Latest News, Blog & Videos

Ryan sat down with Hunter and Ryan from Foil Drive to talk about the Foil Drive and how it can be used to learn pumping and improve existing pumping skills: a use case people might not think about when they first get a Foil Drive. Instant Repetition and Easy Restarts The biggest thing is that if you fall, you get right back up and practice again. When dock starting, you go out pretty far, mess up, and then have to swim on a small board all the way back. It's a long, tiring, sad swim home. With …

Riding a small board in the waves on your Foil Drive is a lot of fun: it unlocks a lot of the unit's potential, but it isn't as easy to get up on a small board as it is on something a little bit larger. Ryan and Hunter have broken it down into three of the most common mistakes or situations that cause riders to struggle getting up on their Foil Drive after downsizing to a smaller board. Tip #1: Board Angle When you first hop on your board in the water, you want that board angle to be level wit …

Ryan and Hunter get a lot of questions from people wanting to pick up a Foil Drive unit who aren't quite sure if the board they have might be a good one to start with, if their current foil will work, if they need to upgrade, or really just where to start sizing-wise. Here are the answers to a few of those questions, along with a good idea of what you may be looking at for your first time out there on the Foil Drive. Baseline Rider Weight Starting out, the guys want to note that this guide ref …

Foil Drive riding has pushed board design in a very specific direction. Efficiency, foil feel, and clean integration now matter more than ever, and few brands have leaned into that reality as effectively as Appletree Surfboards. After riding both the Appletree Zapple and the Appletree Zapple S back-to-back for a full season, Ryan and Hunter from MACkiteboarding break down where these two boards overlap, where they clearly diverge, and, most importantly, who each board is actually for. This i …

Foil Drive has opened the door to a new category of riding—one that blends the accessibility of e-foiling with the performance and progression of traditional hydrofoiling. To make that leap even easier, we have curated a turnkey setup built around proven North hardware: the Foil Drive North Boost Foil Drive Package. In this breakdown, Ryan from MACkiteboarding explains why this package works so well for first-time foilers, experienced wing and kite foilers, and anyone looking for a hig …

Riding the Foil Drive Max opens up an entirely different way to approach foiling—especially in a place like the Great Lakes, where conditions can swing wildly from glassy summer days to fast-moving, overhead windswell. In this discussion, Ryan and Hunter break down how they think about foil selection based on real sessions on Lake Michigan, covering everything from one-foil solutions to full quiver setups. Rather than chasing theory, this guide is rooted in what actually works when you …

Foil Drive has just released the Fusion. If you've been following our blog or YouTube channel, then you know that we love Foil Drive, so naturally we were stoked to get our hands on something new from them. We also realize that it can be a bit confusing keeping track of all the options they have now, so Ryan and Hunter are here to break down what this new offering from Foil Drive is about. What Is the Fusion? The short answer is that it's an eFoil alternative that can also be used as a f …

Foil Drive has just released a new model, the Fusion. What is it, and should you get that or the Max? They're similar but have some important differences, so Ryan and Hunter are here to go over those and what sort of rider might enjoy each one. What Is the Foil Drive Fusion? Some people enjoy using their Foil Drive in eFoil mode, with the propeller low on the mast so it's always in the water. The Fusion has embraced that use and offers a longer, more powerful runtime. With the ability to …

You've probably noticed an eFoil or two while out on the water. Two of the most notable brands on the market today are Foil Drive and Waydoo. We’ve been riding both here on Lake Michigan and at our spring demo sessions, and each system fills a pretty different niche once you get it out on the water. Ryan and Hunter wanted to break things down as honestly as possible so you can figure out which one fits your riding, your crew, and the type of spots you hit. What These Systems Actuall …

Introduction Two years after unveiling the Gen 2 system—a system many riders would agree reshaped the assisted-foiling landscape—Ben and Paul from Foil Drive are back with something entirely new. They call it Gen 2.5. They call it Fusion. Based on what they’ve shared, this release isn’t a minor update or a simple refresh. It’s a third pillar in the Foil Drive ecosystem, designed to deliver more runtime, more power, smarter technology, and a flexible experience t …

Foil Drive is one of the most amazing tools in the foil surfing world. By adding electric assist, it helps new riders get on foil without the endless paddling or tow-ins traditionally required. For experienced foilers, it opens the door to new ways of connecting waves and maximizing sessions. Recently, our friend Hunter put his teaching skills to the test by introducing his friends Jack, Jack’s dad Matt, and later Jack’s brother Luke to Foil Drive. What unfolded was a two-day …

Foil Drive has quickly become the gold standard for assisted foil surfing—hands down. But like any new discipline, the learning curve can be steep. Josh Ku, an experienced waterman, recently shared insights from his early sessions on the Foil Drive, offering a valuable roadmap for beginners navigating the transition. The Early Struggles: From Surfing to Foil Drive Josh’s initial challenge came from treating Foil Drive like prone surfing. Using a prone board of similar volume, he att …

With the release of the FLITELab AMP, you might be wondering how it compares to Foil Drive and whether one is better for you. Cole has experience with both and is ready to share his insights into which he would choose for different foiling disciplines. What's the Difference Between Foil Drive and FLITELab? First off, what are they? Both are foil assist products meant to help you get up on foil and then turn off so you can do your thing, though the Foil Drive can be ridden as a full-time e …

MACkite is now shipping the V2 Foil Drive cases, which are included with all Foil Drive Gen2 units, so it's time for us to give you an update on what you'll get when you order yours. Eli's got one open and is ready to go through it. There is no difference between the MAX and Slim versions of the case, so no matter which you ordered, this unboxing will apply to you. However, if you ordered the high-power motor, there is one small difference, and we'll cover that, too. The case itself is very …

If you're just getting into Foil Drive, the options can feel a little overwhelming. What's the difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2? Should I get the Max or the Slim? Do I need 3 props on my motor or are 2 enough? And perhaps most confusingly with four options now available for the MAX Gen 2 unit, which battery do I need? The MAX is the larger unit of Foil Drive's current generation. While the Slim is lighter with a little less drag, the extra power and runtime the MAX offers is well worth it fo …