Amos Shapes Foil Board Powers – Record-Breaking crossing from Bali to G-Land
Ballina, NSW – In a milestone moment for the foiling world, Australian waterman and Amos Shapes team rider Joshua Ku became the first person to complete a stand-up paddle (SUP) hydrofoil crossing from Uluwatu, Bali to G-Land, Java. The 92-km open-ocean journey was achieved on his 7’6” Cypher downwind foilboard, designed and built entirely by Ballina-based Amos Shapes and Lucid Glassing, and equipped with a Code Foils hydrofoil.
The idea for this crossing had been in Josh’s mind for some time. His goal was to pioneer something new — to show how the evolving discipline of foiling can open the door to untapped challenges and ocean adventures. “In a world where everything is at our fingertips and already mapped out, I wanted this story to feel different,” Josh explains. “In the ’70s, surfers would cross the Bali Strait in tiny dinghies, with no idea what the surf or conditions would be like. I wanted to channel that same spirit of uncertainty and adventure.”
The crossing, which took 4 hours and 30 minutes, was supported by a safety crew and captured on film for an upcoming documentary, set to premiere in September at the AWSI trade show in Hood River, Oregon, USA. The documentary will spotlight the physical and technical demands of downwind foiling and the innovations in board and foil design that made the trip possible.
Josh specifically chose his equipment for the crossing, customising a Cypher Downwind board in his signature yellow and adding a Gerry Lopez lightning bolt graphic to the base — a nod to the spirit of surf exploration. The Cypher is one of Amos Shapes’ flagship foilboard models, purpose-built for open-ocean conditions and refined for downwind performance. It delivered a fast, responsive, and rock-solid ride that handled everything the Bali Strait could throw at it. Crafted with precision at Amos Shapes’ premium glassing facility, Lucid Glassing, the board was paired with a Code Foils setup — 860R front wing, long fuse, 120R tail, and 75cm mast — to provide the speed and lift needed to go the distance.
After landing at G-Land, Josh switched to a Gerry Lopez surfboard — shaped by North Coast Surfboards and carbon-glassed by Lucid Glassing — and paddled out at Money Trees. He scored a pumping swell and classic G-Land barrels, riding the same break made famous in the 1970s by Gerry Lopez himself and a handful of pioneering surf legends. Full story available soon.
“We’re stoked to be part of something that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible on foil,” said Amos Shapes founder Amos Barriskill. “This crossing was a massive challenge, and the fact that it was done on one of our own designs makes it even more rewarding.”
Downwind SUP foiling is among the most advanced disciplines in the foiling space, requiring not just elite fitness and water knowledge, but equipment built to perform in variable swell, wind and current. Amos Shapes’ role in producing a high-performance carbon board was crucial in allowing Ku to complete the crossing safely and efficiently.
This project underscores Amos Shapes’ commitment to innovation in foilboard design and its growing influence on the global foiling scene. Based in Northern NSW, Amos Shapes specialises in handcrafted carbon boards engineered for maximum speed, strength, and style.
Check out the board used in the crossing and explore our full range at:
Instagram: @amosshapes
Interested in seeing more Foiling News ?
