The XFoils Podcast

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 enough that we did a pre chat lead up to this interview because we felt it deserved more light than we gave it in Case 75. The Orbit earned it.
Here's the thing. The double skin parawing stigma needs to stop. We are shutting it down right here. We loved this wing, we sailed it hard, and we are telling you to stop talking about it and get out on the water. Some things just need to be experienced and the Orbit is one of them.
Good chat, some fun hangouts and meetings with Sam at AWSI. He is a genuine one, takes feedback to heart, and truly wants to build something special. Now go sail this thing and tell us we are wrong please.
🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf ShopSupport the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust:👉 www.KitePuertoRico.com
Get and orbit: https://www.kitepuertorico.com/products/ppc-orbit-parawing?_pos=5&_sid=5db54b3bd&_ss=r

If you can't get gear from us but still want to support the podcast:☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/xfoils📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils

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 produced. Al and Johnny from RIIFT sat down with us and we got into all of it, or at least just the start of it and what they have gotten themselves into!

One system, powered assist foiling, or ride it unpowered, all on the same board. Just plug in 3 components integrated with the tracks, then built into a board from a shaper of your choice. They are already working with some of the best shapers and brands we know very well, RIIFT providing the well thought out tracks for their system to plug and play.

Good people, great vision, and a product that has the community already talking. The kind of thing that reminds us why we love this industry. It can't keep doing this 📈

🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf ShopSupport the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust:👉 www.KitePuertoRico.comIf you can't get gear from us but still want to support the podcast:☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/xfoils📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils

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 it on. We think Slingshot made the right call to push progress and go against the grain.
How did Project Drag come about, the story behind the crew, and what it means for where Slingshot is heading. This is the kind of project that gives a brand real momentum and speaks directly to the hyper focused foiler who actually cares about what's happening under their feet.
We get into the drag, on takeoff yes, but more importantly the drag when you're up on foil and how we actually use the board to ride. The Tuttle box Michael designed, the collaboration with Slingshot, and the push to make this an industry standard, a parallel platform alongside tracks that other brands can adopt. That's a big deal, and we feel everyone did right by it.
And then we just talk about how we ride boards. Stance, style, real foil talk with people who really care. This was a good one. LOVED this!
🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop
Support the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust:
👉 www.KitePuertoRico.com
If you can't get gear from us but still want to support the podcast:
☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/xfoils
📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils

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 League World Champion, kite and parawing designer at Naish, and someone who clearly knows and cares about designing for a wide range of users. We dig into the Hatch V2, what things he looked at, why it performs the way it does. Good chat with a guy who clearly loves what he does.
🔥 Grab the Hatch V2 with free shipping, discount code Case75 at checkout:👉 www.kitepuertorico.com/products/naish-hatch-v2
🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf Shop
Support the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust:
👉 www.KitePuertoRico.com
If you can't get gear from us but still want to support the podcast:
☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/xfoils
📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils

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. Having him as our inside man at Foil Drive feels pretty good, we like having people on the inside!We catch up on what life looked like after North, and what brought him to Foil Drive. More importantly, what his role means for where Foil Drive is heading. This is just a bit of gear chat, more about vision, growth, and what happens when someone with Mike's experience steps into a brand that's already doing something nobody else is doing.Thanks Mike! See you at AWSI buddy! Come grab a shirt to go along with that hat you look so good in!🎙️ Sponsored by Kite Puerto Rico + the N1 Surf ShopSupport the podcast by subscribing, dropping a 5⭐ review, and grabbing your gear from someone you trust:👉 www.KitePuertoRico.comIf you can't get gear from us but still want to support the podcast:☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/xfoils📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils