Up On Foil

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

Chapters

00:00 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.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 We didn't even start yet

09:00 Start of the episode

12:06 Life Changes as a New Parent

15:06 Safety Precautions in Foiling

26:20 Planning and Logistics for Downwinders

32:02 Content Creation and Video Planning

38:15 Balancing Life and Foiling

50:03 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.com

or here: https://www.instagram.com/mantafoils/

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 Seth's Background and Journey to Hawaii

05:56 Transition to Foiling and Its Impact

08:51 Evolution of Foiling Techniques

12:08 Manta Foils: Innovations and Features

17:55 User Experience with Manta Foils

20:59 Remote Control and Session Tracking

26:55 Mantafoils: A Community-Driven Approach

46:37 Global Reach and Market Expansion

54:56 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

Look - we all know - Pump foiling is difficult. We all have our tipps, tricks and ideas on how to pump better, longer or more efficiently. Lucien wasn't happy with the chatter on the docks and wanted to get to the bottom of it. He introduced the Pumpfoil Physics Simulator and the Dynamic Pumpfoil and Wave Riding Simulator.

In this episode, we get to know Lucien (@foilien on Instagram), we learn about the simulators, and you might get one or the other idea how to improve your pump foiling.

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 and Understanding Foiling Mechanics and Physics

07:47 Insights from Personal Experience and Anecdotes

11:57 The Role of Weight and Technique in Pump Foiling

15:58 Using the Simulator for Performance Analysis

20:07 The Importance of Water Temperature and Viscosity

27:55 Lift vs Drag: Understanding Foil Profiles

32:15 Adjusting Parameters for Optimal Performance

35:11 Normalized Power and Efficiency in Pumping

40:55 The Impact of Weight and Setup on Performance

45:15 Diverse Pumping Techniques and Wing Dynamics

51:26 AI in Pumping Simulation and Rider Dynamics

55:00 Neural Networks and Learning to Pump

59:47 Community Feedback and Future Developments

When I released the video reviewing the Sroka Fynix, I was a bit nervous. After a long time of testing parawings that kept getting better and better, the Fynix had its flaws. Of course Bruno wasn't super happy but he was man enough to talk about it for everyone to listen.

In this epsiode, we talk about him as an athlete, how he built his company, and of course about their parawing.

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

Thank you for helping me out and get some hidden episodes: patreon.com/UpOnFoil

Check out my Website: www.uponfoil.com

Chapters

00:00 Bruno's Journey in Water Sports

05:47 The Evolution of Kitesurfing and Championships

08:54 Crossing Cape Horn: A Unique Adventure

11:56 Starting a Brand: From Rider to Entrepreneur

27:14 Embracing New Sports for Growth

28:06 The Importance of Motivation in Sports

32:51 Innovations in Parawing Technology

We need high visibility PFDs, Helmets and bump caps, we need UV-Shirts, Rashies and Key-Locks, we need, what Pat and Vaikobi produce. In this episode, we looked behind the scenes and got to know Pat and Vaikobi from another perspective.

Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app

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 Vaikobi and Its Mission

12:03 Safety and Technical Gear for Water Sports

17:46 Product Development and Market Adaptation

24:19 Legal Considerations in Safety Gear Manufacturing

27:23 Global Perspectives on Foiling Gear Development

30:05 Technical Clothing for Extreme Conditions

33:29 Managing Product Range and Business Growth

35:42 Work-Life Balance in a Thriving Business

38:10 Building a Team and Delegating Responsibilities

40:44 Navigating Business Challenges and Market Trends

42:44 The Niche of Foiling in a Surf-Centric Culture

46:10 Favorite Products and Customer Loyalty

47:59 The Origin of the Name 'Vikobi'

If you have Instagram, you've seen Noé on one of his adventures. Whether he is doing a crazy dangerous stunt or just something funny, Noé knows how to show all aspects of foiling.

Check out Noes Instagram: ⁨@noe.cantaloube⁩ @noe.cantaloube

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

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 to Foiling and Noé's Journey

09:48 Budgeting for Travel: Costs of Being a Pro Foiler

15:51 Creating Content: The Balance Between Filming and Enjoying

26:11 The Dangers of Foiling at Nazaré

32:12 Behind the Scenes: The Reality of Content Creation

37:35 Brand Relationships and Gear Development

43:15 Connecting with the Community

49:15 Future Plans

58:04 Tourism and Local Life in Bora Bora