Up On Foil

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