Podcast
The XFoils Podcast
Hosted by The Xfoils · EN
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.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Case #63 – Dialing the Details with Paul Cooper (FoilDrive)
Feb 2400:56:50Tap to summarizeIn 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 all about those small percentage gains—the little tweaks that add up to smoother, more efficient sessions. Do all the upgrades, do none of them, and you’ll still have fun on a FoilDrive—but for the gear nerds chasing performance, this chat is full of useful takeaways.Paul’s also heading to Puerto Rico next week to get some sessions in with us before we all roll into the FSRL in Cocoa Beach on March 6th. Should be a good run.🎙️ 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
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Case #62 – New Logo, New Foils, New Co-Host
Feb 1901:21:56Tap to summarizeSo 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 Beach with Billy and the Good Breeze crew. Walt will be joining us for the first time! We will have a smash burger XFoils style get together, stay tuned for the day/ time and location. Im stoked to be participating with the North crew this event again this year. We also get to pull the curtain back a bit on an F4 foil designed specifically for the Gorge. Walt gets to catch Chris up on what the design feels should be for this new, yet-to-be-named Gorge foil we’re really excited to bring to life. Oh, and yeah… we’ve got a new X-Foils logo and branding to show off.Its all THERE!Just a fun studio catch-up with plenty of froth.🎙️ 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
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Case #61 – F-One’s Big Shift: New Connection, Better Feels
Feb 901:07:35Tap to summarizeIn 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 eyebrows among their loyal following. Julien sums it up well: “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” This new connection isn’t about trend-hopping — it’s about stiffness, better feedback, and a more modern response as foiling continues to push into higher loads and higher speeds.We talk about why the change, the engineering challenges behind it, and how important it is to listen to the community during a shift this big. For F-One, the new connection had to be a net positive for all users — stronger, stiffer, and with better feel than the Titan interface — to stay relevant in an ever-evolving foil landscape.A refreshingly honest chat about feel, performance, and what it takes to future-proof a system while keeping customers onboard.🎙️ 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
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Case #60 – New Foils, New Feels
Jan 1301:07:30Tap to summarizeCase 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 recap and share how it’s been fitting into sessions lately.Classic X-Foils van chat energy.🎙️ 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
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Case 59: Kai Dog
Jan 501:42:53Tap to summarizeIn 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 touch on parts of his journey, how he found his way into foiling, and what shapes his approach today. It’s not a full deep dive (yet), but an introduction to someone with a lot of experience and insight in the sport.Consider this one the start of the conversation, not the end of it.🎙️ 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
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Case #58 – The Year of Tech (and Talking Sh*t)
Dec 2501:04:07Tap to summarizeWalt 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 where we hope foiling is headed next. No agenda, no guests—just end-of-year vibes, laughs, and honest takes.This is our Christmas / end-of-the-year special, and most importantly, a big thank you. We genuinely love this community and appreciate everyone who listens, supports, and keeps the stoke alive.🎄❤️ See you next year.🎙️ 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 cannot support us with buying merch or gear and want to support us: here is out buy me a coffee link. Think of it as investing in the future of foiling with us! Love you guys!buymeacoffee.com/Xfoils📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils
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Case 57: Just the Boys: Reviews + Catch-Up
Nov 2501:08:01Tap to summarizeIt’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 talk everyone’s been asking for. Always a good time catching up with Walt.🎙️ 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📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils
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Case #56 - Unapologetically North: Mike Raper in the Van
Nov 1800:38:09Tap to summarizeIn 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 what North has been up to, some of the standouts in the current range, and how the brand continues to push design and performance forward. Mike’s schedule during AWSI is chaos, so we’re stoked we managed to sneak him in for a van chat between meetings and demos.Short, fun, and full of North energy.🎙️ 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.comBoost Trench and FD masts with us. 📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils#XFoils #Case56 #MikeRaper #NorthFoils #NorthKiteboarding #FoilTalk #AWSI #FoilDesign #Wingfoil #Kitefoil #N1SurfShop
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Case 55 - Ever Evolving: KT Lineup with Keith Teboul
Nov 700:25:21Tap to summarizeIn 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 philosophies driving KT forward.We talk about how performance goals, materials, and feel all come together in the shaping bay, and how Keith keeps evolving his boards to match the fast-moving foiling and surf scenes. Keith also shares how important worldwide feedback is to the process—while Maui is an incubator for some of the best designs in the world, the KT crew stays tuned in globally to avoid making boards that feel “Maui-specific.”With an amazing team of riders and testers providing constant, honest feedback, Keith continues to fine-tune the balance between art, innovation, and performance.It’s a refreshing look at what’s coming, how it rides, and what makes KT’s gear stand out in today’s lineup.🎙️ 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📲 Follow along: @TheXFoils
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Case 54: The Frigate Formula -Test Pilot and Designer Nicolas Caillou
Oct 2800:46:39Tap to summarizeIn 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 designs. Where most brands need both a test pilot and an engineer, Nicolas is both.We focus this chat on the F-One Frigate, its development, and what makes it stand out in the growing parawing world. But honestly, we wish we had hours just to talk to Nicolas the person, because there are so many layers to what he does — from R&D to marketing, innovation, and his constant drive to make products that are high-performance, reliable, and fun.It’s a rare glimpse into the mind of one of foiling’s most technical yet passionate designers — and how science and feel come together to make flight possible.🎙️ 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.📲 Follow along: @Thexfoils#XFoils #Case55 #Fone #FrigateParawing #NicolasCaillou #Zeeko #FoilDesign #FoilTalk #FoilingInnovation #Parawing
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