157 - Kai Thompson

157 - Kai Thompson

Author: Erik Antonson October 8, 2025 Duration: 1:16:09
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.

Hosted by Erik Antonson, The Progression Project is a business podcast built on the idea that meaningful growth is a deliberate process, not an accident. Each conversation moves beyond surface-level success stories to examine the practical mechanics of advancement-how individuals and organizations actually build momentum, navigate setbacks, and refine their strategies over the long term. Antonson guides discussions that are less about a final destination and more about the incremental steps, the mindset shifts, and the often-overlooked details that collectively define a trajectory. You’ll hear from a diverse range of voices, from seasoned executives and entrepreneurs to thinkers exploring the psychology of performance, all focused on the tangible aspects of moving forward. This podcast is for anyone who views their career or venture as a work in progress and is looking for substantive, nuanced dialogue to inform that journey. The aim is to provide listeners with actionable perspective and a deeper understanding of the forces that enable true progression in the complex world of business.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Progression Project
Podcast Episodes
149 - Voyagers Sim and Kahi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:03
Simeon and Kahi from the Voyager Foil Camps (@voyager_foiler) come back on the show after a year of running camps to share what they've learned from coaching downwind.
148 - Zane Westwood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:34
Zane Westwood (@zane_westwood) comes back on the show to recap his last year, the Foil Fest event that he's running, how his downwind boards have evolved, and other foil awesomeness.
147 - David Galvin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:19
Dave Galvin (@daveinflux) is a passionate waterman, foil frother, and competitive downwind foil racer. He began his career as a UCI professional cyclist, racing for BMC Racing Team in the U.S. and Europe, and also worked…
146 - Balz Muller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:14
Balz Muller (@radiculo) might be the most progressive foiler on the planet. He's also the most stoked and it's infectious. In this episode Balz talks about his new love of the parawing, the rapid progression in wing foil…
145 - Ed Junquet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:30
Ed Junquet is a foil surfer from New Jersey who has pioneered his coastline. He has competed in downwind races around the world and shares his experiences and knowledge learned along the way. Ed rides for Green Hat surf…
144 - Eric Christensen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:01
Eric Christensen (@ericfoil) is a foil surfer from Texas, maybe the first. Eric loves all aspects of foiling, prone, downwind, wing and towing, and most of the spots and runs he's doing, he pioneered. This is his 3rd tim…
143 - Clifford Coetzer on the Evolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:53
Cliffy and Erik break down the design and testing process for the Evolution foils that just released. They discuss how the design game has changed in the last two years, what precision is now needed in the prototype proc…
142 - Ziggy Alberts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:32
Ziggy Alberts is an Australian musician and lifelong waterman with a love foiling and twin-fins. In this episode we explore the relationship between music and surfing, the feelings foiling and playing huge crowds, tour l…
141 - Zeke Lau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:00
Zeke Lau (@zekelau) is a professional surfer from Hawaii. He's a 2x Sunset Pro champ and won the US Open of Surfing and The Ultimate Surfer. In 2018 Zeke started prone foiling and then this year he's taken on downwind. T…
140 - Edo Tanas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:36
Edo Tanas (@whoedo) is the current world champ in downwind foiling winning both the M2O and M2M this year. This episode is an inside look at what creates a champion, his olympic wind surfing goals, transition to foiling,…