Happily, for all of us, the Armstrong team foil trip in New Zealand – the home of the Armstrong brand – has now become a fixed staple in the calendar, with the resulting film and media anticipated by many, not least ourselves here at the magazine, as it’s high quality stuff. We sought out the essence of the trip from a few of those involved, and the tales behind some of the greatest shots…
Photos: Franck Berthuot
Team Rider
There’s something surreal about the northern tip of New Zealand. It’s raw, rugged, and packed with a sort of mana you can’t just find anywhere. Our recent team trip brought us deep into that energy; an unforgettable blend of epic waves, unfiltered stoke, and a crew that made every mission worth it.
From the moment we landed, the mission was clear: chase new waves, enjoy the magic carpet ride, and soak up every bit of beauty Aotearoa had to offer. We spent our days driving for miles on remote beaches, scanning the horizon for anything that looked worthwhile. There was a unique feeling of freedom while driving along the untouched coastline, gear packed in each truck like Tetris and the only difficult thought on the brain was what ABBA song to put on next. We got a little bit of everything – between pounding beach breaks, to long, rolling, left hand point breaks, we weren’t lacking a diversity in waves. The long, running lefts had to be my favorite as it felt like they were made for foiling. It wasn’t uncommon to be in the water from first light till the sun dipped behind the horizon line. Legs burning, arms jelly, but smiles locked in place, everyone on the team brought their A-game and rallied for each and every session.
Beyond the foil lines and wave hunts, the land itself humbled us. We got the chance to visit Cape Reinga, one of the most sacred and spiritual spots in Māori culture. A place where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet in a swirling, symbolic dance. Standing at that cliffside, watching the waters collide, was a moment of reflection for all of us. It wasn’t just a surf trip; it was something deeper. We got to meet all sorts of people here on journeys of their own, Cape Reinga being the starting point. It truly was a unique and memorable moment that I will remember for a long time.
The crew was next level. A mix of team riders, creators, watermen and women. Each person brought something unique to the trip. Whether it was sharing snacks between sessions, swapping travel stories, or jamming out in the back of the van during long drives, the vibe was electric. There’s a special kind of bond that forms when you're living in wetsuits together, pushing the limits in a still growing sport, chasing waves in unfamiliar places, and cracking up over every unexpected moment along the way.
Reflecting back on this trip I realized something simple but often overlooked on many occasions. The waves were incredible, the scenery unreal, but none of it would’ve meant the same without the people beside me. This group made the trip what it was, not just chasing clips or perfect conditions, but focused on being present, hyped, and grateful. Everyone was dialed in, brought the right energy and were along for the ride. That kind of energy is rare, and I couldn’t imagine a better crew to share those moments with in the remote north of New Zealand and in the home of Armstrong Foils.
Trying to turn that early morning no coffee frown upside down. There was no lack of action on this trip. With the sun barely above the horizon we were already in the water trying to get as inverted as possible. We had a few sessions at this spot with crazy light and oil glass waters but this shot came with a little bit of wind and more than enough seaweed to make even doing a good ole carve difficult. The look on my face might be the pure surprise of making it out of the water without any seaweed hitchhiking on the new MA Mark II 590.
Tweakin it out at the sandbar! Playing around with the boom on the new A-Wing XPS Mark II was a blast. I got to try all sorts of new maneuvers that I had only dreamed of. As soon as I saw the boom and was able to ride with it my goal was to get this shot. A shot I had only seen done by some of my favorite kitesurfers in kitesurfing magazines and movies. While it’s a pretty simple one handed air with a grab and small tweak, it was always cool to me and showed a certain style and grace to the sport performing it. Stoked to finally get an image of this unique and fun maneuver.
Barrels for breakfast. Well, kind of, it was more of a lipping to the head that ended in me getting too deep and getting spit out the bottom all while somehow being on foil. To say I got lucky on this one would be an understatement. This was about mid morning at the same beach break as the backflip in my first shot. I remember it being a cruisey session with the team that usually ended in kicking out before the shorebreak, due to a bunch of seaweed. However soon enough the helmet was on and the shorebreak was the main focus, with big airs, slides, and in this case the occasional barrel.
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Team Rider
For any Armstrong rider, getting the invite to explore New Zealand – where it all began – is the dream. I had visited once before during the GWA event at Mount Maunganui in 2023, and it left a lasting impression. I knew I had to return and explore more of what this country has to offer: stunning waves, breathtaking landscapes, and welcoming people.
This time, we ventured into “the Far North,” a region that feels even more untouched. Most days, we had the waves entirely to ourselves. And to share these sessions with such an incredible and talented crew made it even more special. Although the wind didn’t always play along, making the wingfoil session limited, the surf-foiling conditions more than made up for it —riding from dawn till dusk every day.
Our first session of the trip kicked off right after we dropped our bags at the accommodation. Eager for a sunset ride, we made our way to the beach – only to get one of the cars stuck in the sand. That cost us a good chunk of daylight. Luckily, a friendly local with a truck came to the rescue, towing one of our skis down the chaotic stretch of 90 Mile Beach. We finally reached a remote peninsula, shielded from the choppy surf, where the waves turned out to be fun and playful. We rushed into the water and rode into the dark under a glowing sky. What a way to warm up!
Armstrong Ambassador / Professional Sailor
It was awesome to have the Armstrong team riders in the far north of NZ. I grew up in Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, about an hour from where we were based in Kaimaumau, so it was particularly special to be able to share a place so close to my heart with such an epic crew. We scored pretty ideal conditions – mid Feb Kiwi summer – hot, dry with a range of waves on both the east and west coasts. But for me, the riding wasn’t the highlight of the trip, instead it was the combination of the missions involved and the people. Getting to remote spots, driving down the beach, sunrise sessions, good energy, great food (thanks Harry) and being fully immersed in the far north way of living – you beauty!
This shot was taken towards the end of a glassy sunrise session. After some quick morning coffee, we launched the skis in the dark and headed out. The session was made up of two parts. The first was long mellow rides on what I would call classic foiling waves and then the second half of the session was on a pretty fun beach break – where this shot was taken.
Armstrong Co-Founder
This was an inspiring adventure, among beautiful scenery and with an exceptional group of easy going, talented people. The level of talent is insane but it's the pleasure of sharing great moments together that counted the most.
Oh that's me! Trying my best to imitate the pros without actually imitating the pros. I do love a bit of SUP foiling whenever possible. This was shot halfway down 90 Mile Beach at one of our impromptu stops.
Armstrong Sales Manager
The Home of Armstrong Tour is one of the highlights of my year. For the last three years, we’ve brought a crew of pro riders to New Zealand to experience the unique conditions we’re lucky to have right on our doorstep.
There’s something truly special about this place. Being an island in the middle of the South Pacific means we get consistent waves and wind almost year-round. This year, we ventured up to the far north – five hours north of Auckland – a region I usually only explore when a massive swell is on the charts. It was incredible to properly show the team around and score some epic sessions in a part of the country that still feels raw and untouched. If you’re thinking about a foiling trip, put New Zealand at the top of your list. It’s a journey, but one that’s absolutely worth it – you won’t regret it.
We were staying just inside the harbor next to the main break, so a 5:30am wake-up had us rolling straight into it. Music was pumping as we launched the skis in the pre-dawn calm. Just as we hit the water, the sun started to rise – lighting up the harbor in gold. As we idled out the channel, a fresh set was stacking perfectly on the horizon. The stoke levels went through the roof. Normally I’m one of the ski drivers on these missions, but the crew reckoned it was still a bit too dark to shoot, so they told me to sneak in a couple waves before the light turned on. I got a short but dreamy session in. And just as I was charging toward the inside section – where the energy really hits – Frankie snapped this shot. Pure timing.
Team Rider
The trip to New Zealand with the Armstrong Foiling team was a full-on mission deep into the heart of the far far north. For me, this trip marked the first time I truly felt like an athlete again after concluding six months of chemotherapy just four months prior. Each morning, we woke before sunrise to pack and load an absurd amount of foiling gear into the trucks and set off on hour-plus missions to remote waves scattered across both coastlines. We were always on the water before the sun broke the horizon, riding glassy rollers in total solitude. The days were long – foiling from dawn through sunset, breaking only for lunch. We squeezed every drop out of each day, often staying on the water until 9 p.m. – and even then, no one wanted to come in for dinner as we were having too much fun. We scored beautiful conditions the entire trip, wrapping with the biggest swell on our last day. It didn’t feel like a scheduled shoot, but more like a trip you take with a bunch of your closest friends.
This shot was actually from my very first foiling session in NZ. Day one, vibes were high, and we were all amping to get out onto the water (especially after a very long drive from Auckland up to the far, far north). We found this wave that was kind of dumping onto the sand, but made for a really photogenic last turn before having to straighten out. The sunset was a banger to start off the trip, making for some beautiful golden light. Here we foiled well past the sunset.
This was from one of our early morning sessions. We pulled up to the break just before sunrise to the most beautiful sets rolling in. Before I could even think, Armie Armstrong had already hopped in, fully amped. He yelled at me to jump in too so we could double up on the tow rope. We both got onto the same wave, weaving around each other. Armie radiates so much stoke (as you can see by the peace sign he’s throwing up mid-ride). He makes you want to foil all day, no breaks. Whether it's ankle biters or overhead waves, he’s fired up and cheering you on every step of the way. Sharing waves with him is pure joy, as he will be hooting and hollering from start to finish.
Team Rider
New Zealand has always been on my list of places to go. I’ve had opportunities to go in the past but never been able to make it for some reason or another, so when this trip idea came up, and even without hearing any of the details, I was 100% in the moment Armstrong asked!
With that being said, the details of the trip only made me want to go more! The goal was to shoot and use the new MA MKII foils (my favorite series in the line) with an eclectic group from the Armstrong team, some I knew well and some I have only been “Instagram friends” with for years.
It was a whirlwind week of early mornings and late evenings with nearly nonstop waves and laughs shared with everyone involved. Not only was it a blast riding with the team riders, but also the individuals behind the scenes that no one knows about at the company. It’s a rare thing to genuinely like and enjoy the people that you work with, and Armstrong has created a great environment to work and have fun with everyone involved. The only downside of the trip was that it was not long enough. Guess that means we gotta do it again!
This shot was from a morning tow foil session nearby where we were staying. The morning’s sunrise was magical, and conditions stayed oily smooth for hours. This was probably from one of the many long rides I had that morning. As the “old guy” on the trip at 39, I’ve stopped trying to keep up with the young ones with all the airs and flippy tricks and stick to what I know and love – surfing!
There’s nothing better to me than the feeling of leaning into a heel side turn going Mach 2… add in a rail grab for style and this shot is what you get. You’d think I’d smile more when I’m having fun, but probably still too busy concentrating on not breaching a tip and whiplashing my neck, only to be made fun of by Cash for the rest of the trip!
Team Rider
This trip was an unforgettable journey through New Zealand’s most iconic foiling spots. Being surrounded by the Armstrong team, sharing sessions, and pushing each other in such raw and beautiful environments made the trip really special. From light wind sessions around sandbanks to powerful ocean swells, every location offered something unique. We were lucky to have local knowledge helping us score the best conditions every time.
Most days we were in the water from sunrise to sunset, chasing the best lights and tides. It was intense, magical, and incredibly rewarding. It wasn’t just about the riding; it was about connecting with the roots of Armstrong, feeling the passion behind the brand, and celebrating the progress of the sport together. Off the water, the landscapes were just as inspiring: road trips through wild coastlines, late-night laughs, and the kind of camaraderie that only grows stronger on adventures like this. It truly felt like coming home, in every sense.
This was our first session at the spot near the house, and the vibes were all-time. The sun was setting, the colors were popping, and the waves were just firing – it felt like the whole scene was dialed in for us. Everyone was smiling, hooting, and just stoked to be out there together. It was one of those sessions where you lose track of time because everything's clicking. Just pure fun with the crew as the day faded out.
This was one of the most intense sessions of the trip for me. The waves were firing, perfect size not to small, not too big, hollow, and super clean. We were trading waves, each trying to throw the biggest, smoothest turn right in front of the cameras. In this shot, I went all-in on a radical carve, pushing the foil to its limit until the wing popped out. The energy in the water was insane, everyone was hyped, cheering each other on, pushing harder every set. I absolutely loved the flow and focus of this session.
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