Tested: the AXIS Surge

This review first appeared in Foiling Magazine issue 27 (March 2026) in the magazine's Tested section. The words are the magazine's test team's, not ours. Republished with the magazine's kind permission.

For years AXIS has been synonymous with fast and efficient foiling, arguably leading the charge with performance downwind focused foils, but it's been a while since they made a notable impact on the surf style foiling scene. Enter the Surge, pitched as a true surf wing. It tears up the old carve-versus-glide compromise, and delivers both in one unapologetic package. Its curvaceous moustache might be an unfamiliar look to AXIS riders, but its impact to roll characteristics coupled with DNA taken from AXIS' Fireball mean she might be late to the party – but she's sure to turn heads.

Getting on the water and Surge riders will first notice its early and abrupt lift characteristics which spike an early boost of power which projects both up and forwards, making take off on this foil a pleasure for intermediate to advanced foilers who want to waste no time getting down to business. This low-end lift is predictable and stable as you ride at the foil's stall speed, not dropping out or overly changing foot pressure. The Surge has a reassuring feel which allows riders to build speed back up with a pump cadence forgiving to both short taps or longer drives.

Tackling white water is a mellow experience on the Surge and whether it's blasting out or hitting froth on the face, its stability would trick you into thinking you are riding a lower aspect ratio foil. Stable and planted, it clears ventilation well and so long as turns are loaded and pushed, it handles significant tip breaches with ease.

Riding the Surge across its speed range, it could be considered a fast surf foil, driving forwards and maintaining amazing glide for this field – not quite keeping up with dedicated downwind weapons, but still giving them a run for their money in the right hands. Riders pushing the Surge to its limits will quickly note that to shift focus to bottom end lift, they'll have given away some top end power management, spiking power again as you reach top speed. It will remind riders quickly that the goal posts of sizing are quickly changing in the world of foiling, and what was once considered an average size foil now actually packs a lot of punch. So when choosing a size, riders should downsize if they are the sort of person who likes to be at the top end often.

Within its comfortable speed range, the pitch stability is notably smoother than its AXIS foil cousins, making ironing out those tricky moments a breeze, encouraging confidence to push this foil into turns and make the most of its quite unique and enjoyable roll. More neutrally planted than other surf foils which naturally drop, the Surge wants to be pushed down like it's the rail of a board, but unlike flatter shaped wings, it's very happy holding down a banked turn. Feeling very familiar to the sensation of a traditional board, more force equates to more roll, allowing riders to really commit their full body into turns and snaps. Loading power through the turn won't be a feeling all riders will seek, but for front-foot-heavy riders, the Surge's roll sensation is a firm feeling which inspires confidence.

A new sensation from AXIS with a reassuringly familiar feel. The Surge is undoubtably the foil their fan base has been waiting for and with the likes of Luke Atkinson winning multiple competitions on it, riders who choose the correct size and conditions will no doubt be using the Surge to make a solid impact on the surf style wing, prone and downwind scene.

The magazine's scorecard for the Surge rates glide, stall drop, pitch stability, tracking, yaw stability, carving stability, speed range and turn radius; see the printed issue for the bars.

The Surge range

• All Surge front wings: 740, 780, 830, 890, 950, 1010, 1080, 1150 and 1240
• Surf Skinny rear wings, designed alongside the Surge
• How the Surge came about, in the design team's words

Read more from Foiling Magazine, and find issue 27 online.