What is an eFoil?
The eFoil is a young watersport that blends the best of surfing, kitefoiling, and snowboarding with the feeling of flight. The big difference is how quickly many people learn it. With a little talent you may be gliding above the water after just 20 minutes.
Our tip: take your first hour with an instructor. You'll skip most of the crashes, and every outing after that is pure fun.
An eFoil combines the ride feel of classic surfing with the speed rush of motorized watersports.
Technically speaking, an eFoil (electric hydrofoil) is a surfboard with a propeller-driven wing mounted underneath. Above a certain speed the wing generates enough lift to raise the board out of the water. From the shore it looks like the rider is hovering over the surface.
Kiters, windsurfers, and surfers love putting foils under their boards too. The eFoil is especially practical on lakes and calm bays, because you don't need wind or waves. The electric drive is also quiet and emission-free. Where you are allowed to ride is another question: rules differ by country and even by lake, so check the local regulations before you head out.
Foiling feels like flying above the water: an experience you won't forget anytime soon.
How does an eFoil work?
An eFoil starts with a high-quality surfboard. Underneath, a mast carries a powerful electric motor with a propeller, and the wing sits at the foot of the mast. Once the propeller has pushed the board up to speed, the foil generates enough lift to raise the board out of the water. Hydrofoil boats work on the same principle: the higher the speed, the stronger the lift.
Picture the foil as a small airplane under water. To take off, you shift your weight back and the front wing starts to climb. To land, you bring your center of gravity forward until the board settles back down. You control the speed with a Bluetooth remote. The top speeds makers quote run from about 35 to 60 km/h (roughly 22 to 37 mph), depending on the model and the wing; Awake, for instance, gives 45 km/h (≈ 28 mph) for its VINGA Carve.
eFoil boards
Ready to ride, a carbon eFoil with a full-size battery weighs around 30 kg. Lift's LIFT5 Cruiser, for example, comes to 31.98 kg: 10.7 kg of board, 13.8 kg of battery, and the rest in mast, motor, and wings. Lighter builds such as Lift's LIFTX stay near 20 kg. At the other end, Aerofoils' big inflatable sets pass 40 kg with the larger battery. Premium boards are mostly carbon fiber, which is stiff yet light. Many entry models use EPP foam or fiberglass instead. Some manufacturers also offer inflatable versions that are easier to transport.
The electric motor runs almost completely silent, so you can ride without disturbing the quiet around you. Ride time depends on the pack. For the battery that comes with the board, makers quote anywhere from 45 minutes to two and a half hours, and those are best-case figures, since rider weight, speed, and wing choice all change how long a pack lasts. An hour on the water is plenty to give your legs a real workout.
The foil itself consists of a mast, fuselage (the central body), front wing, and stabilizer. Wing size sets the character: small wings make the board faster but demand more control. Large wings run more stable and are easier to learn on, at the cost of top speed. Within one maker's range, price mostly follows the build. Lift's carbon LIFT5 costs more than the fiberglass LIFT5 F, although both run on one shared system, and HydroFlyer asks more for its carbon CF than for the fiberglass AL, yet fits both with a 6,000 W motor and a 2.4 kWh battery. A higher price does not guarantee a longer session. Lift's lightweight LIFTX is rated for up to 45 minutes per charge, while several cheaper boards from Waydoo, SiFly, and HydroFlyer are rated for about two hours.
Want to see the models side by side? Our eFoil comparison gathers the current models from the seven brands we cover in one place, with prices, ride times, and a note on who each board is for.
How to learn eFoiling
Learning to eFoil is not hard. Work through the following steps in order and you'll be flying across the water sooner than you think:
- Whatever you do, put on a helmet and vest! As a beginner you're guaranteed to fall into the water more than once.
- Find a suitable spot to practice: no swimmers or other water users within 100 meters, and smooth water without waves. The foil is also delicate, so the water needs to be deep enough.
- Pull yourself onto the board the way you would climb onto a surfboard. Never use the foil or the motor as a step, though. Keep your feet as far away from the motor and the wings as possible.
- Set the remote to level 1, the beginner mode.
- Lie down on your stomach and throttle up.
- Unlike on a normal surfboard, the nose rises as you accelerate. So shift your center of gravity forward: pull yourself a little toward the nose with your hands as you apply throttle.
- Keep your speed up. Otherwise the nose digs into the water and the board gets twitchy.
- Ride a few laps lying down to get to know the board and get used to the speed and the turns.
- After that, try a few laps on your knees.
- Now for the big moment: stand up! Get up slowly and hold your speed while you do.
- Find a comfortable stance and ride a few laps. Not too slowly, though, or the nose will start climbing again.
- Learn how to fall properly. If the board gets twitchy, use the last stable moment to jump off. Never jump forward! Always to the side or backward, and as far away from the foil as you can.
- Once you're standing solidly on the board, you can start flying step by step. This is the hardest part. At the right speed, your feet move back and your upper body leans forward so your center of gravity stays in the same place. Shift your weight back from there and the eFoil lifts off. You control the ride height purely with your center of gravity, not with the remote. Keep your first flights short and touch back down soon. Then extend your flight time bit by bit.
- Finding the right foot position takes some practice. How far back you stand depends on your weight. Front to back, place your feet slightly wider than shoulder width so you have room to shift your weight. Side to side, slide them out to shoulder width as well: that improves your balance and gives you more room to steer.
- How long it takes to learn varies from person to person. After about 4 to 5 hours of practice, most riders feel at home on the electric hydrofoil. If you already have watersports experience, you'll sometimes be flying on your feet within 20 minutes. Complete newcomers settle in fine too: in most cases, people learn eFoiling faster than surfing or kiteboarding.
Frequently asked questions
What is an eFoil?
An eFoil (also written e-foil) is an electric hydrofoil surfboard. A wing mounted under the board lifts it clear of the water once you reach a certain speed. From that point on you're practically flying above the surface.
How long does it take to learn eFoiling?
Plan on 4 to 5 hours of practice before you feel confident on an electric hydrofoil. If you already do other watersports, you'll sometimes be up on the board and flying within 20 minutes.
What equipment do I need to eFoil?
You need an eFoil board with its wing, mast, electric motor, battery, and remote, plus a charger for the battery. Always wear a helmet and a vest as well; early on you'll end up in the water a lot.
Is eFoiling hard to learn?
No. Many people learn eFoiling faster than surfing or kiteboarding. You practice in stages: lying down first, then kneeling, then standing, and only once you stand solidly do you start to fly, which is the hardest part.
Where can I ride an eFoil?
Pick a spot with deep enough water and no swimmers or other water users within 100 meters. Beyond that, rules differ by country and even by lake, so check the local regulations before you ride.