Foil Life Podcast by SFT

On this episode we catch up with Steve, a dedicated Maui-based foiler and race. Fresh off the summer racing season in Hawaii, Steve shares his firsthand experiences from high-stakes downwind foil races, gear tweaks, and the mental grit required to conquer challenging ocean channels. From hilarious mishaps to profound insights on personal growth in the sport, this conversation dives deep into the world of foiling, para-wing...

In this episode, we chat with the legends behind Windance, the iconic board shop in Hood River, Oregon, that’s been fueling wind sports for over four decades. We dive into the shop’s storied past with founder Brian Carlstrom, former owner Dave Nunn, and current owner Nick Caccavo, tracing its roots from the early windsurfing days on Maui to its pivotal role in the Columbia River Gorge’s vibrant scene. From gritty beginning...

In this episode, we dive into the world of foiling with Tom Hartmann fresh from the 12th edition of Foiling Week at Lake Garda, Italy. Tom shares the thrill of hosting a groundbreaking event that brought together board sports and sailing under the banner of hydrofoiling. From orchestrating the first-ever downwind event on the lake to integrating pump foil and e-foil World Cups, Tom recounts the logistical challenges and ep...

On this episode, we talk with Ranja Schlotte, a German athlete who rips down Alpine lines and carves Mauritius’ fiercest waves. From skiing at three to mastering kitesurfing on a family trip, Ranja’s hunger for adventure led to sponsorships with Slingshot, Alpina Sports, Meier Skis, Ride Engine and many more through relentless freestyle competitions. She reveals how she juggled a mathematics and economics Degree and a Degr...

In this episode, we reconnect with Erwan Jauffroy to celebrate his latest world record: an astonishing 156.5-kilometer downwind foiling journey without restarting, completed in six and a half hours. Erwan shares the inspiration behind this feat, the meticulous safety preparations, and the mental and physical challenges of staying focused on the water. From navigating past ferries to enduring severe cramps, Erwan’s story is...

In this episode we catch up with Tom Hartmann about the Atlanta Foil Fest at Lake Lanier’s Olympic Park. Tom dives into the three-day event, featuring E-Foil, Pump Foil, Wake Foil, and Airchair foiling competitions, alongside demos and clinics. From Justin Chait dominant performance to Nick Leason’s E-Foil legacy and the innovative Betafoil Enduro, the event united foilers from the US, Europe, and beyond. Tom also teases u...

On this episode, we sit down with Jack Ho, a Waikiki-raised waterman and professional foiler, to explore his journey from surfing small waves at age five to becoming a sponsored athlete with F-One Foils and Patagonia Surf. From his roots in a historic family home to chasing perfect swells in Hood River and New Zealand, Jack shares how foiling bridges ocean sports and his passion for storytelling through YouTube. This episo...

On this episode, we sit down with Alex Mertens, a windsurfing and wing foiling enthusiast from the San Francisco Bay Area, to dive into his journey from elite soccer to mastering wind sports. From his early days hating windsurfing to competing on the European Freestyle Pro Tour and creating the YouTube series Secrets of the Send, Alex shares his passion for foiling, safety tips, and the vibrant Bay Area wind scene. This ep...

On this episode we sit down with Mike and Steff from North Actionsports in New Zealand, diving into the rise of parawinging and their game-changing Ranger parawing. From a daring Cook Strait crossing to decades of kiteboarding roots with pioneer Peter Lynn, they share how the Ranger was born for downwind foiling with safety and ease in mind. This episode uncovers the passion and innovation driving North’s foiling revolutio...

We’re thrilled to kick off our new role as the official podcast of the Surf Foil World Tour (SFT)! In this episode, we sit down with Jørgen Vogt and Tom Hartmann, the masterminds behind the SFT, a groundbreaking world tour for non-wind-powered foiling disciplines. From its roots in the GKA (Kite World Tour) and GWA (Wing Foil World Tour) to embracing pump foiling, surf foiling, and more, Jørgen and Tom share how the SFT is...

In this episode, we chat with Lukas Lam, a rising wing foiling star from Austria, whose meteoric rise with Duotone has taken him to the GWA Wingfoil World Tour. From learning to wing foil to impress his girlfriend to landing backflips in months, Lukas shares his journey of passion and perseverance alongside his pro wing foiler partner. Hear about his freestyle tricks, coaching kids in Greece, and chasing big air dreams.

In ...

In this episode, we catch up with kiteboarding legend Tom Court, a UK-based pioneer whose 20-year career has shaped the sport from its wild early days to its modern mainstream appeal. From riding two-line kites in Maui to producing viral vlogs and representing Duotone, Tom shares his journey of chasing wind, creativity, and freedom across the globe. With stories of competing on the world tour, kiting with sharks in Hondura...

On this episode, we chat with Tom Hartmann, tour manager for the GWA Wing Foil World Tour and Surf Foil World Tour (SFT). Fresh from the windy Mondial du Vent in Leucate, France, Tom breaks down the action, from wing foiling in 40-knot gusts to e-foiling and pump foiling in tough conditions. He shares what went down, who stood out, and how these sports are growing fast.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Leucate’s Crazy...

On this episode, we sit down with 17-year-old wing foiling sensation Ancor Sosa from Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, whose infectious passion for wind sports has taken him from windsurfing at age seven to competing on the global stage of the GWA Wing Foil World Tour. Ancor shares his journey through windsurfing, kiting, and wing foiling, revealing the grit, family support, and island lifestyle that fuel his rise. From landi...

On this episode we sit down with Kevin Collins, a seasoned waterman who’s spent the last 24 years mastering kite surfing, and foiling on Maui’s world-class waves. From his early days chasing thunderstorms in Florida to building a foiling hub in Paia, Kevin shares his journey, hard-earned lessons, and the stoke of riding alongside many of Maui's legends. This episode is a deep dive into the evolution of foiling, the vibrant...

In this exciting episode, Cash Berzolla joins us to dive into the vibrant world of wing foiling and big wave surfing on Maui.

• We recap his thrilling win at the GWA Wave World Cup in Cabo Verde, where he outshined friend Finn Spencer in a hard-fought final, and discuss how new rules on wing-powered airs are reshaping the sport.
• Cash shares insights on his custom Keith-shaped guns, his first wing foiling session at Pier 1,...

In this exciting episode, Tom Hartmann joins us to dive into the latest from the wing foiling and surf foiling world. 

• We recap the recent GWA Wave World Cup in Cabo Verde, where stellar conditions at Ponta Preta showcased top-tier performances, including Nia Suardiaz’s well-deserved women’s wave title and Cash Berzolla’s standout riding. 
• Tom shares behind-the-scenes insights, from equipment challenges to the new rule a...

In this episode, we catch up with Florian "Flo" Crausaz, a Swiss wood engineer turned wing foil extraordinaire. Flo shares his journey from soccer fields to windsurfing waves, sparked by a childhood passion and fueled by a life-changing stint as a windsurf instructor in Greece—where he met his wife!

• Roots to Waves: Kicking off with soccer at age four, Flo dove into windsurfing at 15, chasing the lifestyle despite no oce...

On this episode, we chat with Daniel Paronetto, aka Foil Rat, who joins us to share his deep dive into parawing with a focus on safety, skill-building, and slick tricks—perfect for foilers ready to shred smarter!

• Safety first: Daniel shares life vests, beacons, and tourniquets as must-haves after a near-miss tale, urging prep for offshore runs.
• The learning curve: From Luc’s first session to Daniel’s kite-to-parawing shi...