What Is the Foil Surf Race League? The US Foiling Series You Should Know About
The Short Version
- The Foil Surf Race League (FSRL) is a US domestic foiling series founded in 2020 by Brian Grubb and Billy Bosch that grew from 20 riders in its first year to 90 competitors in 2025, with Armstrong Foils as title partner for 2026
- The 2026 three-stop season runs Cocoa Beach (completed March), Atlanta Foil Fest at Lake Lanier (June 12–14), and Orlando Foil Fest at Lake Fairview (August 7–9) — all US venues, no international travel required
- FSRL combines four formats — Surf Race (Le Mans beach start), 1v1 Pump Race, Wake Freestyle, and eFoil Race — so riders can compete in ocean or flat freshwater conditions across different skill sets
- Unlike the GWA World Tour (European-based, high travel cost) or the X-15 Class (one-design equipment only), FSRL is explicitly accessible to intermediate competitors and community riders, not just elite athletes
- Over $10,000 in prize money plus on-site demos from Armstrong, Lift, Slingshot, Duotone, and a dozen other brands make each stop worth attending even as a spectator
- Registration for the remaining two 2026 stops is open at foilsurfraceleague.com — the multi-discipline format means there is a competitive division for wingfoilers, pump foilers, and eFoil riders at most skill levels
A US Foiling Series Most Wingfoilers Don't Know Exists
A US Foiling Series Most Wingfoilers Don't Know Exists
If you follow the GWA Wingfoil World Tour or have been tracking the X-15 Class since World Sailing recognized it last year, you already know the competitive foiling landscape is expanding fast. What you may not know is that there's a domestic US series — running since 2020, now in its seventh year — that combines race and freestyle disciplines, draws 90+ competitors per event, and just landed Armstrong Foils as its title partner for 2026.
The Foil Surf Race League. Most wingfoilers have never heard of it. That gap is worth closing.
Founded in 2020, Now the Premier US Foiling Competition
Founded in 2020, Now the Premier US Foiling Competition
The FSRL was founded in 2020 by Brian Grubb and Billy Bosch. What began as a surf race format event — no judges, just fastest through the course — has evolved to include formats that can run in any conditions. From 20 riders in its first year, FSRL grew to 90 competitors in 2025.
That growth trajectory matters. It signals something beyond a niche event keeping itself alive — it signals a format that works, a community that keeps coming back, and enough momentum to attract serious industry backing. Armstrong Foils announced their title partnership for the 2026 season, describing FSRL as a three-stop series pushing the progression of competitive foiling by combining race and freestyle disciplines to show the full spectrum of the sport.
The founders built FSRL around a specific philosophy: competition should be accessible to the full range of foilers — from elite prone surf racers to intermediate wingfoilers who have never competed before — without requiring a flight to Europe or a GWA tour card. That community-first DNA has stayed intact through the growth.
How the Format Works
How the Format Works
FSRL's strength as a competitive series is format diversity. Rather than running a single discipline, each stop combines multiple race and expression formats depending on conditions and venue.
Surf Race is the FSRL flagship discipline and the original format the series was built on. A high-action foil surfing endurance race with a Le Mans–style beach start: riders paddle into waves to cross an upstream boundary, work their way down the beach riding multiple waves on foil or pumping to a downstream marker, then return upstream to complete a lap. First rider to complete the designated number of laps and cross the finish line wins. This is the format that runs best in ocean conditions with swell — Cocoa Beach is its natural home.
1v1 Pump Race is the format that works anywhere, ocean or freshwater. Two riders go head-to-head on a set course, completing it by pumping their foils with no motor assistance. This is what makes inland stops like Atlanta and Orlando viable — no waves required.
Wake Freestyle brings expression judging into the mix. Riders use a PWC wake to generate air and perform tricks — pulling from kiteboarding and wakeboarding roots and giving events a show element that pure racing doesn't have. Crowd-friendly, visual, and a genuine test of a different skill set.
eFoil Race opens competition to a broader pool of participants and adds a technology dimension to each event.
The combination is deliberate. By including both race and freestyle, riders show the full spectrum of what foiling actually is — speed, control, air, and expression — rather than optimizing for one narrow measure of performance.
The 2026 Season: Three Stops with Armstrong Foils
The 2026 Season: Three Stops with Armstrong Foils
The 2026 FSRL season is already underway. Here's the full schedule:
Stop 1 — Cocoa Beach, FL (March 6–8, completed) Shepherd Park, Cocoa Beach. The FSRL flagship event in ocean conditions — surf race, foil assist surf race, and an expressions session. The 2026 event drew riders and a full sponsor village including Armstrong, Lift, Foil Drive, North, Slingshot, Duotone, and more than a dozen additional brands. The recap video is worth watching to understand what the series actually looks like on the water.
Stop 2 — Atlanta Foil Fest, Lake Lanier, GA (June 12–14) Freshwater venue north of Atlanta. 1v1 Pump Race, Wake Freestyle, and eFoil Race. Lake Lanier has a strong regional foiling community and reliable conditions for pump racing.
Stop 3 — Orlando Foil Fest, Lake Fairview, FL (August 7–9) Grills Lakeside, Lake Fairview, Orlando. Same freshwater format as Atlanta — the season finale.
How FSRL Differs from GWA and X-15
How FSRL Differs from GWA and X-15
The GWA Wingfoil World Tour is the dominant international circuit — 10+ stops across Europe, Brazil, and the Middle East, prize money up to €25,000 per event, marquee stops in Fuerteventura and Jericoacoara. Genuinely world-class. But competing on the GWA requires international travel and entry into a circuit that's primarily European in structure.
The X-15 Class is World Sailing's officially recognized one-design wingfoil class, running toward its first World Championships in 2026. More geographically distributed than GWA, but organized around formalized class structure and equipment homologation — you compete on an X-15 setup, full stop.
FSRL is different in three ways. It's entirely domestic — all three 2026 stops are in the US, which means driving, not flying to Europe. It's multi-discipline — if you're a strong pump foil rider, an eFoil rider, or a wake freestyler, FSRL has a format for you. And it's explicitly community-driven in a way the international circuits aren't designed to be — demos, open sessions, a vibe that makes it accessible to intermediate riders who have never competed.
For the majority of US wingfoilers who want a competitive pathway without international travel, FSRL is the most realistic on-ramp.
How to Compete or Watch in 2026
How to Compete or Watch in 2026
Registration for Atlanta (June 12–14) and Orlando (August 7–9) is open at foilsurfraceleague.com. The 2026 series offers over $10,000 in prize money plus on-site demos from Armstrong and the full sponsor roster. Entry is open to both pro riders and community competitors.
The FSRL WhatsApp group is where official schedule updates and condition-dependent format changes are announced. Follow @foilsurfraceleague on Instagram for results and event recaps between stops.
If you're within driving distance of Atlanta or Orlando and you foil at any level — wingfoil, pump foil, eFoil — these events are worth attending as a spectator even if you're not competing. The demo access alone makes it worthwhile. And if you've been thinking about entering a foiling competition for the first time, FSRL's multi-format structure means there's almost certainly a discipline that fits where you are right now.
What would it take to show up to one of these events — not to win, but just to find out where you actually stand?
