Foil Life Podcast by SFT

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...

In this episode, we chat with Nico Hopp from Hoppline, who joins us from Germany to share his surfing journey and the heartfelt passion fueling his creative channel.

• Growing up landlocked in the middle of Germany, Nico felt the passion for surfing all his life, but it was until he got his driver's license and his own car before he deep dive into the world of surfing.
• Traveled the world with his wife, funding a slow, low-...

On this episode, Dave West, the Foil Lord joins us from his home in Australia to talk about:

- His love of Wing Foiling
- Para Winging Overview (Ensis & Flow) Tips, Tricks and Insights
- Community dynamics, personal achievements, product innovations, and techniques for downwind foiling
- Upcoming Trips (AWSI 2025)
- An overview of dangerous creatures (Canada Vs Australia)
- The excitement of foiling e...

On this episode, Sensi Graves, entrepreneur, professional kiteboarder & wingfoiler, and motivational speaker joins us to talk about:

- Her decision to close down Sensi Swim
- Quitting can be a powerful tool for personal growth
- Motherhood and how it has changed her life
- Update on Brandon's recovery process
- You can't be what you can't see; representation matters
- Her next steps (Growing her Mentoring...

On our last of 3 episodes, Dave Westwood, Director of Sales and Marketing at ALUULA, Paula Novotna, Professional Kite and Wing Foiler and Klaas Voegt, Co-Division Manager PD & Marketing Duotone Wing & Foiling Duotone,  join us to talk about:

- How did the ALUULA Duotone relationship develop?
- Why did Duotone start using ALUULA
- Early insights into the use of the fabric (R&D, Testing)
- What are the ...

On our 2nd of 3 episodes, Tyler Cuthbert, Chief Scientific Officer at ALUULA, joins us to talk about: 

• What exactly is ALUULA fabric?
• How it's made?
• How has ALUULA impacted kite and wing design?
• Performance Specs of ALUULA
• Longevity of material 
• Does it come in different thicknesses?
• Can you get it in any colour or design?
• How does that diffexrentiate from other materials used in wind sports (Dacron, etc)?
• Why is it so light?
• Wh...

On our 1st of 3 episodes, Dave Westwood, Director of Sales and Marketing at ALUULA Composites, joins us to talk about:

- What is ALUULA?
- Where did the idea for ALUULA come from?
- Who were the original inventors?
- Where is the company based? Where is the factory?
- Was ALUULA specifically designed for windsports?
- What industries is ALUULA in? (Aerospace, windsports, Adventure Sports ie. squirrel suits,...

On our 10th episode of the GWA Show, tour manager Tom Hartmann joins us to talk about:

- The Boot Expo and the first official indoor wing foiling comp in history
- The Wind conditions at the Boot Expo with the wind machines
- Athletes felt like stars in a stadium setting during the event
- Pool depth and behind-the-scenes insights
- The SFT (Surf Foil World Tour) events that are coming up for 2025
- Pum...