Advertise on podcast: The Progression Project

On this episode of the Progression Project, I sit down with filmmaker and passionate foiler Tim Major to talk about his new documentary, Learning to Fly. Tim shares the incredible journey of creating the film, from interviewing some of the world's best foilers to chasing the action across Hawaii during the Molokai 2 Oahu race. We dive into what makes the foiling community so unique, the freedom and abundance that separate it from traditional surfing, and the mindset it takes to embrace something new and be a beginner again. We also get into the evolution of foil design, the explosion of parawinging, some wild downwind adventures, and why passion projects can be so rewarding even when there's no money involved. At its heart, this conversation is about curiosity, community, and the joy of learning to fly.

Edo Tanas joins the show after an incredible Hawaiian race season capped by his third straight Molokai 2 Oahu victory. We dig into the training, mindset and equipment development behind his season, including his move to Slingshot, how his approach to fitness and recovery has evolved, and the changing technique and gear at the highest level of downwind racing. Edo also tells the wild story of his Hawaiian island-chain project—foiling from the Big Island to Maui, Maui to Oahu and Oahu to Kauai on back-to-back days, including a seven-hour stretch on foil and some genuinely sketchy moments alone in the open ocean. Then we break down this year’s brutal M2O, where Edo struggled to even get on foil at the start, watched the field disappear, and methodically worked his way back through the pack to take the win. It’s a great conversation about racing, risk, efficiency, confidence, and just how quickly downwind foiling continues to evolve.

Zeke Lau joins the Progression Project fresh off completing Hawaii's full downwind race circuit, recounting the brutal, glassy-conditions M2O where he battled cramps and serious doubt before fighting through to the finish; the conversation ranges from channel-crossing safety and gear choices to how returning to "beginner" status in foiling has reshaped his perspective on ego, fear, and joy in the water.

On this episode of the Progression Project, I sit down with Olympic BMX racer and Subi Riders founder Mark Willers (subiriders) Mark's journey took him from representing New Zealand at two Olympic Games to reimagining what foiling could become by combining it with the sport he knows best—BMX. We dive into the highs and lows of chasing an Olympic dream, the mindset required to perform at the highest level, and how that same obsession with progression led him to invent an entirely new way to ride on foil. It's a conversation about creativity, innovation, resilience, and what happens when you stop asking what exists and start building what doesn't.

Greg Drexler from Boardriding Maui joins the show for a deep dive into style, simplicity, and the evolution of wind-powered foiling. We get into Greg’s roots in windsurfing and kiting, the design philosophy behind BRM, the early days of parawings, why the new S3 became the benchmark, and how stripping gear down to its essence can unlock more freedom on the water. This one is a great look inside the mind of a designer who has helped shape kites, wings, and now parawings with a focus on feel, function, and keeping the stoke alive.

In this episode of the Progression Project, I sit down with Guillaume Collin (@gcolin.impact), an adaptive surfer, wing foiler, and engineer from the south of France. After a glider accident in 2015 left him paraplegic, Guillaume shares his journey of recovery, acceptance, and rebuilding his life around what’s still possible. We talk about how surfing and foiling brought him back to flow, freedom, and joy, along with the challenges and creativity behind adapting gear to ride at a high level. This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and finding a new path forward.

This episode is a deep dive into the current progression of foiling with one of the sport’s most exciting young riders, Mala'e Mcelheny @malae_mcelheny). We talk about how riding has evolved toward speed, flow, and strapless carving, and how downwind foiling is reshaping style across every discipline. The conversation covers everything from race strategy for Molokai to Oahu, gear choices and foil design feel, to wild open-ocean missions in heavy conditions. We also get into how today’s top riders are blending surf, winging, parawing, and downwind into a single skillset, and what that means for the future of the sport. It’s a look at where foiling is right now, where it’s going, and how the next generation is pushing it all forward.

This episode of the Progression Project Podcast features a conversation between host Erik and Kyle of Project Cedrus, exploring the rapid evolution of foil equipment and the engineering behind mast design. They dive into how stiffness, drag, and materials like carbon vs. forged aluminum affect performance, why mast design has become a major frontier in foiling, and how different disciplines—from surf to wing to downwind—drive different engineering solutions. The conversation also introduces a new collaboration between Cedrus Mast and Uni Foil, aimed at making foiling more accessible: riders can purchase gear from either brand and receive a free adapter that makes the systems compatible. Along the way they discuss manufacturing challenges, the economics of running small gear companies, and how innovation and accessibility can help grow the foiling community.

On this episode of the Progression Project, I sit down with Nick Reeser — a rising force in the world of foiling whose background blends Olympic-level sailing lineage, elite water knowledge, and a relentless drive to push limits. Growing up in a family of competitive sailors and now serving as a navigator in the United States Coast Guard, Nick brings a unique perspective on ocean conditions, performance mindset, and technical progression. We dive into his journey from competitive sailing to hydrofoiling, the crossover between sailing and downwind energy reading, and the story behind his massive Florida downwind run — including the preparation, forecasting, and mental game required to send at the highest level. This conversation explores progression, passion, and what happens when deep water experience meets cutting-edge foil performance.

In this episode of the Progression Project, Erik sits down with Alex Aguera, founder of GoFoil and one of the true originators of modern foiling, to put the real beginning of the sport on record. From hand-building the first high-lift foil for Kai Lenny in 2015 to the now-legendary sessions that sparked surf, downwind, and everything that followed, Alex shares the firsthand story behind the viral moment that changed watersports forever. The conversation traces foiling’s Maui roots, the early experiments with Kai, Laird Hamilton, and Dave Kalama, and how curiosity, engineering intuition, and the right environment collided to create an entirely new way of riding waves. Along the way, Alex dives into para-winging, Foil Drive, modern foil design, and what it feels like to watch something you helped invent reshape lives and ocean culture around the world.

In this episode, Erik sits down with returning guest Mike Pedigo for a deep, honest, and often hilarious breakdown of the parawing learning journey. From early failed attempts and full-on frustration to breakthrough moments, gear experimentation, and real-world lessons learned the hard way, this conversation covers what it actually takes to integrate parawinging into a foiling life. They dig into board design, wind requirements, safety realities, ocean versus river dynamics, harness setups, and why para winging has fundamentally changed what’s possible on marginal days—especially on angled coastlines like Florida. Along the way, they share cautionary tales, Hood River epics, training philosophy, and why being willing to “put the white belt back on” is often the key to unlocking the next level.

In this episode of the Progression Project Podcast, Erik Antonson sits down with Lucas Schuler (@foilonly) to tell an inspiring, real-life leap-of-faith story rooted in foiling, family, and purpose. Lucas shares how he walked away from a successful social media company in Germany, moved with his wife and two young kids to the Canary Islands without a clear plan, and ultimately built a new life centered around foiling—now working with Foil Drive, coaching, and chasing big downwind adventures. From 50-kilometer crossings and island life to deeper reflections on flow states, risk, skill acquisition, and trusting your intuition, this conversation goes far beyond gear talk. It’s a powerful reminder of what can happen when you fully commit to what you love—and let the process shape who you become. Hit up Lukas on instagram if you'd like to experience the Canary Islands or are looking for foil drive, wing, parawing or downwind coaching.

Erik sits down with freeride snowboarding legend and Jones Snowboards founder Jeremy Jones (@jeremyjones) to talk about how he’s become fully “foil brained” and why he sees foiling as the ultimate glide. They dive into the humbling beginner phase, flow states, and how foiling delivers big-mountain feelings with far less consequence, from Tahoe lakes to Florida downwinders. Jeremy shares how gear design can teach you, what it’s like watching his kids step into serious backcountry terrain, and how shared board sports deepen family bonds. They also touch on preparing kids for an uncertain, AI-shaped future and why following true passion—whether in the mountains, on foil, or in music—is the best long-term play.

Surf legend Gerry Lopez joins the Progression Project to talk foiling, flow, and the lifelong joy of being a beginner again. We dive into Gerry’s evolution from pioneering Pipeline to SUP, snowboarding, and now full-on foiler—unpacking how gear design serves intention, why smaller boards and foil drive setups changed his approach, and how the best surfing is a meditative state he still taps every session. He shares candid stories with Stacy Peralta, lessons from shaping, what today’s crowded Pipe looks like through his eyes, and the stoke of passing wave-riding on to his son, shaper Alex Lopez. It’s a masterclass in style, humility, and discipline—proof that chasing harmony with moving energy never gets old.

Australian downwind phenom Kai Thompson joins the Progression Project to unpack his breakout 2025 Hawaiian race season—top-five in every event and podiums in the big ones. We dive into the mindset and monster mileage that powered his leap from mid-pack to elite, including back-to-back Maliko missions, 45 km coast runs, and cross-training that would humble most athletes. Kai breaks down reading bumps vs. fitness vs. gear, shares candid lessons from M2M/M2O, and explains why start strategy and consistency win races. We also talk board/foil choices, how the Gator-style downwind boards changed his game, and why the next gear wave will push average speeds past 20 mph. If you love foiling, endurance, and the craft of getting faster, this episode is pure rocket fuel.