Episode Highlights:
- Scoring dream downwind runs on the North Shore with John John Florence, Malat A, and friends—exploring new zones, glassy conditions, and the potential for massive Northeast swells with trade winds
- Growing up in Maui's water sports mecca: boogie boarding at Sugar Cove, idolizing locals like Kai Lenny and Ridge Lenny from a young age, learning from Ho'okipa legends (Levi, Robbie, Keith, Jason Polakow), and getting mentored into the KT family early on
- Big wave experiences at Jaws: rare no-wind sessions with a tight crew (Kai, Ian Walsh, Cash, Finn, Annie), the adrenaline of paddling into 40-foot barrels, the surreal drop feeling like a skyscraper, brutal wipeouts that build confidence, and the mental game of pushing through fear with friends' encouragement
- How he joined KT: starting with windsurfing lessons from Levi, jumping ship from Ozone before they even had wings or foils, and now riding a versatile quiver like the well-rounded Nomad and Atlas series (cambered designs for low-end glide and pumping)
- Loving the all-around performance of KT foils: one-foil versatility across downwinding, prone, winging, and tow; prototype downwind boards with insane stall speeds and pumpability; excitement for upcoming gear drops
- Competing on the GWA tour: Maui crew dominance in Morocco and Cape Verde, podium finishes (2nd overall, 1st in prone), loving perfect reeling waves for big turns, airs, and slides—plus pushing windsurfing more in the future
- Parawinging fun on mid-length prototypes for nimble, surf-like feels; Olympic aspirations in wing racing with American One Racing camps; sailing background helping with technical racing knowledge
- Living in Laird Hamilton's old house for some extra "mana"; the unique Maui lifestyle where conditions dictate the day's sport (downwind, windsurf, kite, surf, prone); why water sports feel all-encompassing compared to land activities
- Foiling's future: more global accessibility (even on flat lakes), exposure beyond hotspots like Hawaii/California/Europe, and embracing innovations like foil drive for no-wind days (with a healthy respect for the prop!)
If you're into multi-discipline foiling, wingfoiling, downwind adventures, big wave stories from Jaws, growing up surrounded by legends, the evolution of brands like KT, or the pure stoke of island waterman life—this episode is packed with inspiration, real talk from the next generation, and serious foil geekery.
Catch the full conversation and follow Otis Buckingham on Instagram @otisbuckingham for his latest sessions, big airs, tow foiling, and Maui adventures. Big thanks to Otis for the insights, and stay tuned for more from the foiling world in 2026. Listen now!