We started our foiling love affair at a time when trying to get a kite-foil was literally like searching for hens' teeth. So, like many before, the choice was to build instead of attempting to buy. That first hydrofoil build led to the next and the next and the next. Much was learnt from kite-foiling and tow-foiling experimentation. By the time Kai Lenny got us all excited about downwind ocean foiling, the possibilities became more apparent. That was when our first surf-foils hit the water. Soon, we had excited surfers and stand-up paddle boarders foiling beach breaks across Southern Africa and frothing about their joys! Not long thereafter, the niche down-wind foiling scene in South Africa had a number of older ones that could have been Kai Lenny's parents successfully foiling downwind off Cape Town with the Cape Doctor (SE wind) blowing on their backs. Then came the "wing thing", which is now handheld, instead of the bar and lines associated with kites. It makes a lot of sense and its easier to get into foiling that way. Our big downwind foils work very well for this and clients often tell us of how they were the only ones able to get foiling in light wind conditions. So, we have developed a bunch of foils, but always with the idea to make foiling easier and more fun.We want to share the joy of flying above water. 

Foil-Smart is a South African company that is based in Knysna (a coastal town located on a stunning lagoon and minutes away from surf spots like the Knysna Heads and Buffels Bay). Knysna is situated between Cape Town and Jeffrey's Bay). We have combined  our love for water sports and foiling experience with top-quality materials and innovative techniques to create these hand-crafted foils. 

Designed, tested and built by  hydrofoilers for hydrofoilers.  Yes, we produce every one of our own foils. Ours foils are NOT built in Asia or China. No automation, no AI, no child labour. We literally shed blood, sweat and tears - raw carbon fibre cuts like a hot knife through butter. But, most of the time, it's tears of joy in producing our foils by hand. 

We are based on a lagoon that allows year-round foil testing as we research and develop foils. The Indian and Atlantic ocean swells roll up on our shoreline, allowing for testing foils in varied surf conditions from two different oceans.

Foil-Smart is about opening the thrilling world of foiling up to the broadest spectrum of sportsmen and -women who share a passion for water and the ocean. 

We want you to experience the new world of foiling and get a #foilsmile.

Give us a call (Whatapp calls work well) and we can hopefully get you excited about foiling too.