022_Kyle Maligro: Creativity and fun on the Parawing
In this episode of the Lab Rat Foiler Podcast, we sit down with ex-pro bodyboarder, lifelong ocean frother, and now dedicated parawinger Kyle Maligro. From growing up in Hawaii chasing waves on a boogie board, to a long career on the professional bodyboarding scene, Kyle has lived his life in the water. These days, he’s channeling that same passion into the world of parawinging, with unmatched creativity and stoke. We dive into Kyle’s journey from the early days of prone foiling (and the brutal wipeouts that came with it), to the discovery of wing foiling, experimenting with gear, and eventually finding the parawing as the tool that opened up new levels of freedom and fun. Kyle shares stories about the first prototypes he tried, the sessions that shaped him, and the wild experiments that only true innovators are willing to attempt. Expect plenty of laughs, tales from Hood River and Rufus downwind runs, gear insights on small boards and sinker starts techniques, and real conversations about what makes foiling such a unique community-driven sport. Whether you’re just getting into it or you’re deep into parawinging, this episode is packed with relatable stories, hard-earned lessons, and inspiration to keep pushing. Thanks for coming on Kyle and I can’t wait to bump into you around the world to share more parawing sessions! Check out his shortless session at Rufus: https://youtu.be/-WfulKQVxWA?si=oZTVT46D2wGPI6xu
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1:43:08
021_Brandon Scheid: Step by step Process to Succeed on the Parawing
In this conversation, I sit down with Brandon Scheid to explore his journey through the world of water sports, including kiteboarding, paragliding, and his newly discovered passion for parawinging. We discuss the challenges he faced after a life-altering accident, his recovery process, and how foiling played a crucial role in his healing. The conversation also dives into the evolution of parawinging, his insights on getting into the sport the right way, and the importance of setting yourself up for success, understanding gear, and overcoming the challenges beginners often face. He emphasizes the significance of choosing the right wind conditions, the flow state experienced during parawinging, and the innovations needed to enhance the experience for riders. Throughout the conversation, Brandon inspires listeners to embrace challenges and find joy in the journey of learning and mastering new skills. If you want to be inspired by this legend’s life story watch the trailer for his documentary WIND_FALL: https://vimeo.com/1032261938?fl=pl&fe=vl I learned so much from him—both on a personal level and through his experience in extreme sports. Thanks for sharing your story, brother.
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1:35:37
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1:35:37
020_Cash Berzolla: Can the Parawing Unlock a New Frontier in Big Wave Foiling?
We’re back from Hood River, and this legend inspired me to restart recording the podcast. Coming home from summer in the Gorge to winter in Australia left me feeling flat, and I was struggling to find the motivation to record again. But as soon as this ripper agreed to come on, the spark returned instantly.
On the trip, I had the chance to meet the Armstrong crew in the Gorge and watched Cash throw down some wild tricks on the parawing. Here is the Armstrong Team strike mission video at The Gorge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ8yt9gtiVg
Cash’s natural ability to get inverted was unreal to watch—by his third or fourth session, he was already pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a parawing. In this episode, we break down some of those tricks, dive into wave riding with the parawing—a discipline that’s only just beginning to be explored and is yet to be pushed to the limit—and there’s truly no better person to talk about this topic than Cash.
We also touch on Armstrong’s plans of developing a parawing and his vision for the future of power and progression of this sport. Cash, thank you for your energy, stoke, and for putting me back on track.
It was a pleasure having this conversation with you Cash. At such a young age you’ve already cemented your place as one of the true innovators of our sport. Let me know who you'd like to hear from next! Don’t forget to subscribe for more foiling tutorials, down winding tips, and parawing techniques to elevate your water sports skills.
@foilrat on Instagram
#Parawinging #Parawing #Foiling #DownWinding
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1:10:18
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019_Greg Falck from Omen Foils: Creative Mind Talks Parawinging
In this episode we talk with Greg Falck from Omen Foils (omenfoils.com). Greg has been loving riding the Parawing lately and has come up with some interesting ideas on topics like: harness connections, the use of leashes and how we can improve our stowing techniques with additional accessories.
Greg’s background as a mechanical engeneer, work experience as a Designer at Ocean Rodeo and material scientist at Aluula Composites generated many talking points about the future of Parawinging materials, what is possible, and how these product can evolve.
Greg shares great riding tips on stowing and popping up on small boards and we explore Vancouver Island's unique riding conditions. He shares his opinion on why the Parawing replaced his favorite wing and an unsusual story about Parawing safety.
Finally Greg shares more information on Omen Foil boards and detailed information on understanding swell and wave dynamics for downwinding. This episode is loaded with tons of information to help you progress your Parawing riding! It was a pleasure to talk with this data driven, analytical, creative dude! We could have continued talking for hours I think!
Michael Shephard belt clip link: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ShepherdWatersports
How to Foil Swell and Waves Better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thcqEYQ7LHA&t=3s
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1:47:30
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1:47:30
018_Bowen Dwelle: Why should wingers transition into Parawinging
In this episode, we dive into Parawinging through the lens of Bowen Dwelle, a seasoned sailor and San Francisco native with decades of experience across various wind-based sports, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, kitefoiling, and wingfoiling. His deep-rooted connection to the bay serves as a backdrop for our discussion, where we explore the foiling scene in San Francisco and the unique riding styles that Parawing is opening up.
Bowen shares his insights on the evolution of Parawing riding styles, highlighting how the sport continues to innovate and adapt, with new techniques and approaches emerging. We also cover essential gear setups, offering practical tips for those interested in exploring Parawinging coming from a winging backgorund.
As the author of the first article on Parawinging for Foiling Magazine, Bowen's expertise is further underscored by his ongoing work on a comprehensive buying guide that details various Parawing models and their distinct riding characteristics.
It was a pleasure to learn more about him and looking forward to more of these chats in person in Hood River!
Lab Rat Foiler is not just a podcast; it’s a movement toward embracing a culture of innovation and creativity in foiling. The athletes we interview are continuously pushing the boundaries of foiling, and through their stories, we aim to inspire others to take risks, experiment, and become Lab Rats in this foiling experiment.
New Zealand