Why the FLITElab RAW Board Rips for Prone Foiling

Flite is best known for its eFoil range, but this year they're also introducing an unpowered board known as the Raw. It's all about focusing on what's going to get you in the waves and ripping. Cole got a chance to have an early ride on it. How did it measure up for him?

side view of the FLITElab Raw Board

What's the Raw Board Like?

The nose of the board is fairly wide. This gives you somewhere you put your hands for easy pop-ups, and the added volume lets you paddle in very efficiently. The concave toward the tail gives you a nice place for your back foot, and there's a tail kick as well. The Raw board will be available in various sizes geared toward prone surfing, like 4'0" and 4'6".

The FLITElab Raw board has a wide nose

How About the Foil?

Cole couldn't say enough good things about the foil. He felt like it took everything he loved about other foils and combined them into one. It pumps like an F-One Eagle, but carves like a Skate. It's not quite as good a pumper as some downwind wings, but it more than makes up for that in the waves. It's a surf foil, no doubt about it.

the front wing of the FLITElab Raw

It never felt like it got stuck on edge, but always came back underfoot. It carves like a dream and is forgiving for wing-outs with no cavitation. The first drop in late July will include a 707 and 1010 front wing and 125, 140, and 160 tails.

Surfing with the FLITElab Raw

Flite wants this to be a foil you'll own for a long time, so they put a lot of effort into ensuring that wing to fuselage connection stays tight. Even as the connection sees wear, it's still going to wedge firmly into place and lock in.

the wing to fuselage connection

The mast is next level. It's not only one of the thinnest masts on the market, but it's incredibly stiff as well. You won't lose any power to flex when you're pumping, and you'll experience one of the most direct connections between your feet and the foil.

The FLITELab Raw UHM mast

Who Is the Flite Raw For?

Cole is a pretty advanced foiler, and he could do everything he wanted and had a blast doing it. He also saw new riders and intermediate riders catching waves. This is a board you can learn on and progress with, and you're not going to give anything up. Flite did an amazing job bringing surf fun to anyone who wants to get out in the waves.

surfing with the FLITELab Raw