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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 …

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 …

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 …