Wakefoiling the FLITElab 808 Flux Behind the Boat

Tucker is out on the water in Grand Haven, Michigan, with Adam Bennetts from FLITElab. With no lake waves to surf, they took the new FLITElab gear behind the boat for some wakefoiling.

Adam's First Impressions Behind the Boat

This was only the second time Adam has been behind a boat and his first time on the FLITElab gear. He was riding his signature FLUX 808 AB with the short fuse, the 125 stab, and the 82 mast on the 4'0" AB RAW board.

The 808 is designed for intermediate to advanced riders in knee to head-high waves, with enough range that most riders can pump it across multiple waves — which is exactly why it translated so well to pumping between wakes.

Coming from a surf background where you're typically riding faster, Adam was surprised at how well the foil handled the lower speeds behind the boat. He noted that the wake is very compressed and unique compared to what he's used to in the ocean.

Maneuverability and Pumping Performance

Adam found that he could turn the foil very sharply in the pocket of the first wake. He was also able to drop back to the third wake, rip a couple of turns, and then pump forward to overtake the wakes and get back onto the second and then the first wake.

Tucker, riding at 190 pounds, was also happy on the 808 on the first and second wakes. Tucker mentioned that for a heavier rider or for someone looking to focus on second and third wake pumping, the 1010 wing is likely the go-to choice, especially behind smaller boats.

The 4'0"_AB RAW Board Construction

Tucker described the 4'0" AB RAW as feeling small and maneuverable, almost like a little tray board because it's so stiff and light. That's exactly what FLITElab designed it for. The RAW uses a unique carbon-fiber layup arrangement to create a hyper-stiff, light, and responsive surface that transfers every rider input directly to the foil, and FLITElab positions it as a board you can ride 1 to 2 sizes shorter than a traditional shape.

Despite the small feel, the 27-liter, 18.1"-wide 4'0"_AB has enough volume to be forgiving. Adam explained that the volume actually helps when you make mistakes—if you hit the lip or the foam, that extra volume can save the ride where a lower-volume board might just sink. The bevelled rails also improve touchdown performance in both clean and white water, letting the board bounce back onto foil instead of sticking to the surface. Add in the chop tail concept for harder carving in steeper waves, and the flat rocker with a lean parallel outline for paddle power, and it all adds up to a surf-oriented shape that punches well above its size.

Adam shared that they went through at least 30 prototypes of this board to get it right, testing different layups, constructions, shapes, and chines. He was very pedantic about the stiffness and performance. It wasn't necessarily built specifically for wakefoiling, but it's a great board that works across many different disciplines.

System Interchangeability and Future Tech

One of the highlights of the FLITElab system is that everything is interchangeable. The Flux foils can be used on the Fliteboard eFoils, letting riders swap between powered and non-powered setups. Adam also mentioned that a prop mast is coming later this year for the FLITElab gear. That'll let riders use a motor to chase a neighbor's boat wake without needing their own boat driver or wasting gas.

The MACkite Take

Grand Haven behind the boat isn't Adam's home water, and FLITElab wasn't originally designed with wakefoiling in mind. Both handled the transition really well — which says something about how versatile the system actually is.

• The 808 Flux is a strong first-wake pick. Adam turned sharply in the pocket of the first wake, dropped back to the third, and pumped forward through the wake set with no drama. For most riders, the 808 with a short fuse and 125 stab handles first and second wake work confidently.
• Heavier riders and second/third-wake pumpers should size up to the 1010. Tucker (190 lbs) was happy on the 808 for first/second wake but flags the 1010 as the go-to when you want to focus on the outer wakes, especially behind smaller boats where the wakes are less pushy.
• The 4'0" AB RAW earns its volume without giving up size. It rides small, stiff, and maneuverable like a tray board thanks to a premium carbon layup, but the 27L volume plus bevelled rails let it bounce back onto foil after mistakes instead of sinking. FLITElab positions the RAW as a board you can ride 1 to 2 sizes shorter than a traditional shape, and Adam went through 30+ prototypes to dial in the stiffness, chop tail, and rocker.
• FLITElab gear is fully cross-compatible with Fliteboard eFoils. The Flux foils swap between the two systems, so one setup can serve as both a paddle/wake/prone foil and an eFoil depending on which mast and board you clip it into.
• A prop mast is coming later this year. That'll let riders chase neighbor's wakes without needing a boat driver or burning gas, which is a real quality-of-life upgrade for lake foilers who don't have a dedicated ski boat available.

Shop FLITELab Foil Sets

MACkite Subscription Links:

YouTube  |   Instagram  |   Spotify Oddcasts

Contact MACkite Below:

800.622.4655  |   Kiteboarder@MACkite.com  |   LIVE Chat Messenger