Mala’e McElheny Goes Full On Duotone

Welcome to „All Duotone“ Mala’e! How does it feel to join the team fully equipped with our boards and foils now as well?

I’m super stoked! I’ve been riding Duotone wings and kites for some years, so being fully on Duotone now with boards and foils too, feels amazing! The gear is so dialed in and really matches the way I like to ride. I’m super excited to keep pushing my limits working with and having the full support of the Duotone team backing me up, especially in the Foiling discipline.

You come from a strong family of watermen. Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Yeah, I grew up surrounded by watersports. My dad and grandfather both come from Windsurfing and Kiting, and my grandpa Larry was actually a designer and shaper for Fanatic in the 1980s. My parents and both my grandpas had me on a surfboard before I could even properly swim. So being in the ocean just feels natural.

How did Wing Foiling & Foiling enter the picture?

I’ve always loved board sports — Surfing, Skating, SUP, Foiling, Kiteboarding. Then in 2019, when I was eleven, I got the chance to try Wing Foiling on Maui. The timing was perfect because I had just started doing airs Surf Foiling and learning how to ride with straps. Wing Foiling added this whole new feeling of flying high, which I absolutely love. And now there is Parawinging and Downwinding too.  Some of my favorite disciplines!

What motivates you most about Wing Foiling today?

For me it’s the freedom — you can take off anywhere, jump high, ride waves, fly downwind… everything. And I love the progression. Every session is a chance to learn something new.

What’s your goal for the coming seasons?

Keep progressing, stay balanced between school, family, and training, and represent the Duotone Young Blood movement. For 2026 my main goal is to win the Molokai to Oahu race but in the long term I really just want to push my riding, travel more, and learn from the Duotone team riders I look up to.