Up On Foil

I thought that Brands have figured out Parawings by now but the Lotus was the second one this year where I wasn't 100% happy. This is why I wanted to talk to them directly. Florian Heldens, R&D at Core, took time out of his day to talk about the work he does on Parawings, Wings and Kites. Thank you so much man for chatting with me!
Check out Core: https://ridecore.com
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 Intro and Flo's Role at Core
03:36 Development of the Parawing
14:42 Technical Features of the Lotus Parawing
27:41 Understanding Wind Ranges and Performance
32:18 Quality Control and Product Reliability
34:34 Future Developments in Parawings
42:54 Transitioning to Winging: Trends and Insights
51:43 Balancing High-End and Standard Gear
53:42 Innovations in Foil Technology

Ever since I've seen that foldable board on the socials, I was curious: Is this for real? Is this really better than an inflatable board? How does someone come up with that? In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Nigel about the story of the waka board.
Check them out on waka.surf on the Internet and on @windwaterwaka on Youtube and Instagram.
You'll get €100 off your purchase with the code: MATTONFOIL
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 Journey to Creating Waka Glide
06:11 Challenges in Board Design and Development
09:11 Innovative Solutions and Material Choices
12:02 Testing and Refinement Process
14:53 Market Positioning and Product Features
18:24 Design Philosophy and Future Directions
36:45 The Origins of Waka: A Cultural Connection
38:01 Innovating with AI: Business Automation in Manufacturing
41:28 Launching Waka Glide: From Concept to Production
44:50 Market Validation: Feedback and Industry Response
47:27 Balancing Functionality and Aesthetics
54:15 Travel-Friendly Design and Custom Bags
01:01:08 Foil Drive Compatibility: Enhancing User Experience
01:05:00 Next Generation Boards: Innovations on the Horizon
01:09:57 Community and Adventure: The Waka Experience

Omen makes such nice products but they always seemed inaccessible to me. They look expensive, maybe too difficult, who knows - So I wanted to get a better look at it and wanted to learn all about it from the man himself - Greg Falck, Founder of Omen.
Thanks to Jens of the Foilsessions App for supporting the show. Get your Foiling App here: https://foilsessions.app Jens is such a fan of Omen that he wanted to be part of it as well :)
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 Setting the Scene
03:45 Reflections on AWSI and Community Engagement
07:38 Exploring Foiling Equipment and Preferences
16:46 Diving into Omen Foils and Products and the Company
26:22 Optimizing Board Design
33:10 Prototyping and Production Process
45:10 Future Innovations in Foil Technology
54:50 Aesthetic Choices in Board Design
01:03:22 Understanding Board Volume and Foil Dynamics
01:13:41 The Philosophy Behind Omen Foils
01:26:18 Navigating Beginner Foil Choices
01:37:21 Closing Thoughts and Future Conversations

Dominic is always on for a chat about foiling. Today, next to all the parawing chatter, we also talked about what FoilDrive brought to the table in 2026.
Check it out for yourself: https://foildrive.com
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 Catch-Up and Recent Experiences
06:04 Parawinging and Downwinding Adventures
08:55 Foil Drive Innovations and Product Releases
11:55 The Fusion and Its Impact
15:03 Prop Variations and Their Benefits
18:12 E-Foil Racing Insights
20:48 Mini Pod and Integrated Mast Discussion
23:50 Upcoming Product Launches and Features
43:22 Exploring the Slim and Max Foils
50:54 Advancements in Battery Technology
53:50 Navigating Airline Regulations for Batteries
01:01:21 Competition in the Foil Assist Market
01:03:23 Upcoming Events and Races
01:06:54 The Future of Parawings

I've wanted to chat with Guy for a while. But when he did a crossing from the Scilly Islands to the mainland, I knew this was the time!
If you try to find the most enthusiastic foiler on the planet, Guy Bridge might be the one.
Check him out on his Youtube: @guy_bridge or on his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guy_bridge/
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 We didn't even start yet
09:00 Start of the episode
12:06 Life Changes as a New Parent
15:06 Safety Precautions in Foiling
26:20 Planning and Logistics for Downwinders
32:02 Content Creation and Video Planning
38:15 Balancing Life and Foiling
50:03 Future Adventures and Goals