Downwind

Foiling downwind by catching open-ocean or coastal swell, usually paddling up on a long, narrow downwind board (SUP paddle) or increasingly with a Parawing. A dominant through-line of the catalogue’s later years, from the hosts declaring themselves “downwinderers now” (Ep 74) onward.

• Deep-dive coaching from James Casey on how to downwind (Ep 17) and from the Voyager Foiling crew via Simeon Ke-Paloma (Ep 96).
• The Molokai 2 Oahu race and Hawaiian race series recur as reference points (Ep 40, Ep 112, Ep 136).
• World-record and big-send stories: Olivia Piana’s downwind record (Ep 58) and Guy Bridge’s south-coast “Big Send” (Ep 145).
• The Parawing vs downwind-SUP debate is a running argument (Ep 108, Ep 109).
• By 2026 the hosts reckon parawing has “murdered” downwind paddle foiling for the masses — cheap carbon downwind boards (~€600, near cost) sit unsold, though the committed few still do it (Ep 147).
• Racing as the sport’s “F1” (Ep 147): the season’s first Hawaiian downwind race was won by Edo Tanas (Kai second) — riding F4 foils, not sponsor Slingshot’s (who lacked a downwind foil in time). F4 dominated the field the way Axis had the year before; Armstrong and F-One are seen as “backing away” from the race/downwind niche.

Ripple additions (batch 2, 2026-07-20)

• Keahi De Aboitiz (Ep 6), newer to downwind himself, describes bump-linking as almost the reverse of wave foiling — watch for the next bump behind the one you’re on, since it draws water off the one in front. Rates Hood River ideal because an outgoing tide against the wind stacks the bumps.
• Klaas Voget (Duotone, Ep 73) found his first downwind winter humbling but rewarding; prefers a hardboard for weight/performance but rates Duotone’s inflatable downwind board for ding-resistance and value.
• Julien Salles (F-One, Ep 47): downwinding is, for him, better than pure surfing; F-One’s new Jam wing series (1900 dock-start / 1600 to-learn) is built specifically for downwind learners.
• Tiesda You (Starboard, Ep 110): the parawing is currently an accessory to downwind foiling rather than its own discipline; cites an optimised MF downwind prototype tuned to casual wing-foiling speeds (19-24 knots).
• Dave Kalama (Ep 142) has downwinded ~10 years on Maui, rides F4 Orca 685 for group crossings; advises beginners ride a longer board while learning fundamentals rather than a short ‘crossover’ board.
• Mike Raper (North, Ep 24) confirms North has a downwind board-and-foil programme in active development.