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
134 - Josh Waitzkin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:45
Josh Waitzkin embodies this podcast's core themes of living a life guided by passion, deliberate practice and the art of learning, in fact, he actually wrote the book on it. Josh is an 8x US Chess Champion 2x, Tai Chi Pu…
133 - Albert Matheny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:47
Albert Matheny (@promix) is the founder of Promix Nutrition and the Soho Strength Lab. He comes on the show to discuss the specific nutrition and training demands for foiling. Albert holds a Master of Science degree in H…
132- Stacy Peralta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:11
Stacy Peralta (@stacyperalta) is a pioneer in skateboarding but defines himself as a surfer... one who is now foil brained! Stacy recounts his journey from professional athlete, to team manager, how he spotted and nurtur…
131 - Armie Armstrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:18
Armie Armstrong is the founder of Armstrong Foils and has been at the forefront of foil design and innovation from the early days. This is a wide ranging conversation, from the design process changes that lead to the new…
130 - Paul Cooper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:53
130 - Paul Cooper by Erik Antonson
129 - Greg Falck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:46
Greg is a waterman, engineer and co-founder of Omen Foils. He spent 9 years in the Canadian Military including 4 years in the Special Forces, eventually moving to the coast to pursue his dream of advancing kitesurfing th…
128 - Josh Ku [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:58
Josh Ku comes on to talk about some big changes in his foiling life and his recent dive into foildrive and hybrid foiling. Josh is legend and I couldn't be more stoked for him! No intro on this podcast, but it was record…
127 - Mike Pedigo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:58
Pedigo and Erik dive into the last 6 months of foiling... Florida's bad winter, surf pro's entry to the game, the Midlength revolution and scary moments in an airplane.
126 - Dominic Hoskyns on FoilDrive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:20
Dominic Hoskyns (@dominichoskyns) is the head of FoilDrive Europe. He's a full-on foil frother who pioneered the ladder start to pump and wake thieving. He's recently taken the leap from being a high school teacher to jo…
125 - Voyagers Simeon and Kahi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:08
Simeon (@simboogy) and Kahi (@instakahi) come on the show to announce the Voyager Downwind Camps happening this summer on Oahu and talk all things foiling.