What is the eFoil?
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.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.It looks like magic, but learning to eFoil is actually quite simple. In this article, we will explain the key steps to get you flying. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner, as the tips below will be enough to get you started on your eFoil journey.Foiling provides an excellent workout for the core muscles. The act of maintaining balance and controlling the board engages the abdominal, lower back, and pelvic muscles. Regular eFoiling sessions lead to a stronger core, which is beneficial for overall body strength, stability, and injury prevention.
Why is eFoil so expensive?
The integration of high-quality materials, sophisticated hydrofoil designs, and precision-crafted components contributes to the overall cost. 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.Besides surfing, foiling can be experienced in other different watersports, like wing foiling, kitesurfing, foiling SUP and e-surfing (electric surf board). The foil allows you to go twice as fast even on non-peaking waves. The enhanced speed of foiling makes even average waves to be super fun to ride.Foil boards are challenging, with a learning curve of 10–20 hours for beginners to gain stability. Using a short mast (15–24 inches) and starting in calm waters reduces difficulty. Towing at a steady speed of 8–12 mph helps maintain lift, making balance and control easier to practice gradually.High-End Materials and Durability The cost of foil boards is heavily pushed upwards by the complex nature of its design and the use of premium materials. First, foil boards utilise several high-end materials to create a board capable of withstanding the open sea and the speeds these boards can reach.
How difficult is eFoil?
While efoiling isn’t overly difficult, beginners often face a few common challenges. These challenges are normal, and with practice, most riders overcome them quickly. Balancing on the Board: Staying stable on the efoil board requires some practice. Wing foiling, like any water sport, can be dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken. Some of the risks associated with wing foiling include: Impact injuries: Wing foiling involves riding on water at high speeds, and a fall can result in impact injuries from hitting the water or the wing.Like any new sport, there is a learning curve to wing foiling, and beginners should be prepared to spend some time and effort developing their skills. The initial challenge for most people is simply learning to balance on the board while holding onto the wing.However, as a relatively new and growing sport, and with a lot of equipment needed, wing foiling is generally more expensive than other water sports like surfing or stand-up paddleboarding. One of the biggest expenses in wing foiling is the cost of equipment.Whilst learning wing foiling, you want to be on a more stable board to get you going. The general rule we have found is when buying your first wing foiling board, go for a volume that is about 30-40L above your rider weight ( an 80kg rider would go for a 120L foil board).We’re often asked if eFoiling is a dangerous sport. The honest answer is, like most watersports, eFoiling can be dangerous to you and other water users. However with the right precautions you can protect yourself and everyone else in the water. These are our top seven tips to stay safe while eFoiling.
Can you travel with an E-foil?
Yes, you can fly with your eFoil board, wings, and eFoil system (mast), but things get a bit tricky when it comes to the battery (Flitecell). There are important restrictions and considerations you need to be aware of before embarking on an eFoil travel adventure. Flying on a passenger flight with an eFoil battery is currently prohibited. Maximum Allowed Capacity: The maximum battery capacity allowed on a airplane is typically 160Wh and only with airline approval as a carry-on.Yes, you can fly with your eFoil board, wings, and eFoil system (mast), but things get a bit tricky when it comes to the battery (Flitecell). There are important restrictions and considerations you need to be aware of before embarking on an eFoil travel adventure.Yes, though jumping on an eFoil is different from wakefoiling or kitefoiling. You can still practice carving and pumping, and work on small jumps to get comfortable with air movements. Is eFoiling allowed everywhere, or are there restrictions? Regulations vary, so check local rules before riding.Yes, you can fly with your eFoil board, wings, and eFoil system (mast), but things get a bit tricky when it comes to the battery (Flitecell). There are important restrictions and considerations you need to be aware of before embarking on an eFoil travel adventure.
Is e-foiling harder than surfing?
Learning to surf takes years of practice, countless wipeouts, and high physical endurance. E-foiling requires balance and coordination, but its learning curve is much gentler. With adjustable speed settings and stability from the hydrofoil, beginners can get up and ride faster than they would on a surfboard. Why is it called an eFoil? The term eFoil is short for electric hydrofoil or electric hydrofoil surfboard.The hydrofoil is similar in appearance and purpose to aerofoils used by airplanes but operates in water. Unlike hydrofoil, efoil is more effort-saving. It uses power to allow people to fly on the water faster, adjust and control speed, and add technology to make it more mysterious and attractive.Research and Development: Developing eFoils involves extensive research, design, and prototyping. The engineering challenges, combined with the need for durability, safety, and performance optimization, contribute to the higher production costs.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.