What is an electric foil board?
An eFoil is a revolutionary watercraft that combines surfing, hydrofoiling and electric propulsion. A surfboard-like deck is equipped with a hydrofoil below the water’s surface. Foils offer a thrilling way to experience the water, combining speed, agility, and the sensation of flying above the surface. With top speeds ranging from 32-50 km/h (20-30 mph), and the ability to tailor your board’s setup to your riding style and skill level, eFoiling can be enjoyed by riders of all abilities.Components and Functionality: What Makes an eFoil Mast and Motor: The mast, usually about 60-90cm, connects to the motor, which propels the eFoil through the water. Motors vary in power, with many offering around 5000 watts, enabling speeds up to 25-30mph.The term “efoil” is short for electric hydrofoil. Let’s break that down further: “e” for electric: the “e” in efoil refers to the electric motor that powers the board.Unlike other water sports that are limited by wave conditions or wind direction, efoiling can be done in a variety of conditions and environments. Riding an efoil is like a full body workout, it requires balance and strength, and it is also a great way to improve cardiovascular fitness.
What is the difference between foil and eFoil?
This means foil drives give riders some support to paddle into waves but require a wave for the main power, while eFoils offer powered riding without needing any wave power. Fliteboard can reach up to 30 mph, making it one of the fastest eFoils available. We know this might sound intimidating to some beginner eFoilers, but the good news is you do not have to go that fast! Depending on the size of the wing, an electric hydrofoil takes flight at a comfortable 11 mph to 12.Foils offer a thrilling way to experience the water, combining speed, agility, and the sensation of flying above the surface. With top speeds ranging from 32-50 km/h (20-30 mph), and the ability to tailor your board’s setup to your riding style and skill level, eFoiling can be enjoyed by riders of all abilities.Stay at least 300 feet away from other eFoilers, anyone else in the water and objects like boats, bridges and jetties. If you lose control of your eFoil you want to be sure that it won’t run into anything. Fall correctly. No matter how skilled you are, you need to know the right way to fall off your eFoil.Whether it’s ocean waves, river swells, tiny ponds, city canals, or even small boat wakes, eFoils can handle it all.
How difficult is eFoil?
You don’t need any prior board sport experience to ride an eFoil. Seriously—no surfing, wakeboarding, or foiling background required. If you can kneel comfortably, have decent balance, and feel confident in the water, you’ve already got what it takes. Foiling is less about raw athleticism and more about feel. The short answer is yes, learning foil board surfing is more challenging than surfing due to the specifics of the balance involved. That’s why it helps if you have advanced surfing or kitesurfing skills before you begin your foiling journey. Even an experienced surfer needs several hours to adjust to surf foiling.The exact time it takes to master the basics may vary depending on your previous watersports experience and the set up you choose, but e-foiling is generally considered a relatively easy sport to learn.The short answer is yes, learning foil board surfing is more challenging than surfing due to the specifics of the balance involved. That’s why it helps if you have advanced surfing or kitesurfing skills before you begin your foiling journey.The process of learning to wing foil also massively improves your balancing ability. From starting on a large board and sizing down board volumes to get up onto the foil, your core and your leg muscles (quads and hamstrings) get strengthened to react and improve your balance, even in windier and wavier conditions.
What size eFoil should I choose?
Beginners: Larger boards, such as the 5’4″ offer more stability and easier starts. Intermediate: Medium size boards like the 4’9″ provide a good mix of stability and maneuverability as skills improve. Advanced: Smaller boards, such as the 4’4″, allow for greater agility and are suited for experienced eFoilers. Size & Stability Larger Front Wings: Beginners are recommended to start with a front wing that has a substantial surface area above 200 square inches. This size not only offers greater stability but also makes it easier to balance and control the eFoil, especially for riders with a heavier build.Wakefoil boards come in all shapes and sizes, with the larger boards being more beginner friendly as they have more surface area to stand on, and are more buoyant when they are in the water. A small board will be more maneuverable and agile when you are riding, but will be more difficult to learn on.