Pedro has known Ryu since he was three or four years old—the son of a close friend—and first filmed him at nine or ten. Just a few years later the two were in the lineup together at Teahupo’o. They break down the trip: staying at local legend Matahi Drollet's place (who also foils), dealing with wind that could drop from 20 knots to under 10 in minutes, shallow reef, shifting currents, and powerful waves that looked smaller on camera than they felt underfoot. Ryu competed in SFT’s Tahitian Foil Festival, then headed straight to Maui for the downwind season, where he finished 36th overall among 81 competitors and clocked a 1:42:14 Maui-to-Molokai crossing, plus a 23rd-place Molokai-to-Oahu result (5th in the 19-and-under division). They talk gear (Armstrong, mostly smaller/mid-aspect foils for speed while still holding high speed), learning from teammates like Cash, Oscar, and Axel, and the difference between having fun and forcing progression. Pedro also shares why foiling opens up more compositional possibilities than pure surfing when shooting, what it means to document athletes living their passion, and why Japan (quiet, safe, and well-located for travel to Tahiti and Hawaii) has been home for over 20 years after growing up in Sydney.
Episode Highlights:
- Pedro first filming Ryu at 9–10 and the shock of sharing the lineup at Chopu only a few years later
- Staying with Matahidrole and the local knowledge that made the Chopu mission possible
- Riding powerful 4–6 ft sets on a shallow reef with rapidly shifting wind
- Competing in the Tahitian Foil Festival at 14
- Maui downwind results: 36th of 81, 1:42:14 Maui-to-Molokai, 23rd Molokai-to-Oahu (5th U19)
- Armstrong gear choices and learning from Cash, Oscar, Axel, and the rest of the team
- Why mid-aspect foils are Ryu’s go-to for both wing and prone so he can surf the wing
- Pedro on filming composition with foilers vs. pure surfers, and documenting people who live for the ocean
- Life in Japan (Chiba), the sushi, and why it’s a perfect base for trips to Tahiti and Hawaii
- Future ideas, including a possible shoot in Mauritius
Catch the full story and imagery in the next issue of Foiling Magazine on Nov 12.