Partnering With the Local Legends behind Cloud 9 Surffoils

In the early 2000's, Ventura was a lonely place for a kiteboarder.  There were only a handful of us and we all became pretty well-acquainted as we dealt with shoddy equipment, rocky launches and landings, and cold spring clearing wind.  Around that time, when we were all sort of figuring out the sport, we met Kent Hardley and Chris Gutzeit, the crew behind Cloud 9 Surffoils.  

Kent, a Kiwi with a love of all ocean sports and a frightening lack of fear, earned his place in the lineup by out-surfing, out-SUPing, and out-kiting everyone while never taking himself too seriously.  His son Jack has followed in his footsteps and is also an incredible surfer and kiter who doesn't mind hanging with his Dad's buddies in the parking lot after a session.

Chris, a transplant from Oahu, is an artist by trade who learned to surf at a young age. Quiet and respectful in the water (and a doting father to baby twins!), he lets his kiting to the talking. 

Chris Gutzeit smiles when he thinks about his next foil session, or his twin kiddos.

Kent Hardley of Cloud 9 Surffoils takes a break from foil shredding to catch up with his canine companions.

As part of the same small crew, we all kite together regularly and trade gear and tips as new stuff is developed and makes its way to us.  When kite foiling came along, Kent and Chris were among the first of our local crew to adopt it. 

When Kent and Chris began work on Cloud IX Surffoils (formerly Pelican Surf Foils), they were looking to create an easier, more stable, lower-speed foil that would lessen the steep learning curve and work for surf, kite and SUP.  With our friendship and similar goals on the board side of things, we began testing each other's equipment and providing input over post-session pints. 

Fletch is partial to the S24 for paddle surf foiling. Photo: Elizabeth Brewer.

Now, we always have a way to get in the water! Surf or foil in the morning, and afternoons are spent kitesurfing or kite foiling. Kent and Chris are also keep into kite-foil-wave riding, pushing the boundaries of the sport quietly and without fanfare.

We are stoked to recommend Cloud IX Surffoils for both kite and paddle surf foil. Our foil boards and mast attachment tracks are optimized for the Cloud 9 kit and while we don't yet carry them in the FCD shop, we can literally throw a rock 50 yards to the Cloud IX office for you if you're interested.  To purchase online, check out their website or take a look at their product on our foil page.