Struggling to nail your dock starts or pump beyond 30 seconds? Gael Daniele knows the frustration—and shares what helped him break through.

In this episode of FOILERS, Pete Walmsley chats with foiler, YouTuber and gear reviewer Gael Daniele about his journey from learning to foil on mountain lakes to making a living testing foiling equipment.

Gael breaks down the foundations of dock starting, how to choose a setup that suits your size and ability, and why a bigger foil isn’t always easier. He also explains how hip movement and timing can help you move beyond short bursts of pumping and start building efficiency and distance.

We also go behind the scenes of gear reviews to explore what makes a fair comparison and the challenges of sharing honest opinions. Along the way, we discuss the appeal of parawinging and SUP downwinding, and how foil assist can help riders build skills across disciplines.

Whether you’re learning your first dock start or looking for your next challenge, this episode is packed with practical advice for making more of your time on the water.

What happens when a casual catch-up with a few foiling mates grows into a four-day festival?

In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, Pete chats with Marty, event director of the Great Southern Foil Fest and one of the people behind the new Western Australia Foil Association (WAFA).

Returning to Denmark, Western Australia, from 15–18 October 2026, the festival brings together competition, gear demos, social foiling and a whole lot of froth—with more than $16,000 in prizes up for grabs.

Marty shares his journey from surfing and kitesurfing to prone foiling, what he learnt from organising the inaugural festival last year and what’s planned for this year. We discuss prone, foil assist and tow foiling, opportunities for downwinding, and why you don’t need to compete to get plenty out of the weekend.

We also explore how WAFA came together, why membership matters, and how local events can help riders progress, build friendships and grow the sport.

Whether you’re an experienced foiler, finding your feet or simply curious, this is a great introduction to a great bunch of people who are bringing the foiling community together.

Register for the festival and join WAFA: wafoil.org.au

Hugh Mitchell returns to the FOILERS Podcast with plenty happening behind the scenes.

From emerging technology and testing new equipment concepts to racing, filmmaking and the growing Western Australian foiling scene, Hugh has found himself at the centre of some fascinating developments.

He joins Pete to discuss what he's been testing, ideas that could shape where foiling goes next, his move to Appletree, the latest products from CODE Foils, and more.

It’s an open and revealing conversation about innovation, change, risk, and how foiling continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace.