey, and what makes Flux foils stand out in terms of pitch stability, performance, and feel in the surf. There’s plenty of geek-out talk here: power wings, gear preferences, the unique conditions of the Gorge, and how extensive prototyping/testing shaped the final product.

We also loved hanging with the FliteLab crew, and Bennetts is full froth all the time—his energy is contagious both in the water and in conversation. The chat drifts into the future of foil design, the role of assistive tech in foiling, and the responsibility we all share to keep surf lineups positive and welcoming.

This one’s equal parts foil nerding, surf philosophy, and product insight—straight from the source.

🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop. Support the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust: www.KitePuertoRico.com.

📲 Follow along: @xfoils

#XFoils #Case49 #AdamBennetts #FliteLab #FluxFoils #FoilDesign #FoilTalk #DownwindFoiling #SurfFoils #FoilInnovation

In Case 48, Walt and I catch up with Chris Radkowski, the designer behind F4 Foils. While Walt was in Maui, he picked up a setup from Guido and could not stop raving about the new Orca line for downwind—so of course, I had to try it too. Spoiler: they did not disappoint.

What makes F4 stand out is that they’re not afraid to throw carbon at an idea. Constantly reviewing designs, experimenting with different stiffness layups, and fine-tuning wing concepts, they landed on something special with the Orca—exactly what we’ve been looking for in a downwind foil.

And they’re not stopping there. Expect Orca surf foils soon, along with expanded 11mm mast sizes. The foil world is looking brighter with F4, and we’re genuinely excited to be working with them.

📲 Follow along: @xfoils
🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop in San Juan. Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a 5⭐ review, and getting your gear from someone you trust: www.KitePuertoRico.com

#XFoils #Case48 #F4Foils #OrcaLine #ChrisRadkowski #FoilDesign #DownwindFoiling #OrcaSurf #FoilTalk #FoilingInnovation

The X-Foils Podcast: Case #47 – Codependency Issues: Falling for Code Foils with Ben Tardrew

Walt (the unofficial cohost) and I sit down with Ben Tardrew—one of the brains behind Code Foils and a serious ripper on the water. Fresh off testing some of the new Code range, we kick back for a relaxed chat about how these designs have evolved and where they’re headed.

We reminisce about how Code has shaped our foiling game over the last two years and look ahead at the highly anticipated Code X Series foils. Ben also shares what’s cooking behind the scenes—race foils, FoilDrive-integrated masts, and race masts that push performance even further. And true to Code’s reputation, they only release gear when it’s truly done and ready—no hype, no half measures.

A chill, gear-nerd session with one of the best in the business.

🎙️ This episode is sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico and the N1 Surf Shop. Support us for free by subscribing and dropping a 5⭐ review. Or support us directly by buying your foil gear from someone you trust: www.KitePuertoRico.com.

📲 Follow along: @xfoils

#XFoils #Case47 #CodeFoils #BenTardrew #FoilDesign #CodeXSeries #RaceFoils #FoilDrive #FoilTalk #FoilingInnovation #Parawing #FoilPodcast

In Case 46, Liam and Freddy finally tricked us into joining them for a collab. Why? Because sometimes two podcasts are better than one… or at least twice as confusing.

We sit down after AWSI to unpack the event, talk gear we drooled over, rides we may or may not have sent, and sprinkle in some top-tier foil nerding. Both of us have been talking to guests and putting out some (very little) content on the socials , so now you get the “director’s cut” chaos in one episode.

Oh, and we even give you a sneak peak of the guests you can expect to hear coming up—so you can pretend you listen for the info, not just the banter.

This was going to be filmed like always, but our producer ( DYLAN) totally messed that one up! so you just get the audio this time!

Enjoy

This episode is sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico! If you are going to buy gear, why not from me!

www.KitePuertoRico.com

📲 Follow along: @xfoils | @genericfoilingpodcast

In this episode, Walt, Arland, and I take a quick breather after a wild weekend of non-stop sessions—Monday was lit, and our brains are still fried from all the stoke.

We chat about some of the new foils we tried, a little bit about the scene, and honestly… this podcast is pure bonus content. Nobody needs this, but here you go!

Oh, and heads up—we’re heading to the event site to make and hand out food. Swing by and say hi!

This is sponsored by ME, Kite Puerto Rico and the N1 Surf Shop.

Small frothy shop! Hit me up!

📲 Follow along: @xfoils

In Case 44, Walt and I finally get back on the mic after a few weeks without our regular froth calls—and let’s just say, he had a lot to say. He breaks down his trip to Maui, including the new foils he unexpectedly fell in love with and the Frank Foilboards he’s been testing.

Meanwhile, I’ve been putting in three solid sessions on the FLITELab AMP board, and I’m fired up to bring it to the Gorge and really put it through its paces. We also chat about the upcoming AWSI, which is shaping up to be one of the most fun events yet with plenty of new gear to geek out on.

🎙️ This podcast is proudly sponsored by ME, Kite Puerto Rico and the N1 Surf Shop in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico. Support this podcast by grabbing your foil gear from us and keeping the stoke alive!

https://www.kitepuertorico.com/pages/shop

📲 Follow along: @thexfoils