AWSI - KT foiling 2026: foil boards

In this conversation, Keith Teboul and his team discuss the evolution of their product line, particularly focusing on the Super K2 board.

They highlight the importance of R&D, user feedback, and the unique conditions in Maui that allow them to stay ahead of trends in board design. The conversation also delves into the latest innovations in board technology, emphasizing the balance between performance and user experience, especially for beginners and advanced riders alike.

AWSI - Axis 2026: New Products

In this conversation, Adrian Roper - Axis CEO and chief designer discusses the latest innovations in downwind racing gear, focusing on the Tempo wings, trench boards, and the new dock start pump wings. He explains the design improvements made to enhance performance, including the stiffness of the wings and the efficiency of the mast. The conversation also covers the development of a new trench board with a streamlined battery system and the importance of matching mast and fuselage setups to rider weight and wing size for optimal performance.

AWSI - Appletree Surfboards 2026: RADIX board

In this conversation, Wieger Buurma introduces the innovative and all new RADIX track system in partnership with CORE, which aims to set a new standard in foiling, and the importance of industry collaboration for future developments.

- Single track system would lower drag
- Simplify board development
- Simplify travel and so on!

AWSI - Forward WIP: 2026 gear

In this conversation, Luc Moore and R?my Final discuss the latest innovations in water sports safety gear, particularly focusing on helmets and impact vests designed for activities like pump foiling, kite surfing, and windsurfing. They explore the importance of protection while enjoying water sports, the evolution of helmet design, and the integration of technology to enhance safety without compromising fun. R?my shares insights from his collaboration with various sailing teams and the feedback that drives product development, emphasizing the need for accessible technology for all water sports enthusiasts.

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Hdip said..
it's like you were there.

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Long flite amp jet review with on the water footage.

Nice rant...called it

Would like to see how that Appletree Surfboards / Core Kiteboarding collab evolves in the next months.
A adjustable, one-track system could open up new board designs (for general public/people wanting to be able to move the mast position), alters the trade off between strength and weight for both board and foil(mast) construction and eliminates a clunky baseplate that's inconvenient when transporting.
Would love to see brands jump on the bandwagon. If only by offering an alternative that would fit (like the Cedrus adapter Wieger shows).

The Flitelab (Amp) solution looked very good, if only I had that amount to spend ;-). For wings I could not really detect an industry/market trend out of the AWSI footage. What have I missed?

Hi north just announced new PRO wing boards for next yer. I am in process of getting new swell and midi. I am curious about dimension of pro swell and pro midi 2026 boards. Are they same as current models ? Please ?? if anyone wising awsi can check this. Thanks.

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Ciki62 said..
Hi north just announced new PRO wing boards for next yer. I am in process of getting new swell and midi. I am curious about dimension of pro swell and pro midi 2026 boards. Are they same as current models ? Please ?? if anyone wising awsi can check this. Thanks.

As far as i can tell, the dimensions look the same. Its just the construction to save Weight. The Seek Pro '26 is still 5'1 in 78L. Wich IMO is still a great shape.

Its sad to see that the focus is so much on midlength and parawing. As a freestyler there isn't much new coming out. I dont like midlength boards as they are just too long to throw around. I was hoping that KT came out with a Ginxu 3 or something. I owned a 2 pro, but found it to long/narrow. I'm currently still on the north seek '25 and love the board. So i'm really looking forward to this Pro model, because weight is the only issue for me. Same with their wings, great wings but too heavy.

Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

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PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

the pedestal/plate at the top of the mast is a major source of weight and flex. I think going toward some sort of adjustable Tuttle design could make manufacturing masts much simpler (and lighter). One limitation is going to be the depth of the mast head as it relates to smaller, thinner boards. there's an adjustable Tuttle with spacers that bolts from the deck and the Core/Appletree thing which looks like a blend between a single US box and a windsurf Power Box.

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saLv4 said..

PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

It's not a deep tuttle box. There is a big advantage. Mike Labs has been talking about this for some time. Needing a better system. Anyone that has high performance gear, rides tuttle. Sorry. That is a fact. Track system is a terrible design. The ability to adjust different foils was the only reason why it was incorporated. The extra carbon needed at the base to support the load. Extra weight in the box. Extra screws. A system like Radix mast should be standard.

Start at 1 hour mark. Explanation.

?si=8f523hpspFjepVSP&t=3608

The way I think about it, the considerations for the connection are a combination of stiffness, hydrodynamics and weight. Addressing all those considerations in the form factor of a mast requires compromise. You can make a super stiff mast plate with additional material, but then it might become big and/or heavy. You can create a super efficient mast plate but you might compromise stiffness. The way the current standard works, you also have to make both the mast to baseplate connection, and the board tracks stiff, so its almost like two connections that need to be reinforced.

Addressing these considerations in the board construction largely takes the efficiency aspect out of the equation. You have a lot more space to play with in reinforcing the connection within the board and you only need to address it in one place, which simplifies the system. I would expect that could make the connection lighter and/or stiffer. It should probably transfer some of the complexity from the mast to the board making the board more expensive but the mast cheaper (although the consumer has already been trained that a HM mast costs $1500-2000 - so I doubt they change that).

I hate a new standard as much as the next guy, but this one makes some sense to me. I'd love to hear more about how board designers and builders feel about it though.

Looks like everyone is going towards a boom for wings?

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ZeroVix said..

saLv4 said..

PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

It's not a deep tuttle box. There is a big advantage. Mike Labs has been talking about this for some time. Needing a better system. Anyone that has high performance gear, rides tuttle. Sorry. That is a fact. Track system is a terrible design. The ability to adjust different foils was the only reason why it was incorporated. The extra carbon needed at the base to support the load. Extra weight in the box. Extra screws. A system like Radix mast should be standard.

Start at 1 hour mark. Explanation.

?si=8f523hpspFjepVSP&t=3608

But with the rise of the assist systems which favour the dual track design it might be a loosing battle.

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airsail said..

ZeroVix said..

saLv4 said..

PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

It's not a deep tuttle box. There is a big advantage. Mike Labs has been talking about this for some time. Needing a better system. Anyone that has high performance gear, rides tuttle. Sorry. That is a fact. Track system is a terrible design. The ability to adjust different foils was the only reason why it was incorporated. The extra carbon needed at the base to support the load. Extra weight in the box. Extra screws. A system like Radix mast should be standard.

Start at 1 hour mark. Explanation.

?si=8f523hpspFjepVSP&t=3608

But with the rise of the assist systems which favour the dual track design it might be a loosing battle.

Oof. Solid point. Perhaps all the E-team can have trench boards with dual tracks and the rest of us can have a clean system.

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BWalnut said..

airsail said..

ZeroVix said..

saLv4 said..

PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

It's not a deep tuttle box. There is a big advantage. Mike Labs has been talking about this for some time. Needing a better system. Anyone that has high performance gear, rides tuttle. Sorry. That is a fact. Track system is a terrible design. The ability to adjust different foils was the only reason why it was incorporated. The extra carbon needed at the base to support the load. Extra weight in the box. Extra screws. A system like Radix mast should be standard.

Start at 1 hour mark. Explanation.

?si=8f523hpspFjepVSP&t=3608

But with the rise of the assist systems which favour the dual track design it might be a loosing battle.

Oof. Solid point. Perhaps all the E-team can have trench boards with dual tracks and the rest of us can have a clean system.

Foildrive has sold well over 3000 systems alone, add other available systems and yet to be released systems and it is a huge part of the foiling market. I doubt there are enough non assist users to warrant foil and board manufacturers to change to a new system. I'm calling it dead in the water.

I feel like boards are currently the weak part
of the equation and I don't think this system would help that. I still encounter soft boards, especially prone, on the regular.

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Goofcat said..
Looks like everyone is going towards a boom for wings?

I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea, but after using a boom I find it a chore to go back to my wings with handles.

I think it would be fairly simple to build an adapter to mount a Kraken mast in that box. Unless there isn't enough width for the existing mast head.

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airsail said..

BWalnut said..

airsail said..

ZeroVix said..

saLv4 said..

PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

It's not a deep tuttle box. There is a big advantage. Mike Labs has been talking about this for some time. Needing a better system. Anyone that has high performance gear, rides tuttle. Sorry. That is a fact. Track system is a terrible design. The ability to adjust different foils was the only reason why it was incorporated. The extra carbon needed at the base to support the load. Extra weight in the box. Extra screws. A system like Radix mast should be standard.

Start at 1 hour mark. Explanation.

?si=8f523hpspFjepVSP&t=3608

But with the rise of the assist systems which favour the dual track design it might be a loosing battle.

Oof. Solid point. Perhaps all the E-team can have trench boards with dual tracks and the rest of us can have a clean system.

Foildrive has sold well over 3000 systems alone, add other available systems and yet to be released systems and it is a huge part of the foiling market. I doubt there are enough non assist users to warrant foil and board manufacturers to change to a new system. I'm calling it dead in the water.

Sounds like when everyone had tuttle, especially wind foiling. Who would convert to track? Well they did. That battery hanging on the bottom of the board is not going to be around much longer. They can still have their integrated overpriced mast with a track system. Flitelab is heading in the right direction. One board quiver for battery operations and non battery. They just need to get better batteries (matter of time) and increase the thrust.

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ZeroVix said..

airsail said..

BWalnut said..

airsail said..

ZeroVix said..

saLv4 said..

PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

It's not a deep tuttle box. There is a big advantage. Mike Labs has been talking about this for some time. Needing a better system. Anyone that has high performance gear, rides tuttle. Sorry. That is a fact. Track system is a terrible design. The ability to adjust different foils was the only reason why it was incorporated. The extra carbon needed at the base to support the load. Extra weight in the box. Extra screws. A system like Radix mast should be standard.

Start at 1 hour mark. Explanation.

?si=8f523hpspFjepVSP&t=3608

But with the rise of the assist systems which favour the dual track design it might be a loosing battle.

Oof. Solid point. Perhaps all the E-team can have trench boards with dual tracks and the rest of us can have a clean system.

Foildrive has sold well over 3000 systems alone, add other available systems and yet to be released systems and it is a huge part of the foiling market. I doubt there are enough non assist users to warrant foil and board manufacturers to change to a new system. I'm calling it dead in the water.

Sounds like when everyone had tuttle, especially wind foiling. Who would convert to track? Well they did. That battery hanging on the bottom of the board is not going to be around much longer. They can still have their integrated overpriced mast with a track system. Flitelab is heading in the right direction. One board quiver for battery operations and non battery. They just need to get better batteries (matter of time) and increase the thrust.

But flightlab have a battery and thrust unit where the foibox would go. You would need a thick board to allow both.

Select to expand quote

airsail said..

ZeroVix said..

airsail said..

BWalnut said..

airsail said..

ZeroVix said..

saLv4 said..

PeterP said..
Is there any meaningful weight saving with the single mast connection?

I can't imagine there to be much of one. You remove the baseplate but add additional length to the mast similar to deep tuttle designs. And I guess the board will be slightly heavier due to a deeper box which probably needs additional reinforcement.
Still interesting due to lesser drag.

It's not a deep tuttle box. There is a big advantage. Mike Labs has been talking about this for some time. Needing a better system. Anyone that has high performance gear, rides tuttle. Sorry. That is a fact. Track system is a terrible design. The ability to adjust different foils was the only reason why it was incorporated. The extra carbon needed at the base to support the load. Extra weight in the box. Extra screws. A system like Radix mast should be standard.

Start at 1 hour mark. Explanation.

?si=8f523hpspFjepVSP&t=3608

But with the rise of the assist systems which favour the dual track design it might be a loosing battle.

Oof. Solid point. Perhaps all the E-team can have trench boards with dual tracks and the rest of us can have a clean system.

Foildrive has sold well over 3000 systems alone, add other available systems and yet to be released systems and it is a huge part of the foiling market. I doubt there are enough non assist users to warrant foil and board manufacturers to change to a new system. I'm calling it dead in the water.

Sounds like when everyone had tuttle, especially wind foiling. Who would convert to track? Well they did. That battery hanging on the bottom of the board is not going to be around much longer. They can still have their integrated overpriced mast with a track system. Flitelab is heading in the right direction. One board quiver for battery operations and non battery. They just need to get better batteries (matter of time) and increase the thrust.

But flightlab have a battery and thrust unit where the foibox would go. You would need a thick board to allow both.

This mast design isn't coming out anytime soon. By then Flightlab can resign to have 2 long slots for battery and battery technology will improve a lot. Smaller and more powerful. The concept is great. The technology, not so. I mean 2x 142wh batteries and 25kg thrust isn't a lot. You better be a good pumper.

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maxpwr said..

Goofcat said..
Looks like everyone is going towards a boom for wings?

I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea, but after using a boom I find it a chore to go back to my wings with handles.

I was a slow convert to handles and I rode the new Naish NVision with a boom last weekend and it felt like cheating.

Curious lack of parawing news...

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kook123 said..
Curious lack of parawing news...

I'm expecting another wave in the spring. ATM everyone has something to offer the market and they are all seeing who the winners are (as best I can see in the Gorge Ozone is running away with it). Everyone needs time to pivot designs and respond to large group feedback.

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kook123 said..
Curious lack of parawing news...

I'm wondering if, like foils, they can't really improve that much on what's already on the market. The kite design thing has been around for many years & the prototypes wouldn't take long to build & test. I would guess access to light strong materials would be the main thing. Also it seems some brands find it hard to source different coloured lines as well.
Maybe I'm just jaded but I was pretty underwhelmed with this years AWSI offerings. I'd put that tuttle box idea in the same hall cupboard as the sea devil & Flume. Maybe the AWSi would have appealed more to me if I could afford a foil drive & associated accessories.

What happened to Naish dropping all their new gear on the 4th of September? Failure to launch?

I was curious about the new ADX, but didn't really see any info other than a few seconds of Ewan picking up a tiny 2m. Also saw a 3 strut 6m wing in the background during Robby's interview.

The new Chimera board looks great.

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crakas said..
What happened to Naish dropping all their new gear on the 4th of September? Failure to launch?

I was curious about the new ADX, but didn't really see any info other than a few seconds of Ewan picking up a tiny 2m. Also saw a 3 strut 6m wing in the background during Robby's interview.

The new Chimera board looks great.

There was a small segment on their updated parawing, it's out there in Utube land. I liked the Chimera as well, I'm sure the $$$ for the hollow one will be out of my range.
As I'm riding North foils, I was stoked on the super slippery 72 CM UHM, I've been requesting that for awhile.

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Shlogger said..

crakas said..
What happened to Naish dropping all their new gear on the 4th of September? Failure to launch?

I was curious about the new ADX, but didn't really see any info other than a few seconds of Ewan picking up a tiny 2m. Also saw a 3 strut 6m wing in the background during Robby's interview.

The new Chimera board looks great.

There was a small segment on their updated parawing, it's out there in Utube land. I liked the Chimera as well, I'm sure the $$$ for the hollow one will be out of my range.
As I'm riding North foils, I was stoked on the super slippery 72 CM UHM, I've been requesting that for awhile.

I'm currently riding a North 85cm HM mast with a SF1230 and am curious about the track positioning on the new Chimera and if it will be compatible with the North foils as I have found I have to run it at the front of the box on my Fanatic board.