Inbound: APPLETREE APPLESLICE PRONE AND ZAPPLE S 

Two new  weapons from the Appletree team arrived recently, adding to their admirably comprehensive foilboard line-up. Wieger Buurma, Co-founder of Appletree Surfboards gave us the lowdown…

Photos Kyle Cabano

The new AppleSlice Prone blends DNA from several boards in your range – what was the thinking behind this hybrid approach, and what kind of rider is it aimed at?

Our line-up was getting a bit confusing, with the “pro-foil” named years ago, but the board is better suited for intermediate riders, not pros necessarily. So we wanted to add a high-performance prone board, with features from the smaller Slice wing boards, but tweaked for prone use – lighter construction and inserts as standard. It’s meant for everyone from intermediates to our pro team. You have to pick the right size – the size that matches your weight and, maybe more importantly, your skill level. The board also comes in really small sizes, which are great for kite and especially wake use, where you want a strong board that can handle the wear and tear of boat use.

You’ve added features like increased nose lift, continuous hard edges, and aggressive bevels – how do these tweaks affect take-off and turning performance in surf conditions?

The nose lift helps with control in steeper drops. Foil surfing is evolving and not necessarily a small wave game anymore, so the boards need to evolve. The edges are slightly harder to aid with release on foam bashes and the sharp tail gives it excellent release. 

The forward foil box positioning on larger sizes is interesting. What advantages does that bring?

Bigger boards are both being used by beginner riders as well as riders who just want a board that paddles easily, and that they can also wing in strong conditions. So you have to make it work for both. Our own longer tracks give a lot of flexibility and moving them forward helps in keeping the balance when riding smaller foils in bigger waves or wings. But you can still place them far enough back when riding bigger foils in smaller waves.

What was the sweet spot you were aiming for with the AppleSlice Prone, and do you think you’ve hit that?

We aimed to create a board that’s super all‑round and suited for almost everyone – the obvious first choice. Other models are meant to fill specific niches.

The Zapple S is pitched as a “next-gen trench board” – what kind of performance mindset drove its development, and how does it build on the original Zapple’s reputation?

The Zapple S is basically this new prone board with a trench, where the original Zapple, which stays in the range, is basically the midlength with a trench. Initially we wanted to make a board that is just the easiest to get going. So you can easily start on flat water, even with a small foil. We tested many models without a trench, and the midlength shape made the most sense, so that's what we chose to trench first. 

Assisted foiling is evolving quickly – what began as a fallback in poor conditions is now a discipline even pro foilers use to ride waves that are otherwise unrideable or to get more waves per session. Advanced riders were looking for something shorter than the Zapple and with foil placement further forward for small foils. The original Zapple was not really designed for this, so some riders found that it didn’t quite suit their riding style.

We were already developing the Zapple S when we launched the original Zapple, specifically with these riders in mind. So we’re stoked that it’s now available. But this board is not for beginner riders and big foils. It’s quite hard to start in flat water, so it’s really a foil assist board, where you use the Foil Drive as an extra push, but still need a wave to get going. 

The sizes are small, to avoid confusion with the Zapple. If you want more volume, you’re better off with the original Zapple.

That ultra-thin profile and pulled-in rail combo suggests some pretty serious responsiveness – how does that translate to real-world riding, especially for smaller or more advanced riders?

It takes some getting used to – the board is really small. But with the help of the Foil Drive you can get away with it! Which opens up a whole new world of high-performance riding even for heavier riders on small foils. The Zapple S also comes with strap inserts, you can even try prone foiling with straps! 

Can you tell us a bit about the “signal window” in the nose on this one? Is it the same as the first Zapple?

Yes, it’s the same as the original. You no longer need foam inserts in your board. It just works, even if you hand paddle to get that extra bit of push. 

Thanks, Wieger. Any final thoughts?

Contact us if you have doubts about which size and model is the best for your skill, weight and local conditions! It can be tricky to pick the right one, but we are here to help.