162 - Alex Aguera

162 - Alex Aguera

Author: Erik Antonson January 28, 2026 Duration: 1:18:40
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.

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: 100

The Progression Project
Podcast Episodes
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,…
139 - Andrew Sayre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:39
Andrew Sayre is a Hood River based foiler who describes himself as jack of all trades, professional at none. From Rhode Island, a sailor, surfer and backcountry skier who made his way to the Gorge via an extended stint i…
138 - Cash Berzolla [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:09
Cash Berzolla is an 18-year-old waterman from Maui who is currently leading progression in wing foiling. He's recently released "Cash" a short film showcasing his foiling in South Africa. In this podcast we discuss his e…
137 - Dave Kalama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:29
Living legend Dave Kalama returns to discuss his current mindset, how downwind as a sport is progressing, how good ideas can be missed, the evolution of design and his battle to love high aspect foils.
136 - Steve Tobis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:13
Steve Tobis returns to discuss the race scene in maui and the upcoming M2M and M20, foil design and testing we've been doing with UniFoil, board design trends and training for downwind.
135 - Charles Dasher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:57
Charles Dasher, also known as Dasher (@dasherfilms), runs a wing foil camp in Bonaire. With a lifelong passion for chasing wind, he has a background in windsurfing and is an early adopter of wing foiling. He is also a vi…