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Ryan and Hunter have been testing the all-new Foil Drive MAX+. This new unit is officially replacing the Foil Drive MAX in the lineup, taking the system people know and love and giving it a major update. After getting it out on the water in a variety of conditions, they break down exactly what you can expect from this new setup. Upgraded 43-Volt System and Power Just like the Gen 2.5 Foil Drive Fusion, the MAX+ is a 43-volt system. This gives you more power, allowing you to get up on foil muc …

Ryan and Hunter have answers to your questions on when you might choose the blue prop, the grey prop, or even the black prop for your Foil Drive. Looking at the lineup of props in the Foil Drive range, they run through 10 specific scenarios to help you decide which setup is right for your session. Scenario 1: Learning to Foil Drive If you are someone who is learning to Foil Drive for the first time, you are either going to go with the original black prop or the blue prop. The black props are a …

Ryan and Hunter have been out testing Slingshot's Foil Drive integrated One-Lock aluminum mast. They managed to get out in some epic conditions with a few different foil setups and have really been enjoying the performance of this new system. The Slingshot Integrated Aluminum Mast Ryan kicked things off by pointing out that one of the standout features of this setup is the One-Lock system. When paired with the Foil Drive, it makes for a quick and easy setup to get you in and out of the water …

Ryan and Hunter have been riding the Foil Drive Fusion for a while now. Recently, they put it in their cars full-time, throwing it into the quiver to dedicate solid time to figuring out exactly where it shines and where it fits in compared to the Max unit. After months of testing, they have some solid thoughts to help you decide if the Fusion is the right choice for your setup. Unmatched Run Time and Battery Life The most obvious benefit of the Fusion is the run time. Because it's more powerfu …

Ryan and Hunter have been riding the Omen Capacitor for a while now, putting it through the ringer in a lot of different conditions. This is a dedicated Foil Drive trench board that has been long-awaited, and the team is ready to share their first impressions. Sizes and Construction The Omen Capacitor comes in three sizes to suit various riders and needs. The size featured in this review is the 35-liter, which measures 4'11". It also comes in a 45-liter at 5'4" and a 56-liter at 5'8". These ar …

Ryan and Hunter have spent a lot of time on the Foil Drive, and they absolutely love it. After traveling and flying with it recently, they noticed there isn't a lot of great information out there on what a Foil Drive travel kit should actually look like. While kiteboarding and wing foiling setups are covered everywhere online, the Foil Drive-specific details are a bit lacking. Here's a full breakdown of how to pack your gear, handle your batteries, and navigate the airport. Handling Foil Drive …

Ryan and Hunter, along with Ryan Arzy from Foil Drive, chat about the carbon integrated masts that many brands are now releasing. These masts are available with the new high-power motor, providing more thrust and helping with battery longevity. After testing them at KoGL and during the sessions leading up to it, the team shared their thoughts on how these integrated units perform. Carbon vs. Aluminum Integrated Masts The concept of an integrated mast is nothing new, but the move to carbon …

Ryan and Hunter chat about the all-new Sunova Foil Drive Trench board, designed specifically to integrate with Foil Drive systems, offering a dedicated space for the motor unit and battery. Three Different Sizes The board comes in three sizes to accommodate different rider weights and skill levels: 4'10" at 40 liters 5'2" at 45 liters 5'6" at 50 liters The width on the 4'10" model is 19", and the width increases by a quarter inch on each of the larger two sizes. Board Features The Sunova Tre …

Ryan and Hunter have been using these for a little while now, and after Code took some time to dial them in just right, the team has been really stoked with the result; check out the breakdown, who's it for, and its features. Base Plate Features Starting at the base plate, there's a slotted hardware channel for mounting to the board. The slot makes it easy and seamless to drop the split bolts in — great for quickly swapping the unit out, instead of fiddling around trying to line up a sin …

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 …

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 …