In this episode of the Foilers Podcast, Pete Walmsley sits down with Western Australian foiler Hugh Mitchell—one of the most inspiring young riders in the sport today.

Hugh’s journey into foiling started in 2019 with his dad’s first foil setup on the Swan River. Just a few years later, he’s chasing adventures across Australia downwind, competing in the legendary Molokai-to-Oahu race in Hawaii, coaching new foilers, running 'The Foil Project' podcast, and producing the adventure film 'Desert Winds'.

In this conversation, Hugh shares the full story behind his rapid rise in foiling—from working at the Foil Shop in Perth to embarking on a 300km remote downwind expedition along Western Australia’s coastline, encountering sharks offshore, and pushing his limits in some of the world’s toughest downwind conditions.

We also dive into:

• How Hugh discovered downwind foiling

• Lessons from working in the foiling industry

• The making of the Desert Winds film

• Touring the film around Australia

• Racing in the Hawaii Downwind Race Series

• Creating and running the 'Project Flow' foiling event

• Coaching foilers in Perth

• Becoming a sponsored rider

It’s a story about passion, pushing boundaries, and building community in one of the fastest-growing watersports in the world.

If you love foiling, adventure, and the people driving the sport forward, this episode is packed with inspiration.

Chris Doerfel — founder of Hydrofoil Academy Australia at the Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney — joins the FOILERS Podcast to break down what actually helps people learn wing foiling (and prone foiling) faster.

Originally from Austria, Chris has spent 20+ years in ocean sports (windsurfing, kiting, surfing) and explains how COVID kicked off his wing foiling obsession — to the point of doing multiple sessions a day — and how that momentum turned into a coaching program built around making foiling accessible, safe, and fun.

In this episode we get into:

• How the foiling scene in Sydney evolved from a tiny crew to a fast-growing community

• Why beginner gear has changed massively

• The real reason beginners struggle

• Chris’s approach: tow behind a boat vs Foil Drive assist (who should do what, and why)

• The underrated skills

• The most common mistake Chris sees

• Why prone foiling is booming in Australia

• Gear trends

• Big-picture - what foiling can learn from the windsurfing boom

If you’re a beginner, an intermediate chasing cleaner gybes/takeoffs, or you’re just frothing on where foiling is going next — this one’s packed with practical insight and plenty of stoke.

🎧 Subscribe to FOILERS for more interviews with the people shaping foiling — from designers to coaches and riders.

Chris Porter, aerospace engineer and founder of Crisp Foils unpacks the science, experimentation, and rider feedback behind high-performance foil design — with a deep dive into why stabilisers play such a critical role in how a foil feels and performs on the water.

Chris explains how his background in aerospace engineering and CNC machining led him to focus on one of the most overlooked components in foiling setups: the stabiliser. While most riders obsess over front wings, Chris breaks down how changes to stabiliser size, aspect ratio, flex, foil section and trailing-edge finish can dramatically affect pumping efficiency, carving feel, speed range and overall control.

The conversation covers:

• Why stabilisers deliver the biggest performance gains per dollar

• Choosing stabiliser size based on rider height, weight and discipline

• The role of stabilisers in pump foiling, downwind foiling, winging and prone

• How poor trailing-edge finishing causes foil noise — and how to fix it

• Shimming, foot pressure and tuning your setup for different speed ranges

• Designing stabilisers for everyday riders vs elite athletes

Chris also shares his journey from backyard prototyping to working with Armstrong Foils, collaborating with Code Foils, and designing stabilisers ridden by elite foilers — including Oscar Johansson’s world-record pump foiling session.

If you’re an intermediate or advanced foiler looking to tune your setup, or you’ve ever wondered why a simple stabiliser change can completely transform your ride, this episode will change how you think about foil performance. Enjoy

ENSIS has a comprehensive range of quality foiling products, but it’s not a brand that shouts from the rooftops. In true Swiss style, they’re quietly confident, letting their gear speak for itself.

In this episode, Karl Müller—founder and managing director of ENSIS—joins the FOILERS Podcast to unpack how their “Swissness” enables them to stand out in the market with high-quality, precise, and reliable foiling products that withstand rigorous testing by the likes of Balz Müller, a team rider, known for pushing products to their limits.

We rewind to 2019, when Karl, Balz Müller and designer Damien Girardin kicked off ENSIS. From there, we dive into the ENSIS product development program, their focus on customer service, and why they actively build a team with a strong female presence.

Karl also breaks down what makes their new Maniac foil system stand out and what riders notice most when they try them. We also discuss what’s changed in their latest wings, including their popular Top Spin wings, walk through their foil board range, and discuss parawing products in development.

We finish with quick-fire topics: dream foiling spots (yes—Western Australia gets a mention), the moment Karl loves most in the product development process, and much more. Enjoy.

Join designer Adrian Roper from AXIS Foils at The Foil Shop as he breaks down the design thinking behind the Tempo downwind lineup, titanium fuselage, and the new Surge surf wings – with real-world feedback from Axis rider Luke and others at the event.This talk goes way past marketing and straight into engineering: ultra-thin, high-aspect front wings, titanium expansion-plate fuselages, unidirectional carbon (Uni) layups, mast stiffness, and why foil area is a terrible way to compare wings. If you’re into downwind foiling, prone foiling, wing foiling or dock starts, this is gold.In this video you’ll learn:- How AXIS developed the Tempo titanium fuselage and ultra-thin high-aspect front wings- Why traditional aluminium fuselages are too draggy for modern, narrow-chord foils- How switching from woven carbon to unidirectional carbon made the wings ~25% stiffer- The thinking behind the Surge surf wing: "moustache” tips, straight median line & tip-breach behavior- Why span and foil section matter more than area when choosing a wing- Real mast stiffness numbers: aluminium vs Power Carbon vs Ultra Pro vs Fatty mast- Sizing advice: moving from ART V2 & Spitfire into Tempo and Surge- Anti-corrosion details, NFC tags for authenticity, and updated AXIS fuselage designYou’ll also hear race-proven feedback from Maui, M2M, M2O and European events – plus how riders over 100 kg are using the Surge and Tempo for downwind runs, prone surf, winging and dock starts.Perfect if you’re comparing Tempo vs Fireball, Surge vs Spitfire, or trying to pick the right AXIS front wing, rear wing and mast for your next downwind, prone or wing-foil setup.👉 Follow FOILERS for more deep-dive tech talks, interviews and gear breakdowns.

In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, Pete sits down with Cyril Coste, the innovative mind behind Duotone’s brand-new Foil Assist system. From his roots in France and years riding and designing in Maui, to leading R&D across Japan and Taiwan, Cyril brings a lifetime of foiling experience to this groundbreaking project.

Together, we unpack the full story behind Duotone’s entry into the foil-assist space — why they built it, how it works, and what sets it apart.

Cyril goes deep into the engineering: the high-voltage battery system worn on the waist, the free-hand thumb remote, the power and runtime philosophy, prop options, modular mast design, and the thinking behind their ultra-light Midfish board.

We also explore real-world performance across waves, downwinders, pumping, and progression riding — including safety, wipeouts, compatibility with different foil brands, and how the Duotone system preserves the true “foil feeling.”

If you’re curious about foil assist, comparing options, or just want the full inside story from the person who built it, this is the most comprehensive breakdown you’ll hear anywhere.

Has Slingshot reclaimed its position as one of the most innovative foiling companies in the industry? In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, I spoke to Fred Hope, a world champion kiteboarder who now plays a lead role in product development at Slingshot. Backed by extensive experience in watersports, Fred takes new product ideas from inception through to design, testing, refinement, and market release. I asked Fred many of the questions people have been asking me about their one-lock foil system, and as you will discover, there is more to it than simply being able to put your foils together without screws. We also explored Slingshot's 2026 range of wings and boards, talking about their design approach, how they compare to previous models and why people should consider them when upgrading their gear. It's a pivotal time at Slingshot, with a range of talented designers driven to create innovative and compelling products that put Slingshot at the forefront of the evolving, growing foiling disciplines. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced wing foiler, there is something in this episode for everyone. If you are into downwinding, prone foiling, and dock starting, you will also enjoy the episode with a range of new products coming your way. Enjoy!

Four-times Wing Foil World Champion Mathis Ghio joins the Foilers Podcast to talk all things speed, strategy, and competition. From training routines to race-day mindset, Mathis reveals what it takes to dominate the global wingfoil racing scene — and how he keeps pushing the limits of equipment design and performance. He also shares actionable insights every wing foiler can use to improve their speed and control.