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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 …

For a long time, the black prop was just the prop. It came in the kit, it worked, and you rode it. Now, Foil Drive has dropped two new options —a blue low-range prop and a grey medium-high-range prop — and suddenly there's actually something to think about before you head to the water. Ryan and Hunter have been riding both, and here's what they found. What's Actually Different The black prop isn't going anywhere. It still comes in every kit and covers a wide range of condition …

If you've been searching for a single board that can handle light-wind winging, parawinging, prone foiling, and even Foil Drive sessions, the Omen Emissary deserves a serious look. We've been putting it through its paces in a range of conditions, from glassy 9-knot summer sessions to overhead waves with 20-plus knots of breeze, and the results have been impressive enough to warrant a full breakdown. What Is the Omen Emissary? The Omen Emissary is a multi-discipline foil board built with …

Ryan and Hunter have been quietly battling over this mast—and that alone says something. The new North Integrated Ultra High Mod Carbon Mast isn’t just another accessory in the Foil Drive ecosystem. It’s a purpose-built, performance-focused solution for riders who are already pushing their limits in waves, downwinders, and pump sessions. After significant time on the water, their takeaway is clear: this setup changes how a Foil Drive feels underfoot. Tech Specs | What You …

Ryan and Hunter from MACkite have been logging serious sessions this summer and fall on the Appletree Zapple S, and it’s quickly become one of their standout Foil Drive setups. If you’re looking at trench boards and wondering whether going smaller actually improves performance, this board makes a strong case. Let’s break down why. What Is the Zapple S? The Zapple S is closely related to Appletree’s Apple Slice prone board, but with one major difference: a built-in tr …

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 …

Introduction With the launch of the Fusion Gen 2.5 system, Foil Drive introduced a refined, powerful safety feature: an integrated tilt sensor. While many riders will never think twice about it once it’s dialed in, the tilt sensor is one of those features that can cause confusion during first setup—especially if you haven’t read the manual or encountered a locked system that “won’t run.” This article walks through exactly how the Fusion Gen 2.5 tilt sensor …

Foil Drive’s V3 Controller is a true from-scratch redesign that aims to make riding more straightforward, safer, and more data-rich. In Paul’s deep dive, he walks through the new hardware, the updated control modes (including the new gear mode), the on-screen data pages, and the settings that help you tune the remote for your riding style—whether you’re learning, cruising, or chasing waves. What’s New With the Foil Drive V3 Controller A more ergonomic, lighter r …

Appletree Surfboards has built a reputation for pushing foil board design forward, and the Zapple S is a straightforward extension of that mindset. Developed inside the Appletree factory and shaped with direct feedback from experienced riders, the Zapple S takes everything learned from the original Zapple and distills it into a shorter, more aggressive prone-style platform for advanced wave riding with Foil Drive. This board isn’t about accessibility or ease of use. It’s about pe …

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 …

SHOP Foil Drive Trench Boards! Foil Drive has reshaped the way riders approach foiling, opening the door to smaller boards and foils, and enabling dramatically longer flights. As Dominic from Foil Drive Europe explains, the system is a full-on cheat code in the best possible way. The next evolution in the Foil Drive ecosystem is the rise of dedicated trench boards—board designs that integrate the Foil Drive unit into the deck for improved balance, reduced drag, and higher performanc …