Foil Life Podcast by SFT

This episode is brought to you by Villa Carina Apartments in beautiful Bonaire. 

In this episode, we catch up with Kiran Verma, a passionate pro wing foiler and content creator from Australia's Sunshine Coast. Joining Luc from across the globe, Kiran shares his inspiring journey into the sport at age 37, his recent switch to North gear, and the highs of pushing limits in a rapidly evolving industry. From mastering foil slides to dissecting his favorite setups, Kiran offers an honest look at what it takes to progress, the joy of community connections, and the transformative power of foiling at any age.
  • Journey into Foiling: Kiran reflects on starting wing foiling later in life, now at 41, and how it changed everything—from traveling to places like Cape Verde, Fiji, Mauritius, Brazil, and Chile, to embracing rejection and training harder. He emphasizes the mental freedom of pursuing passion without caring about judgments, and how foiling has brought happiness despite life's demands.

  • Switching to North Gear: Kiran details his transition to North after positive experiences with their foils, highlighting the SF-530 for tight turns and the SF-680 for versatile light-wind performance. He praises the brand's receptiveness, community support (like backing Max Robinson and We Can Foil), and gear like the 55L Swell board, while sharing how video analysis helped refine his riding.

  • Gear Breakdown and Tips: Diving into his go-to setup—a 680 front wing, 145 stabilizer, 60cm fuse, and 85cm mast—Kiran explains why he sticks to minimal changes for consistency. He discusses foil slides inspired by riders like Cash Berzolla, the appeal of short boards for prone foiling, and why foiling appeals to the 40-70 age group with its technical, accessible nature.

  • Community and Growth: The duo explores the sport's potential to go mainstream, comparing it to golf for its niche appeal and inclusivity. Kiran stresses the need for more entry-level programs to grow foiling beyond the elite, the role of small brands in innovation, and how sessions clear the mind like nothing else.

  • Future Plans: Kiran teases upcoming trips, possibly to Morocco for right-handers or Cape Town for King of the Air, plus content on learning new tricks like one-hand grabs. He hints at deeper involvement with North's R&D and a desire to see foiling explode in popularity.

    Follow Kiran - https://www.instagram.com/kv_foil/

Creators and Guests

Host
Luc Moore
I started windsurfing in 2012, a year after my brother and I visited Kauai, Hawaii. In 2009 I was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident that required two intensive surgeries to stabilize my pelvis. Three years later, I was still heavily engaged in rehab, but I had been cleared to walk by my orthopedic surgeon, so we finally decided to visit the islands. My brother had just started windsurfing, so we started looking online for gear for him, and we came across a woman selling late her husband's equipment. She recounted to us that his life had been spent on the ocean. As a pro windsurfer, his love and passion for the sport were undeniable. At that point, I thought I could try this sport and carry on his legacy of love for the water and wind if I worked hard enough. Initially, I couldn't ride with my harness on without experiencing terrible low back pain. I was terrified of the water, knew nothing about wind, and if I got moving at any speed, scenes of my accidents would replay in my mind, which lasted for years. It took a lot of work to differentiate fact from fiction. To add to this mess of emotions, numerous specialists and acquaintances had repeatedly told me that I was now broken. I could never jog pain-free again, let alone enjoy pain-free sports. They told me to accept that as my truth and to move on. My mom and brother helped me keep going as our shared passions, and family support helped me overcome obstacles. The pure joy I felt with my continued progress on the water helped those wounds begin to heal. In time, windsurfing felt so good physically and psychologically that it would bring me to tears on the water. I would spend hours practicing the basics and quickly improve. This sport was one of the catalysts that helped accelerate my healing process. When my skills had reached the great lake level, I started sailing with my neighbour Danny. He is one of the best windsurfers in eastern Ontario and travels worldwide, pursuing his passion in his spare time. In 2018 when Wing Foiling first came out, I quickly felt like this sport would take my love for wind and water to the next level. Our Co-Host Tom helped me find gear and gave me my first intro lesson! I quickly picked up the sport and learnt the basics. I then contacted some kite schools on Vancouver Island (Elevation Kiteboarding & Windrider Kiteboarding) and started teaching for them! Shortly after, Tom and I created the Wing Life podcast to help share our stoke and knowledge of wind sports with others.

What is Foil Life Podcast by SFT?

Welcome to the Foil Life Podcast by SFT, the official podcast of the Surf Foil World Tour! Join us as we dive into the exhilarating world of foiling, covering five core disciplines—pump foiling, surf foiling, e-foiling, wake foiling, and downwind SUP foiling—plus the dynamic art of wing foiling. From expert tips, exclusive updates from the Surf Foil World Tour, and inspiring stories of athletes, innovators, and passionate riders to gear release and review episodes where we talk with top brands about the latest innovations hitting the market, we’re your ultimate source for all things foil. Whether you’re honing your skills, planning epic foil adventures, or geeking out on cutting-edge gear, tune in for unmatched stoke and insights.