We recognized that foiling enthusiasts face significant challenges with board transportation and storage, especially when traveling by air or arranging local transport. While inflatable boards exist as a travel solution, they often compromise performance. The Glide was developed to solve this challenge without sacrificing ride quality.

The WAKA Glide is a high performance all carbon mid-length foil board. Its designed as a one quiver board versatile in all wind conditions and perfect for wing-foilers, parawingers, and downwind enthusiasts. The unique aspect of the board is its no-compromise folding architecture that allows the board to fold on-to-itself.

Our patent-pending folding technology features an integrated living hinge crafted from kevlar and carbon composites. Unlike traditional boards or inflatable alternatives, the Glide offers premium performance without compromising on portability.

The Glide features a lightweight EPS core encased in carbon fiber construction. It uses a carbon/PVC sandwich architecture combined with a sophisticated carbon/kevlar living hinge system, ensuring exceptional durability and structural integrity. The foil tracks have structural supports from the deck to the base to increase the stiffness and quickness of the board.

For our North American launch in early summer, the Glide will be available in six sizes:

• 55L
• 66L
• 77L
• 88L
• 99L
• 111L

Future sizes in development including high-volume downwind boards. Please don't hesitate to reach our to us at info@waka.surf to let us know about your preferred size if we don't currently stock it or manufacturer it yet.

The engineered hinge system is designed as an integral structural component, with durability that extends beyond the expected lifespan of the board.

The technical specifications are rated for 1 million cycles (folds) at 340 cycles per minute through an 80 degree arc, with a static load capacity of approximately 850kg for the average length of the hinge on the board.

While the original OEM testing of the hinge wasn't specifically for 180 degrees, there is no issue with this fold angle as the hinge is designed to fold on itself. The critical factor is the mechanical load capacity, which exceeds our requirements. The carbon-kevlar living hinge has been thoroughly tested without degradation.

• Always secure the three titanium bolts properly when unfolding for use
• Store the board in its day bag when folded for prolonged periods
• Ensure the hinge area is rinsed with fresh water after saltwater use, just as you would with any board
• Keep sand out of the hinge when packing the board away to avoid introducing abrasive material
• While Kevlar is extremely resistant to abrasion, keeping the hinge clean is good practice for long-term durability

We'll be creating a separate maintenance video with more detailed guidance.

Our patent-pending folding technology adds only about 1/2 kg to the board's total weight, keeping it comparable to standard production carbon boards. The additional weight is centrally located, ensuring no impact on handling or performance.

No, there is no flex with the foil box. It has PVC sandwich reinforcements connecting it to the deck plate. In general, WAKA boards are some of the stiffest boards on the market due to the extra internal architecture required for the folding system.

Yes, the tracks are based on the industry standard of 90mm apart and will accommodate bolts as wide as M8, and will accommodate various brand mast nuts. Our foil tracks are of very high quality and are 391cm long.

Every Waka Glide comes with a premium insulated day bag, a torx screwdriver, and a spare set of fasteners.

Yes, we offer the Rolling Waka, a heavy-duty roller bag designed to accommodate your board, foils, and wings. Currently there are 2 sizes, large (111L-88L boards) and medium (77L-55L boards) roller bags.

While the Rolling WAKA bag technically exceeds the 61 linear inches for length + width + height that many airlines post for their oversize category (like many large roller duffle bags), our team has traveled with it extensively through Asia-Pacific and the Americas (over 30,000 miles through 6 countries) with no issues or fees from multiple international airlines. Airlines are generally more concerned with long bags and overweight bags, and many airline counters will process the folded board inside the Rolling Waka as regular luggage rather than sending you to oversized baggage.

It is possible to check the board in its Day-Bag and meet the linear requirements however we would not recommend that for international travel as there is not enough protection from aggressive baggage handlers. However, if you are travelling on a small puddle-jumper plane or on a train where you can manage the handling, then in which case it would be fine.

We've spent two years testing and perfecting the design in diverse conditions across Hood River, New Zealand, and La Ventana Mexico going through various prototype designs and shapes before settling on the Waka Glide.

Yes, we intend to ship to Canadian customers in early summer. However, we're still determining the exact tariff situation. We'll try to absorb some of the costs, but we're still in a holding pattern. We'll clarify any additional costs as we get closer to shipping.

1-year limited warranty against manufacturing errors. Warranty available only to original buyer. 30-day return policy for unused boards in original condition. More information is can be found on the warranty page.

30-day return window from date of receipt. Item must be unused, in original condition with tags and packaging and original proof of purchase required. More information can be found on the Returns page.

Sign up for our mailing list at waka.surf, and we'll keep you updated as we get closer to shipping.

Waka is a startup company based in the United States with a Kiwi CEO, Nigel Thompson. We're a design and technology company focused on bringing innovative solutions to the water sports industry, starting with our revolutionary folding foil board technology.

The company began its research and development journey in June 2023, with the breakthrough innovation of the folding board technology coming in October 2023. The company has spent approximately two years developing and perfecting their first product.

Waka was founded by Nigel Thompson, a Kiwi tech entrepreneur and avid wing foiler. The idea for the company came from his personal frustration with transporting boards during his adventure travels.

While established brands in the water-sports board market have stuck to conventional designs, Waka has taken an innovative approach by developing patent-pending folding technology. The company stands out for its focus on solving the transportation and storage challenges that other manufacturers haven't addressed, while maintaining high performance standards.

Waka operates on a direct-to-rider model to keep prices competitive, despite higher manufacturing costs due to their commitment to premium materials and advanced technology. They sell their products directly through their website (waka.surf)and will work with traditional retail channels in the future.

Waka approaches innovation by identifying common challenges in water sports and developing practical solutions through advanced engineering. Their R&D process involves extensive testing in diverse conditions across multiple locations, and they draw inspiration from various industries, including aerospace technology.