RIIFT Foil Assist | Prone Foil Feel With Power on Demand

If you've ever told yourself you're "not a foil assist guy," you're in good company. Kane De Wilde, the foil and board designer behind KT, said pretty much the same thing before a couple of friends in Western Australia handed him their new system and sent him out for a short run. He came back hooked.

That system is RIIFT, a fully integrated foil assist built around one big idea: power should show up when you need it without wrecking the feel that makes prone foiling so addictive. Here's what Kane had to say, and why it matters if you're analytical about your foil setup.

What Is RIIFT? | A Foil Assist Born in West Oz

RIIFT comes from a small crew of friends in Western Australia. Kane met them while traveling over for a race, and after one of the events they quietly asked if he wanted to try the foil assist they'd built.

His honest first take:

• He wasn't especially into foil assist going in
• He agreed to "give it a rip" anyway
• After one short session, he was instantly hooked, and he notes that's the same reaction everyone else seems to have

RIIFT describes the product as a fully integrated foil assist system that blends with both board and foil design. The stated goals are simple:

• Power on demand
• A lightweight, balanced, responsive ride
• The freedom and feel of prone foiling
• No drag, no tools, no compromise

Why Battery Placement Matters | Weight Distribution First

The part of RIIFT that got Kane most excited isn't raw power. It's where the weight lives.

The Concept

RIIFT pays close attention to the battery's weight distribution, meaning where it sits inside the board and how that position relates to the foil underneath.

Why a Designer Cares

Kane says this is something he obsesses over in his own foil and board designs. Seeing a foil assist brand take mass placement just as seriously was a big part of what won him over.

What It Means on the Water

For riders who already think in terms of mast position, mass, and pitch stability, this is the right question to ask of any assisted setup:

• A foil assist adds weight you didn't have when prone foiling
• Where that weight sits shapes how the board balances over the foil
• A system designed around the foil's position, rather than just bolted in, has a better shot at feeling natural

Integrated Without Compromise | Board Shape and Flow

A common worry with integrated foil assist systems is that the hardware dictates the board instead of the other way around. Kane's take on RIIFT is the opposite.

The RIIFT Boxes

He points out that the RIIFT boxes don't compromise the board shape much, even though the system is fully integrated. Board builders still have room to:

• Create clean flow through the shape
• Keep the outline and rocker working the way a prone board should
• Design around the rider instead of around a bulky component

Less Drag, Better Feel

According to Kane, the drag reduction and the improved shape are what bring the feel of prone foiling into an assist board. RIIFT's own description backs that up, promising no drag and no tools needed.

Who Should Pay Attention | Riders Weighing a Foil Assist

RIIFT looks like it's aimed squarely at riders who love the purity of foiling and don't want an assist to take it away. That could include:

• Prone foilers who want more waves per session without losing the feel they've dialed in
• Wing foilers and kiteboarders looking to catch swell on no-wind or light-wind days
• Gear-focused riders who judge a setup by balance and responsiveness, not just thrust
• Skeptics, like Kane was, who've written off foil assist as heavy or sluggish

If you're comparing foil assist options, it's worth looking at how each one handles weight placement and board integration, not just motor output or run time.

Key Takeaways

• RIIFT is a new, fully integrated foil assist from a small team of friends in Western Australia
• Kane De Wilde of KT tried it as a self-described foil assist skeptic and was instantly hooked
• Battery weight distribution, and where it sits relative to the foil, is the core of RIIFT's design approach
• The RIIFT boxes preserve board shape and flow despite full integration
• Reduced drag and better shaping are what bring prone foiling feel to an assisted ride
• RIIFT's pitch: power when you need it, with no drag, no tools, and no compromise

FAQ

What is RIIFT?

RIIFT is a fully integrated foil assist system created by a couple of friends in Western Australia. It's designed to blend with both board and foil design so riders get power on demand while keeping a lightweight, balanced, responsive feel.

Who is Kane De Wilde, and what does he think of RIIFT?

Kane De Wilde is the designer behind KT foils and boards. He admits he wasn't super into foil assist before trying RIIFT, but after one short run he was instantly hooked.

Why does battery placement matter on a foil assist board?

A foil assist adds weight, and where that weight sits in the board relative to the foil affects how the setup balances and rides. RIIFT focuses heavily on battery weight distribution, which Kane says mirrors the attention he pays in his own foil and board design.

Does an integrated foil assist compromise board shape?

Not with RIIFT, according to Kane. He says the RIIFT boxes don't compromise the shape much, leaving room for a nice flow through the board even though the system is fully integrated.

Does RIIFT feel like prone foiling?

That's the goal. Kane credits the reduced drag and improved shape with bringing the feel of prone foiling to an assist board.

Do you need tools to use RIIFT?

RIIFT describes the system as no drag, no tools, and no compromise.

Let's Talk Foil Assist

Thinking about adding power to your prone, wing, or kite foil quiver? We'd love to help you sort through the options and find a setup that fits the way you ride, whether you're on the Great Lakes or the open ocean.

Drop us a line at Kiteboarder@MACkite.com. The MACkite crew rides this stuff and is always stoked to talk gear.