Foiling’s frontman: Adam Bennetts spills on FLITELab*

Hold onto your masts - FLITELab* Team Rider Adam Bennetts is here to give you the lowdown on all things foiling. From breaking gear (on purpose!) to breaking new ground in innovation, Adam shares his wild ride with FLITELab*, the genius behind his signature boards, and why stiffness is king. Whether you’re a foil fanatic or just foil-curious, this Q&A is loaded with insights and a glimpse into the future of the sport.

How did you first get involved with FLITELab*, and why?
The foiling market is around 20 times the size of the eFoiling market, so the Flite team always had ambitions to tap into that with a new brand. I was already a Fliteboard ambassador and busy exploring the world of foiling, so it was a natural next step to combine our expertise and build out a whole range of boards and foils to take on the real foiling market and hopefully come out on top - just like Fliteboard has in eFoiling.

What’s a standout moment since becoming a team rider for FLITELab*?
In my opinion, the mast is the most important piece of a foil kit as it’s the backbone of the whole system. A massive standout moment for me was when I rode the very first mast. I knew we were going to blow everyone out of the water because it was so much stiffer and stabler than anything on the market.

Involvement in R&D and product development

What’s it like to be involved in the R&D process for foiling gear? How does the relationship or collaboration between riders and engineers work?
In the past, I’ve worked with designers who rely so much on computer analysis and software, and they don’t understand that these simulations are almost always wrong in a real-world environment. It’s been great working with Chris and Elliot because they can foil pretty well, and they take into consideration practical, real-world feelings instead of relying solely on computer simulations. Plus, they trust and listen to me with my very specific feedback. The mast and wing they’ve produced are incredible, it’s really cool working with them because they both get it.

What have been the biggest challenges in testing new prototypes?
Breaking new ground is always challenging, especially when you're developing products at a whole new level of construction. It took a lot of time and failed attempts to perfect the layup on both the foil gear and boards at a level that is so far above the norm. But now we have these amazing products, it was well worth the pain.

What’s a piece of equipment you’ve tested that you’re particularly proud of or excited about?
My signature boards! They’re honestly the sickest and stiffest thing I’ve ever ridden.

How do you balance pushing the limits during testing while ensuring the safety and usability of the equipment for everyday riders?
I’ve been lucky enough to have the best gang of foilers and close friends at my home break, and they’ve been instrumental in getting feedback on all our products as they’ve been developed. The guys are all different weights, styles, and abilities, and the feedback has been unbelievable. Because I push everything so hard, we also came to the realization that if I can’t break it, then it’s going to be pretty reliable for everyone else riding it.

Insights on the gear and innovations

Is there anything that sets FLITELab* products apart in the foiling market?
The stiffness of the mast and my RAW boards are pretty mind-blowing, but AMPJet is a total game-changer. It's one board for three disciplines: shortboard agility with more paddle power than a big board, epic in big waves, and it takes off in a breath of wind. I can't wait for the world to see it.

Are there any specific design elements or innovations that have made a big difference in your performance on the water?
Yes, the mast stiffness has made the whole setup so reactive and responsive, allowing me to perform at levels I didn’t even know were possible. The way we’ve done a ‘T’ shape also eliminates any movement where a fuselage would normally connect to a mast, which we see in almost all foiling brands on the market. We kind of have double the stiffness potential of the whole system with this innovation - a stiff mast and no movement.

How do you think foiling gear will evolve in the next few years, and what role will FLITELab* play in that?
I think we will see innovations in surface finish and materials that will allow for much smaller foils, producing more speed and generating more lift and glide, resulting in much higher performance.

Personal experience and philosophy

What’s been the biggest learning curve for you as a team rider and R&D tester?
How different carbon layups can change the characteristics of a foil or mast so much. It’s wild!

How do you personally stay inspired and motivated to push your limits in foiling?
I believe that one day, we’ll be able to ride the foil like we used to ride a surfboard in terms of performance maneuvers in critical parts of the wave. That’s always in the back of my mind, and every prototype I test that’s a little bit better than the last allows me to get closer to that goal. This is so motivating because it won’t be long until the lines are so blurry that the only way you’ll be able to tell if someone is surfing or foiling is the speed of the foil!

Got any tips for aspiring foilers looking to improve their riding or gear knowledge?
Buy the best gear straight away. It’s amazing how much of an advantage you’ll have if you have the stiffest, most stable, and forgiving foil setup. This also applies to the board, it’s super important to have a stiff board.

Community and advocacy

How do you see your role in promoting foiling and connecting with the broader community?
I come from professional surfing, so my goal is to showcase foiling to mainstream surfing by showing surfers that foiling is like surfing, but amplified. Foiling still has a stigma amongst surfers, and I want to break that so we can all coexist together.

What has been the most rewarding part of representing FLITELab* over the past year?
Probably the daily messages I get from random people asking when they can buy my signature products. The hype around this new brand has been unbelievable!

What’s one piece of advice you wish you had when you first started foiling?
I wish someone had told me about it earlier. So I’d say to anyone now, especially if you’re a young surfer, start foiling now, because it’s going to be, in some way or another, the future of surfing.

Favorite spot to foil, and why?
Wategos, because it’s a 3-minute ride and has almost every type of foiling wave built into one ride. Plus, it’s where I live!

Describe Adam Bennetts in 3 words.
Good vibes always.