The Progression Project

Erik Antonson
  • 4.9 (129)
  • Business
  • Updated Bimonthly

Podcast by Erik Antonson

  1. Aug 18

    170 - Edo Tanas

    Edo Tanas joins the show after an incredible Hawaiian race season capped by his third straight Molokai 2 Oahu victory. We dig into the training, mindset and equipment development behind his season, including his move to Slingshot, how his approach to fitness and recovery has evolved, and the changing technique and gear at the highest level of downwind racing. Edo also tells the wild story of his Hawaiian island-chain project—foiling from the Big Island to Maui, Maui to Oahu and Oahu to Kauai on back-to-back days, including a seven-hour stretch on foil and some genuinely sketchy moments alone in the open ocean. Then we break down this year’s brutal M2O, where Edo struggled to even get on foil at the start, watched the field disappear, and methodically worked his way back through the pack to take the win. It’s a great conversation about racing, risk, efficiency, confidence, and just how quickly downwind foiling continues to evolve.

    170 - Edo Tanas

  2. Jul 27

    169 - Zeke Lau M2O Post Mortem

    Zeke Lau joins the Progression Project fresh off completing Hawaii's full downwind race circuit, recounting the brutal, glassy-conditions M2O where he battled cramps and serious doubt before fighting through to the finish; the conversation ranges from channel-crossing safety and gear choices to how returning to "beginner" status in foiling has reshaped his perspective on ego, fear, and joy in the water.

    169 - Zeke Lau M2O Post Mortem

  3. Jun 30

    168 - Marc Willers

    On this episode of the Progression Project, I sit down with Olympic BMX racer and Subi Riders founder Mark Willers (subiriders) Mark's journey took him from representing New Zealand at two Olympic Games to reimagining what foiling could become by combining it with the sport he knows best—BMX. We dive into the highs and lows of chasing an Olympic dream, the mindset required to perform at the highest level, and how that same obsession with progression led him to invent an entirely new way to ride on foil. It's a conversation about creativity, innovation, resilience, and what happens when you stop asking what exists and start building what doesn't.

    168 - Marc Willers

  4. May 21

    167 - Greg Drexler

    Greg Drexler from Boardriding Maui joins the show for a deep dive into style, simplicity, and the evolution of wind-powered foiling. We get into Greg’s roots in windsurfing and kiting, the design philosophy behind BRM, the early days of parawings, why the new S3 became the benchmark, and how stripping gear down to its essence can unlock more freedom on the water. This one is a great look inside the mind of a designer who has helped shape kites, wings, and now parawings with a focus on feel, function, and keeping the stoke alive.

    167 - Greg Drexler

  5. Apr 24

    166. - Guillaume Colin

    In this episode of the Progression Project, I sit down with Guillaume Collin (@gcolin.impact), an adaptive surfer, wing foiler, and engineer from the south of France. After a glider accident in 2015 left him paraplegic, Guillaume shares his journey of recovery, acceptance, and rebuilding his life around what’s still possible. We talk about how surfing and foiling brought him back to flow, freedom, and joy, along with the challenges and creativity behind adapting gear to ride at a high level. This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and finding a new path forward.

    166. - Guillaume Colin

  6. Apr 7

    165 - Mala'e Mcelheny

    This episode is a deep dive into the current progression of foiling with one of the sport’s most exciting young riders, Mala'e Mcelheny @malae_mcelheny). We talk about how riding has evolved toward speed, flow, and strapless carving, and how downwind foiling is reshaping style across every discipline. The conversation covers everything from race strategy for Molokai to Oahu, gear choices and foil design feel, to wild open-ocean missions in heavy conditions. We also get into how today’s top riders are blending surf, winging, parawing, and downwind into a single skillset, and what that means for the future of the sport. It’s a look at where foiling is right now, where it’s going, and how the next generation is pushing it all forward.

    165 - Mala'e Mcelheny

  7. Mar 10

    164 - Kyle from Project Cedrus

    This episode of the Progression Project Podcast features a conversation between host Erik and Kyle of Project Cedrus, exploring the rapid evolution of foil equipment and the engineering behind mast design. They dive into how stiffness, drag, and materials like carbon vs. forged aluminum affect performance, why mast design has become a major frontier in foiling, and how different disciplines—from surf to wing to downwind—drive different engineering solutions. The conversation also introduces a new collaboration between Cedrus Mast and Uni Foil, aimed at making foiling more accessible: riders can purchase gear from either brand and receive a free adapter that makes the systems compatible. Along the way they discuss manufacturing challenges, the economics of running small gear companies, and how innovation and accessibility can help grow the foiling community.

    164 - Kyle from Project Cedrus

  8. Feb 26

    163 - Nic Reeser

    On this episode of the Progression Project, I sit down with Nick Reeser — a rising force in the world of foiling whose background blends Olympic-level sailing lineage, elite water knowledge, and a relentless drive to push limits. Growing up in a family of competitive sailors and now serving as a navigator in the United States Coast Guard, Nick brings a unique perspective on ocean conditions, performance mindset, and technical progression. We dive into his journey from competitive sailing to hydrofoiling, the crossover between sailing and downwind energy reading, and the story behind his massive Florida downwind run — including the preparation, forecasting, and mental game required to send at the highest level. This conversation explores progression, passion, and what happens when deep water experience meets cutting-edge foil performance.

    163 - Nic Reeser
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4.9
out of 5
129 Ratings

About

Podcast by Erik Antonson

Information

  • Creator
    Erik Antonson
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    171
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Progression Project

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