The XFoils Podcast
by The Xfoils
The XFoils Podcast is where the world of foiling gets unpacked—one chaotic session at a time. Hosted by Dylan Shewfelt, with cohost Walt and a rotating cast of riders, innovators, shapers, and water junkies. We cover gear, progression, downwind misery, Parawing experiments, and the ridiculous community moments that make this sport what it is. Sometimes insightful, sometimes sarcastic, always passionate. - this is foiling from the inside! "The truth is out there." ⚡ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + N1 Surf Shop. Buy foil gear from someone you trust.
Episodes
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Surf Stance, Boards & Parawings Leveling Up / Frothy Talk 001
Walt and I are kicking off something fun. A weekly, no guest, no agenda chat we’re calling Frothy Talk with the XFoils. We talk on the phone all the time for what feels like a podcast, so we are going to get on the mic and just chat shit. This week was a bit long as we have not caught up in some...
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Case #84 – Wieger Buurma & The Appletree Way
Wieger Buurma, co-owner of Appletree Surfboards was kind enough to get on the mic with us and so stoked we got to connect again. Large board brand with a small innovative touch is exactly the vibe we like, and this chat delivers on that. We get into board design, shapes, connections like Tracks,...
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Case #83 – Generic Foiling, Two Pods One Mission
We linked up with Liam and Freddy from the Generic Foiling Podcast for a collab and it was about time. Two podcasts, one conversation, little filter. This is Part 2 of sorts — we recorded on their show as well, so if you haven’t checked that one out go find it. We get into products, trends, and...
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Case #82 – Jeffery, Finn & Malae, The Duotone Crew
Great time to drop this one. The Duotone crew just crushed the Kernow Foil Classic, taking a full podium in the foil assist and Finn doing what Finn does across all his events. This is not unusual, we watched these boys rack up about 8 podiums back in March at the FSRL in some pretty meager...
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Case #81 – Hydrocraft, Small Shop Big World
Brody, Sam and Matt welcomed us into their shop in Hood River. Beautiful retail space, a tight crew, and a brand that started small and is now moving globally without losing any of what makes them them. Small, nimble, and doing it their way. We catch up on how things have been going, the range,...
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Case #80 – Sam Loaders Orbit, Misunderstood & Underrated
Sam Loader joins us all the way from New Zealand. Sam is behind the PPC Orbit in collab with Nova, and we had a lot to say about it before we even got him on the mic. We spent a couple of weeks in the Gorge during AWSI on the 2.7, 3.5 and 4.5m and walked away with some strong feelings. Strong...
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Case #79 – RIIFT
The moment we saw it online we knew it was a new take on something we know very well. I saw it and thought, our people are going to want to hear about this as much as we did. Two guys, a real idea, and the kind of execution that reminds you of some of the best origin stories this industry has...
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Case #78 – Project Drag, Progress With Purpose
Walt and I sat down with some of the crew behind a really interesting project that we believe is different, and right up our alley. Ken Adgate, Kyle Touhey, Michael McKinley and Fred Hope, the only Slingshot man in the room bridging the gap between this band of misfits and a brand willing to take...
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Case #77 – The Hatch V2, From The Source
The Naish Hatch V2 was our favorite all round wing of the season, mentioned in Case 75, for someone getting into the sport all the way to the high end performance, and we meant it. So who better to chat about it than the guy who actually designed the thing. Ewan Jaspan, three time Kite Park…
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Case #76 – Mike Raper, From North To Foil Drive
Mike Raper needs no intro. Thirty years in the watersports industry, the guy who has built brands from the ground up and knows what it takes to move something to the next level. I personally know Mike from North, we have worked close on some small projects in the past that I really enjoyed.…
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Case #75 – Parawing Beat Down
It's been a whole summer. A whole summer of testing, riding, and teasing the market nobody explicitly asked for, but we have an opinion to share obviously. The parawing market has been moving fast, people are in the upgrade phase, and Walt and I have been putting in the work so you don't have to...
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Case #74 – Gotta Go Back To Move Forward
Walt and I are back and we came with opinions, and some new things tested. This is just a short catch up, we have some larger more focused episodes in mind. We spend way too much time thinking about this sport and what could actually move it forward or backwards! haha. Board design, parawings and...
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Case #73 – Trent Carter, Does He Even Downwind?
Feels like he came out of nowhere, but after you get to talking with Trent and see the results, you realize he absolutely belongs there. Came to race and left with some great results this year. Sponsored by Slingshot, now teammates with Edo, the guy who just won his 3rd M2O in a row, that puts…
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Case 72: Tomoko Vs Kaiwi Channel
Tomoko just did the thing. First time M20. Not only did she finish the M20 in some of the most unforgiving conditions they've seen in a while, she did extremely well in all the races leading up. What makes this one different is the journey that got her there. Every downwind session, every...
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Case 71 – Unconfirmed But Definitely True
Recorded just now, uploaded just now! We talk about foiling! Mickey needs no introduction. kinda not really. Downwind racer at heart — fully deep in the Parawing, lots of foil knowledge and gets to hear rumours from a guy. We caught up, talked Foil Racing, The Gear and the rumors started. Bad...
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Case 70: The Piranha, the SR Mast & the Future of F4
Walt and I get Chris Radkowski on the mic, co-founder and designer behind F4 Foils — and this one was a long time coming. We start things off with the Piranha — the foil we've been obsessing over for river shredding and downwind surfing. Compact, quick. We didn't overthink the name. One ride and…
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Case 69 - The Great Surf Foil Wrap up
The Great Surf Foil Test is done. All of it.Walt and I have been at this for a while now — more sessions than we can count, more swaps than we probably should have made, and enough hours on the water to finally feel confident saying something real about all of these foils. This episode we talk...
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Case 68 — Greg's Back, with his S3 D-Grip parawing
Greg is back. Fourth time on the show, and at this point he might as well have a reserved seat. Like always we keep it casual, Xfoils style. No script, no slides, just three people who love to parawing and talking about what it's like to ride the BRM S3 — the latest generation parawing from BRM,...
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Case #67 – The Great Surf Foil Test 2
We’re back with Test #2 of the Great Surf Foil, rounding out this first test with a tighter, more pocketed surf foil category. This time we focused on three foils that share a similar DNA—lower aspect, surf-focused, and built to be pushed in the pocket: Flite Lab Flux 707 Cabrinha Whippit 750…
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Case 66 - The Great Surf Foil Test 1
We’ve been building up to this one… The Great Surf Foil Test is finally here.Walt and I have been putting serious time in, bouncing between foils, swapping setups, and just trying to make sense of all the different feels out there. A lot of riding, some instant clicks, some head-scratchers, and a...
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Case #65: Paul Cooper vs Puerto Rico
Paul Cooper is in the house! In Case 65, we catch up with Paul during his trip to Puerto Rico, chatting about our latest foil adventures and what a few days on the island really feels like when the conditions line up. We throw Paul straight into the mix—epic surf sessions, a killer downwind run...
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Case #64 – The Great Surf Foil Test Begins
We’re announcing our unsponsored surf foil test series that we’ll be running over the next couple of months. The goal? To see what the brands are really doing and find the best feels we can across the board. No bias. No contracts. No filtering. Just honest feedback and real sessions. Brands that...
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Case #63 – Dialing the Details with Paul Cooper (FoilDrive)
In Case 63, Paul Cooper, a dedicated FoilDrive rider who isn’t tied to any single foil brand. That neutral perspective makes for a great conversation as Paul shares insight on the latest Fusion system, integrated masts, new pods, and how to optimize setups for the best ride possible. This one’s…
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Case #62 – New Logo, New Foils, New Co-Host
So good to be back in the studio with Walt, now officially the co-host. In this episode we catch up on a few things: my South Africa kite-foil trip where I (sadly) did not hit 30m — apparently the right gear really does matter. We’re getting fired up for the upcoming FSRL on March 6th in Cocoa...
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Case #61 – F-One’s Big Shift: New Connection, Better Feels
In Case 61, We get to chat with Doc, Charles, and Julien from F-One for a conversation centered around feel, construction, and change. As most of the community already knows, F-One is transitioning from their long-standing Titan 1 connection to a new interface, which has definitely raised…
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Case #60 – New Foils, New Feels
Case 60 is just Walt and I, catching up and talking about the feels of the new foils we’ve been testing lately. Not a spec dump—more about how they actually ride, how they translate into progression, and what’s getting us fired up at the moment. On the FoilDrive side, we just do a quick Fusion...
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Case 59: Kai Dog
In Case 59, Walt and I sit down with Kai Calder. Kai has deep roots in foiling, and honestly, there’s so much we could have covered with him. This episode is more about bringing Kai into the conversation—getting some background, hearing his perspective, and setting the stage for more to come. We...
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Case #58 – The Year of Tech (and Talking Sh*t)
Walt and I, wrapping up the year the only way we know how—talking sh*t about tech, recapping what went down, and dreaming about what we want to see in the future. From gear overload to real progression, we reflect on the year of tech, what actually mattered, or we think matters? what didn’t, and...
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Case 57: Just the Boys: Reviews + Catch-Up
It’s just Walt and I — a long-overdue catch-up and a high-demand review on the new F4 foils. We dive into first impressions, and how these foils fit into the evolving landscape. We also chat about Foildrive, and what ever else pops into our head! Nothing fancy, just classic energy and some gear...
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Case #56 - Unapologetically North: Mike Raper in the Van
In Case 56, Walt and I sit down with Mike Raper, North’s Brand Director — and yes, I give him a hard time for being too good at promoting the North lineup. The man is proudly dialed into every product, every update, and every detail… and honestly, rightfully so.We run through a quick overview of...
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Case 55 - Ever Evolving: KT Lineup with Keith Teboul
In Case 55, Walt and I sit down with Keith Teboul for a super insightful chat about the current KT lineup and what’s on the horizon. Keith needs no intro, but this time we skip the history lesson and get right into what’s relevant now—from refinements across the range to the new shapes and design...
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Case 54: The Frigate Formula -Test Pilot and Designer Nicolas Caillou
In Case 54, Walt and I were lucky enough to steal a bit of time from Nicolas Caillou, the designer of the F-One Frigate Parawing. Nicolas has a seriously deep background — he’s the founder of ZEEKO, a PhD in mathematical modeling, and a rider who actually pushes the limits of the products he...
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Case #53 – Access Denied: The Tunnel 4 Shutdown
In Case 53, Walt and I sit down with Magnito from the Gorge to talk about a major change in the Downwind foiling scene — the shutdown of Tunnel 4 parking, the iconic access point for one of the most beloved shuttle runs in the area. For years, Tunnel 4 has been a gateway for countless downwinders...
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Case #52: Hitting the Bullseye: Frank Foilboards’ Axis Dart Series
Walt catches up with Frank Foilboards right in the shaping bay for a chat about his latest creations — the Mini Dart and the Dart. These new designs are the result of a collaboration with Axis, aimed at building a Parawing-friendly mid-length that also crosses over beautifully into wing and prone...
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Case #51 – Josh Who? Josh Ku! From Uluwatu to G-Land
Set up in the van at AWSI, Walt and I sit down with Josh Ku to talk about his upcoming film documenting his Uluwatu-to-G-Land crossing in Bali—a bold mission that turns pretty dicey at one point, and trust us, you’ll want to hear the story. The project, filmed by Dane Wilson (not Dan!), aims to...
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Case #50: Small Brand, Big Spray: Hydrocraft with Matt Elsasser
For our Half Hundredth episode, Walt and I sit down with Matt Elsasser, co-founder of Hydrocraft Systems, a new foil company stepping into the space. Matt needs no introduction to the foil world—his riding and design chops are well-known—but launching a brand in 2025? That’s a whole different...
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Case #49: Powered Up: Mr. Bennetts Brings the Flux*
In Case 49, Walt and I sit down with Adam Bennetts from FliteLab to dive into the highly anticipated Flux foil range. Bennetts’ unique and powerful surf style really shines through in this lineup—and you can feel it the moment you step on the foil. We chat about his design input, the development...
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Case #48: The F4 Orca Story:Carbon Addicts Anonymous with Chris Radkowski
In Case 48, Walt and I catch up with Chris Radkowski, the designer behind F4 Foils. While Walt was in Maui, he picked up a setup from Guido and could not stop raving about the new Orca line for downwind—so of course, I had to try it too. Spoiler: they did not disappoint. What makes F4 stand out…
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Case #47 – Codependency Issues: Falling for Code Foils with Ben Tardrew
The X-Foils Podcast: Case #47 – Codependency Issues: Falling for Code Foils with Ben Tardrew Walt (the unofficial cohost) and I sit down with Ben Tardrew—one of the brains behind Code Foils and a serious ripper on the water. Fresh off testing some of the new Code range, we kick back for a relaxed...
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Case #46: Double the Podcasts, Double the Nonsense (AWSI Collab)
In Case 46, Liam and Freddy finally tricked us into joining them for a collab. Why? Because sometimes two podcasts are better than one… or at least twice as confusing. We sit down after AWSI to unpack the event, talk gear we drooled over, rides we may or may not have sent, and sprinkle in some...
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Case #45 – Weekend Madness & Foil Nerding
In this episode, Walt, Arland, and I take a quick breather after a wild weekend of non-stop sessions—Monday was lit, and our brains are still fried from all the stoke. We chat about some of the new foils we tried, a little bit about the scene, and honestly… this podcast is pure bonus content....
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Case #44 - Pre AWSI. Foils, Boards & Maui Stories with Walt
In Case 44, Walt and I finally get back on the mic after a few weeks without our regular froth calls—and let’s just say, he had a lot to say. He breaks down his trip to Maui, including the new foils he unexpectedly fell in love with and the Frank Foilboards he’s been testing. Meanwhile, I’ve been...
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Case #43- Basement Stories, Parawing Theories & A Golf-Off Pending
In Case 43, Roy and Mickey are back—two names well-known not just on the podcast, but in the foiling scene, period. Fresh off a two-week trip to the Gorge, they join me to talk about linking up with the crew at The Basement, scoring some classic Rufus runs, and sharing their stoke.This one’s…
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Case #42 The BRM Double Skin Paia with Greg
Greg from BRM is back on the mic to share the details behind his latest creation: the Paia, and his take on a double-skin Parawing designed for riders chasing higher performance. We dig into what this means in real use—how does a wing with more structure and material hold up when it comes to...
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Case #41 – Parawing Buyer's Guide with Walt & Bowen Dwelle
In Case 41: Walt ( your favorite unofficial Co-Host) and I sit down with Bowen Dwelle, author of The Inertia’s Best Parawing of 2025. This episode is all about helping you make smart decisions if you’re thinking about getting into Parawing or upgrading your current setup. We talk about the wings...
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Case #40 – Safety Third: Do as we say not as we do
In this short but important episode, we talk about basic water safety so you can be better prepared the next time you head out. From bringing a buddy, carrying a phone, packing a tourniquet, to wearing a vest or flotation and even a helmet—these are simple things that could make a huge difference...
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Case #39 – Hood Trip, Parawings & Foil Trends with Walt
The X-Foils Podcast: Case #39 – Hood Trips, Parawings & Foil Trends with Walt In this long-overdue episode, Walt and I finally carve out some time to feed our starving audience and catch up on all things foiling. We break down our latest Hood River adventures, geek out on Parawings, chat about...
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Case #38 – Maxime from Shaka Vibes Cancun
In this episode, I sit down with Maxime from Shaka Vibes Cancun—a driving force in the Mexican foiling scene. We dive into his foil adventures, from long-distance missions to big air wins jumping over 25m, and share stories from both sides of the Caribbean. We talk about building schools and...
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Case #37 – Audrey Meyer - Wing Fest and Cabarete watersports
In this episode, we reconnect with Audrey Meyer from Cabarete—an all-around waterwoman and host of the upcoming Cabarete Wing Fest, happening June 19th.Audrey shares her journey through the world of watersports, from teaching windsurfing, to getting hooked on kiting in the early days, and…
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Case #36: FLITELab* Exclusive with Chris Senior Product Manager
Everyhting you want to know about FLITELab* is here: In this exclusive episode, we sit down with Chris Reynolds, Founder and Senior Product Manager of FLITELab*, to dive deep into the making of the AMP board—Flite's new high-performance foil assist system that’s shaking up the scene. Chris walks…
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About this show
The XFoils Podcast is where the world of foiling gets unpacked—one chaotic session at a time. Hosted by Dylan Shewfelt, with cohost Walt and a rotating cast of riders, innovators, shapers, and water junkies. We cover gear, progression, downwind misery, Parawing experiments, and the ridiculous community moments that make this sport what it is. Sometimes insightful, sometimes sarcastic, always passionate. - this is foiling from the inside! "The truth is out there." ⚡ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + N1 Surf Shop. Buy foil gear from someone you trust.
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The Xfoils
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