This episode is brought to you by Villa Carina Apartments in beautiful Bonaire.
In this episode, we catch up with Tom Hartmann – tour manager of the GKA Kite World Tour, Wingfoil World Tour, and founder of the brand-new Surf Foil World Tour (SFT) – fresh from the biggest water sports spectacle the Middle East has ever seen in Abu Dhabi and now chasing the final Kite World Tour stops in Brazil.
Tom takes us behind the scenes of the massive nine-day Abu Dhabi event on the soon-to-be “Miami Beach of the Gulf” (Fahid Island), where kite big air, wingfoil racing, e-foil, and wakefoil all shared the spotlight, 2,500+ spectators showed up on weekends, and the whole thing was broadcast live on TV across the region. With €10,000 prize money per SFT discipline, perfect glassy morning conditions, and a level of organization that left athletes speechless, this was the perfect season finale for the inaugural Surf Foil World Tour.
- Abu Dhabi deep dive – why foiling (e-foil, wakefoil, wing, kite, surf, pump) is exploding in the Gulf and how the event showcased every flavor of the sport.
- E-foil racing at the highest level yet – Justin Chait remains undefeated in 2025, Agnes takes the women’s division, and we talk 3G corners, wingtip-out carving, and why technical skill still beats raw speed.
- Wakefoil’s breakout moment – first fully independent SFT wakefoil comp, drone + boat broadcasting magic, and why wakefoiling could be the most spectator-friendly foiling discipline out there.
- The massive growth nobody saw coming – from a hopeful start to nine events worldwide in year one, with a 2026 calendar dropping in the next couple weeks.
- What’s next for SFT in 2026 – more surf foil, downwind, wakefoil, the return of the epic indoor Düsseldorf pump & wing event, and a brand-new Foil Assist discipline that mixes propulsion take-offs with pure pumping sections.
- Plus Tom’s love for açaí bowls at Brazilian sunset and maybe sneaking in some surf trips to Nicaragua or Costa Rica before heading home.
Year one of the Surf Foil World Tour is officially in the books and it’s safe to say foiling just went global – big budgets, big crowds, and bigger stoke. Here’s to 2026 being even wilder.
Follow the Surf Foil Tour → https://www.surffoiltour.com
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