AK Phazer Foilboard – The Foiling Magazine Review
Words by The Foiling Magazine’s tester, Kyle Cabano.
“The AK Phazer V5 Active Carbon made me want to foil more, to try different disciplines in one session, and it’s the kind of board you grow into, not out of.”
The AK Phazer V5 is the fifth iteration of an AK Durable Supply Co. classic! The Phazer V5 balances crossover utility with surf-driven shaping, designed to span multiple disciplines with a focus on performance and minimalism. The 4’7 we tested offers 36L of volume – ideal for intermediate to advanced riders looking for a compact, responsive feel, and unmatched versatility – although there are plenty more sizes to choose from in the range.
This board is officially the smallest board I have been able to wingfoil on, and it honestly felt incredibly natural to adapt to. This is the Active Carbon model, as opposed to the Duratech version, and features a lightweight carbon/bamboo composite construction with a molded EPS core, giving the board a stiff, reactive ride while keeping swing weight to a minimum. The track mount system is cleanly integrated, while a recessed deck improves control and leverage. The corduroy grip pad is low profile and grippy, with built in footstrap inserts. Visually, it’s a sleek piece of kit – minimal branding, refined shaping, and tight build quality.
I tested the Phazer V5 Active Carbon over two sessions in Cape Town, South Africa. First, in 2ft clean offshore surf in Muizenberg, surf foiling prone. Second, in 14-15 knots of wind for wingfoiling in a flat water estuary with a 5m wing. Both times I rode my 1080 foil. I weigh 72kg.
The Phazer V5 4’7 hits a sweet spot for riders looking to bridge surf and wing disciplines. At 36L, it’s only just half of my body weight, which is optimal for surf foiling, but I was curious how it would hold its ground as a wingfoiling board.
To my surprise, with some finesse, it released easily and was up and flying in 14 knots. The drawn-out shape of this board, with strong resemblance to a miniature surfboard, meant that with minimal lift from my 5m wing, the board was quick to rise to the surface and with thanks to its ultra lightweight construction, pumping the board onto foil was an absolute treat. Once on foil, it felt incredibly free – once again thanks to the low swing weight, making carving and gliding feel intuitive and effortless.
The board felt great in the air, and once again I was surprised by this board’s ability to recover from touchdown as it seems to displace water very well and the longer shape works well to avoid any nose dives upon landing.
As a surf foil board, it excels. The balance between weight and volume makes it easy to paddle for its size. The construction of this board feels like it’s as strong as they come. In the small, peeling waves at Muizenberg, the board picked up energy well and allowed for early, clean take-offs as there is a lot of volume under your chest. Once on foil, the feedback is sharp and I can say that a lightweight foil board really extenuates the feedback of the foil underneath, really exposing the liveliness and full potential of a foil which was previously muffled under board weight. The recessed deck gives you strong rail-to-rail control and keeps your center of gravity low, which is especially noticeable during pumping or hard turns.
Handling in and out of the water is great – the board tucks under your arm easily and feels light on the run to the water. The track placement is spot-on, making tuning simple for both surf and wing setups. I also appreciated the deck pad – soft but not too thick, with just the right texture to lock in bare feet or booties.
Overall I felt that where the Phazer really shines is its crossover potential. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but if you’re an experienced foiler who wants one board that can handle prone, wing, tow, and even pump off docks – this board becomes an extension of your body. It hits AK’s design brief with confidence – refined construction, multi-discipline performance, and a sleek aesthetic. It made me want to foil more, to try different disciplines in one session, and it’s the kind of board you grow into, not out of.