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Toward the end of 2025, industry leaders announced the official formation of the Global Foil Board Sports Association (GFA), a new international governing body created to unify, represent, and legally govern non-wind-powered foil board sports worldwide.
The launch follows the successful first season of the SFT Surf Foil World Tour, which highlighted the rapid global growth of five emerging disciplines—surf foil, wake foil, e-foil, pump foil, and downwind foil. The season underscored the need for a unified body to support structured development, industry alignment, and international recognition.
GFA is formed by 18 founding members representing leading foiling brands and private individuals contributing to the commercial and organizational development of the sport. The association is now open for enrollment to brands, event organizers, and private individuals who are commercially involved in foil board sports.
“Foil board sports have expanded rapidly in technology, innovation, and participation—often moving faster than the structures around them. The GFA is our commitment to guiding that momentum responsibly. We want to ensure this young industry grows through collaboration, a shared global purpose, and a clear international voice for non-wind-powered foil board sports.”— DR. JÖRGEN VOGT, SECRETARY GENERAL, GFA
PURPOSE OF THE GLOBAL FOIL BOARD SPORTS ASSOCIATION (GFA)
GFA has been formed with four core objectives:
- To unify the non-wind-powered foil board sport industry under one representative umbrella, aligning brands, organizers, and stakeholders globally.
- To provide a central platform to influence the development of professional non-wind-powered foil disciplines, particularly at world and continental levels.
- To legally govern non-wind-powered foil board sports at world level, establishing consistent rules, standards, and frameworks.
- To represent the industry to international federations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other relevant governing bodies.
POSITIONING THE SPORT FOR GLOBAL GROWTH
With the founding of the GFA, the industry now has a coordinated structure to move from rapid innovation into long-term stability. The association will begin establishing standards, defining development pathways, and creating a central point of coordination for brands, events, and stakeholders worldwide.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL FOIL BOARD SPORTS ASSOCIATION (GFA)
The Global Foil Board Sports Association is the international governing body for non-wind-powered foil board sports, dedicated to unifying the industry, representing its global interests, and legally governing the sport at world level.