Foil S/S 2025 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Wingfoiling and downwind SUP foiling are driving growth of the foils business, making water sports accessible to many more. By Rocio Enriquez.
The increased riding availability that foils have opened up in the water sports scene have changed the market. It has widened the demographic, and most importantly, promoted a fluidity in consumers behaviour. There are less ‘windsurfers’, ‘kiters’ or ‘stand up paddlers’, and more ‘watermen’ and ‘waterwomen’, ready to shift from one sport to another according to the conditions of the day. Not all sports have the same popularity though. Although there is interest in wind foiling, surf foiling and kite foiling, they seem to be more niche. The two sports driving foil sales are wing foiling and downwind foiling. It is hardly surprising that wing foiling has convinced so many, it is very easy to learn, and the compact material is very portable, making the sport very accessible to any age, gender and skill level. The possibility to ride in any water and wind conditions seals the deal. Downwind foiling has benefitted from innovation that makes the gear more advanced and user friendly. It also offers great value, as downwind boards can double up as light wind wing foiling boards.
Foils
High aspect foils top the bestsellers charts. The latest generations are easier to ride than their predecessors thanks to innovative designs. “Many more riders can experience a high aspect foil than before”, says Kjell van Sice from Armstrong. It becomes a versatile option for many skill levels, as users can advance their riding by simply expanding with a bigger front or back wing.
Naish, Levitaz, and Armstrong report their best sales in their high aspect range. Other high aspect best sellers are Indiana’s Kondor XL and 1396P, Neilpryde’s Glide Swift Carbon, NSP’s Riblets, and SPG’s Glide-R range. This does not mean that medium and low aspect foils are discarded. The stability and ease of lift that these shapes provide are still relevant. Surfers like the fast take-off regardless of surf conditions, and the smooth transition from straight riding to turning. Neilpryde’s Glide Surf HP and Sic Maui’s Flite have sold well for this reason. Entry level riders also seek the ease of lift and the possibility to progress in their riding with the same foil.
Mistral has done very well in the extreme sizes of their medium aspect Sultan, the 2100 and the 880. Liquid Force names their Launch Foil 120 kit as their bestseller. “Our design focus is a stable and predictable lift profile that complements the rider as they develop”, says Nathan Dodd.
We observe two main trends in foil construction, one in materials and one in design. The use of high modulus carbon is becoming widespread. “With carbon it is easy to reduce the thickness of the stabs, especially on the front wings”, explains Stephane Mocher from Select. The strength-to-weight ratio of this material results in more responsive and durable foils. Aluminium is not going anywhere though. Masts and fuselages made with this material offer some advantages, like the ability to withstand extreme loads in pump foils, or their more appealing entry-price. Designs are prioritising speed and manoeuvrability, with optimised hydrodynamic constructions that reduce drag and increase lift. These designs are also proving versatile, offering a broader range of use. The goal is that the user can achieve with one foil what they previously needed two foils for. This is the mindset behind the trending modular systems that allow riders to swap masts, fuselages, and front or back wings to adapt to different environments and skill levels. A rising trend is the evolution of downwind boards that are driving the development of super wide foils built for long glides.
There are many stand-out products that reflect these trends on offer for 2025. Indiana presents two new foils with the Monobloc system. “The Monobloc System integrates the front wing with the front part of the fuselage”, says Gunnar Biniasch. The Barracuda has a 10.6 high aspect ratio that appeals to riders looking for ultimate speed and glide. At 7.5 aspect ratio, the Marlin is fast, agile, and very easy to handle, making it a perfect all-rounder foil. They also present two new masts made with high modulus carbon, the Drive and the Lightning.
Neilpryde highlights two models. The Glide Swift Carbon is an all-round foil for wing foiling. It features an innovative rounded delta middle section and high aspect wings that provide early lift, easy control, and exceptional glide performance. The Glide Swift Alu combines an aluminium mast and fuselage with carbon front and back wings. “The Glide Swift Alu delivers a harmonious balance between performance and affordability”, says Hendrik Holzhauer. Armstrong make all their front foils and stabilisers from carbon, but they have introduced aluminium alloy for the first time with the new Alloy System mast and fuselage. NSP adds a new member to the Airwave Riblet wing series. The new FW825 wing is engineered for added manoeuvrability and high-speed control.
Select continues to push their Goliath range made entirely of high modulus carbon. Sic Maui expands their Slash series. “We added a smaller Slash 600 front wing, specifically designed for speed and slalom”, announces Casi Rynkowski. It complements the recently released 750 and 900 designs which, although dedicated primarily to speed in wing foiling, are also suitable for surf foiling. The 600 and the 750 are also adaptable for kite foiling. This is how Sic Maui shows their commitment to versatility. They are also very excited to introduce a Slash HM mast in 110 and 900, made with high modulus carbon. Inside the sleek 13mm thickness profile is a carbon beam that enhances stiffness without compromising weight. It significantly reduces drag and improves control during sharp turns. The 900 size is perfect for downwind sailing with a 900 high aspect front wing, and for wing foiling with a 600-front wing.
Levitaz introduces the R6 Race Series, optimised for competitive racing with less drag and more lift. Horue has introduced prepreg ultra-high modulus carbon in the mast and front wing to improve efficiency, glide, and stiffness. Naish highlights the Glider HA, this is a newly designed pump foil that specialises in dock starts and low-effort, light wind downwinding. The large wingspan and high aspect ratio provide high lift and low stall speed, enabling effortless pump and long-distance gliding. They have designed a new ‘Hammer Head’ fuselage front wing connection to accommodate this larger wingspan. Combined with expansion foam core constructions with UD and 3K carbon layup, it provides great stiffness at a low weight. Liquid Force has redesigned their Stratus and Horizon foils to add the Fuselock system. The Stratus Fuselock foil offers minimal connection points and hardware, making it very easy to use. The Horizon Fuselock foil keeps the DNA of the original version, adding adjustments to make the foil more stable, controllable and with even more glide. SPG announces some exciting plans for their 2025 foil lineup, with some additions targeted to the race scene, and some progressive new all-rounder designs. A lot of their focus is on a rigid and durable, yet super-efficient, mast.
Boards
The idea of a one board quiver is an appealing one. Versatile boards have led the sales in the foiling scene. Carbon constructions have convinced many with their optimal balance of strength and weight. Longer downwind foiling shapes have been on high demand, partly because they can double up as a light wind wing foiling board. Affordability secures the flow of newcomers into the sport. Foil board production echoes these trends. Boards are getting narrower and longer. With new materials and constructions, you don’t need to have that much width to create stability. Many riders seem more interested in long glides than in pulling off radical moves, and a narrower board moves through the water faster with less input. The demand for stronger and lighter boards is driving the use of carbon. Nonetheless, the standard wood sandwich construction remains available for the sake of affordability. Sustainability is an important factor. Consumers reward eco-friendly materials and production methods.
The foil board offer for 2025 meets the current demands with existing and new models. Duotone introduces the Skybrid SLS, a hybrid between a downwinder and a classic wing foiling shape. This new mid-length board features a longer and narrower outline, while maintaining a wider nose and tail. The longer carbon foil tracks keep it light and increase adjustability, enabling early flight in light winds and easy take-off with smaller foils. JP pushes their bestselling X-Winger and the recently introduced R-Winger for light wind. The X-Winger is an all-rounder wing board suitable for freeride, freestyle, wave riding and easy cruising. “The R-Winger represents a significant evolution for light wind or small foil wing foiling enthusiasts”, says Hendrik Holzhauer.
Sic Maui presents the Künalu, a downwind specialist, the flat section bottom with a tail wedge enhances initial stability whether in flat water or swell. Increased volume toward the tail ensures stability, while the thinned-out nose minimises the swing rate for agile manoeuvres. It provides the sensation of a short board’s manoeuvrability and control. The Künalu has a custom carbon PVC construction. Another addition to the narrow foil board family is the Ka’a mid-length. It is designed to minimise drag and maximise hull speed, especially in light winds. Naish pushes two models, one for downwind and another one for wing foiling. The Hover Downwind has a maximised waterline and bevelled rails that optimise the momentum with each paddle stroke. This enables directional stability and lift-off with maximum ease. The Hover Ascend Carbon Ultra for wing foiling has a thinner parallel outline and increased waterline that makes it possible to get on the foil with minimal effort. The smaller sizes have a flat tail rocker, while the larger ones feature a tail kick that allows them to double up as SUP foil boards.
Horue has released two new ranges, the Tamaris and the Marara, both in full carbon construction. Tamaris is prone surfing and wing foil oriented, with foot strap plugs. It offers a very early take-off and no drag. Marara is their downwind offer. It has a full carbon sandwich construction with thin pads that makes it very stiff and light. Appletree’s flagship board is the V3 Slice, but they are also hoping to see some good results with their specialised Skipper Downwind and Skipper DW Prone. “All Appletree boards are produced in our own facilities in Portugal using a vacuum-infused technology developed in-house”, says co-founder Wieger Buurma. A hydrophobic foam is covered by layers of pure carbon fibre and infused with just the right amount of epoxy, achieving a stiff and responsive construction. Appletree’s range of foil boards is called Futurama, and splits in three segments. The short models are for surf, the mid-length ones are for wing foiling, and the larger models are for light wind wing foiling and downwind SUP. For beginners, they have the Futurama starter.
NSP continues to expand their downwind category with the soon to be released BlueFin by Alain Teurquetil. “Heavily inspired by our downwind Sonic race boards, the BlueFin carries a lightweight full carbon fibre shell”, says Jarra Mate. Levitaz highlights their Boom Race Series designed for competitive racing and high-speed cruising. The lightweight yet robust build with carbon fibre enhances agility and speed.
SPG is testing a new downwind design, the Pegasus Pro, that they plan to release next season. They are also working on a new wing foiling range of boards that targets early lift and progressive riding. Indiana pushes their new super light Magic 83 and 95 pump foil boards. Mistral offers smaller models to suit grommets that want to advance on to higher winds, and longer, narrower boards for the light wind and prone downwind riders. Force has two highlights, their popular Nebula has received a facelift to make this all-round wakeboard even better. The new X Foil Board has an increased volume and base profile to pop you straight back on after big airs.
Sustainability
Wherever possible, brands are choosing eco-friendly materials to build their boards, respecting the quality standards that they require. Sustainability is a hot topic for foiling consumers and brands do not miss a chance to implement it in any area possible especially in production methods. Observing waste management, using renewable energy, and choosing locations that are closer to their markets, offer great results. The use of plastic in packaging is minimised, replaced by recycled materials or no packaging at all. Quality of the product is important too, as a truly sustainable product is a durable one.
Retailer Support
Retailers can expect support from brands in many forms. Apart from marketing assets to use in-store and online, brands will be making noise in social media through their action content and team rider endorsements. Retailers will find a network of sales reps and distributors ready to offer local support in their areas. Ordering systems are made easier with B2B platforms that enable immediate information about stock. There are also many educational resources to train staff about the product they are selling. Demo events will allow final customers to test the gear before they buy. Most brands offer two order and delivery options. Larger orders can be placed pre-season to secure inventory and a higher margin. It is also possible to order smaller quantities in-season through readily available stock that can be delivered fast, and in some cases drop-shipped to final customers. These options allow retailers to choose how to manage their stock levels while securing availability of stock anytime of the year. This will allow them to focus on what they love most, the sale to the final customer.
Brand Previews
