266 posts
I just ordered my second Foil Drive kit (HP battery and motor + mini pod). I sold my first kit half a year ago, and my wave count and days on the water dropped immensly.
I've been foiling since 2018. Firstly SUP Foil, afterwards wing foiling and prone foiling, and a bit of DW foiling when I have the time (no so much because of logistics).
Before FD I could only SUP or prone foil in the Summer when the waves were very small (prone) or small to mid (SUP foil). Catching waves prone foiling is a nightmare because I need very specific conditions with easy take-off, whereas with SUP foiling I could catch steeper and bigger waves. With FD I could ride anything any time ofg the year, even big beach breaks; I would catch waves way outside I surfed them before they got more critical on the inside, and even better I was now able to surf on a spot right next to my house: a fishing harbour with a long right that would break for only a few meters but with long non-breaking wave faces. I could ride these waves during high tide on 6-8 ft swells that would otherwise be impossible to ride prone or sup foiling.
Even on the ****iest day I could ride any wave and catch dozens in just an hour, not worrying about crowds (always away from the surf crowd) and conditions. Sometimes, if conditions wre good I would SUP foil next.
I also did a few upwind to downwinds (not as long as regular downwinds because of the battery), and it was super fun and great practice for SUP foiling. Also did a few pump sessions, but FD is not that good for that. I could pump big wings for a good stretch but not the same as regular pump foiling (I'm not a pump foiler). I also use it when I'm holidays on flat spots as an efoil with a longer cable, doing carves and 8s and just having a general good time.
I'm super excited to be back more ofter in the water and I'm also planning on using it in my new parawing journey (if I drift too far, if the wind dies or if I have trouble lifting).
I sell FD in Portugal ever since Gen2 was released. I liked the idea of Gen1 but the drawbacks were way visible, but I jumped on board immediatly when Gen2 was annouced.
I also use it to tech people to foil (flat water), since it hepls new comers to balance quickly on the foil and get air time.
As for my costumers, I have a few really good foilers that use Foil Drive and some begginers or older people that bought FD and are progressing much faster than normal. Some of them wouldn't be able to foil if it wasn't for assist foiling.
