INBOUND: SABfoil Balz Pro Range

The good times rarely let up in the company of Balz Müller, and with the release of his new signature range of foils, you can now get in on Balz-level foil fun times too. We dialed up the man himself for a chat. 

Photos: Christian Wolfensberger

Balz! It’s good to have you back in the magazine. Firstly, how are you?

Yes I am doing awesome! Foiling and all its possibilities keeps blowing my mind. Lately the froth for parawinging keeps me daydreaming and follows me into sleep. Yep it’s funboarding all day long.

Lovely! Now moving onto this good-looking range of foils we have here… Can you give us a little overview of what you sought to create with the range, and what kind of rider this is pitched at?

My main goal in my R&D is always to create easily accessible gear that allows riders to push their level to new heights in a comfortable way. Versatility is key – I absolutely love all disciplines and want to bring a similar foil feel from one to another. The new Balz line definitely offers a high-performance, fun toy with a wide range of uses, perfect for the ambitious funboarder who wants to feel seamlessly connected to their flying tool, as if it’s an extension of their legs!

What was the scope of your input during the research and design phase?

Progression never stops – I’m always excited to ride and experience whatever comes my way. With all these impressions, I constantly bombard the SAB development team, and they’re always open to my ideas and dreams. The factory is well-organized and conveniently close to where I live, which gives us the opportunity to push innovation and progress quickly.

So the basis of the Balz Pro was the Medusa Pro, how did you extrapolate and adapt this design to come up with something more… Balzy?

We all know it’s impossible to have a 4WD F1 car, but we pushed hard and managed to enhance glide while maintaining agility in carves. This results in that dreamy, futuristic feel of mid-aspect front wings. The key features are fast acceleration, high top speeds, exceptional pop and most importantly the rebound, offering controlled landings for smooth execution and even the wildest double-jump moves.

Was there any primary discipline focus?

Funboarding encompasses all its facets playing with the elements and the power of wind and waves.

What is the kind of timescale involved in bringing out a range of foils such as these?

That timeline never stops, and honestly, I don’t think I’d have the balls to call a final product ever. But then when I see my friends trying the prototypes and getting so stoked they don’t want to give them back, I know we’ve captured something special – and it’s time to share that magic with everyone.

You’re regarded as one of the world’s top freestylers. Does this mean these wings are predominantly for pro riders, or can amateurs enjoy these wings too?

Foiling teaches me something new every day, and with freestyle I put myself in the role of a complete beginner in every session. That’s why I believe this foil isn’t just for advanced pros, but for all active riders who want to enjoy the ride and keep progressing!

Finally, can you give us any insight into anything else dropping from SABFOIL soon?

The Italians love fast racing, and I know the Red Devil department never gets bored of building new rockets – I’ve seen some wild prototypes in the works, just like the ever-progressing Leviathan line. We’re also on the verge of figuring out what’s needed for parawinging, and so far, I’m loving my MA Balz foils for the job. I keep saying it… “What a time to be alive!”