Foiling with drive: Trendsetter Foil Drive - three questions for Dominic Hoskyns

Instead of tedious paddling or pumping, simply press a button and the foil flies: electric propulsion aids are the trend in the foil sector and are designed to make it easier to get started. In addition to pure e-foil providers, classic surf brands such as Armstrong and Axis also have masts and boards in their portfolio that can be combined with an electric drive. In many cases, this comes from Foil Drive, which has moved out of the niche and into the spotlight in recent years. We asked Head of Europe Dominic Hoskyns a few questions.

You were one of the first providers of foil assist systems. Did you start the trend?

For me, assisted foiling is clearly a new discipline within foiling - alongside wing, kite, surf, downwind and parawing foiling. We were the first and are several steps ahead in terms of development. Our systems can be combined with almost any foil brand and work in all disciplines of foiling - whether you are a beginner or an expert. The aim is clear: faster progress, more time on the foil and the ability to get out on the water even in difficult conditions. With the standard kit, you can customise the position of the motor on the mast. With the integrated masts, the position is fixed, but the performance gain is enormous. We offer both integrated carbon masts and aluminium masts from various brands.

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Do you come from the surf and foil sector or more from the electronics side?

The roots are clearly in electronics. The founders Paul Martin and Ben Jamieson come from the drone sector. They have built drones for inspecting oil platforms and power lines. Paul is also a passionate surfer - this combination of high-tech electronics and water sports ultimately led to Foil Drive. We see ourselves as a link between the top brands. We supply the technology, other brands supply boards, masts and foils. Everyone concentrates on what they do best - and this is exactly what makes the sport better overall.

A look into the future: How will assisted foiling develop over the next few years?

More power and more runtime - that's what everyone wants. But the difference with us is that we don't solve this by adding weight. Our philosophy is: smaller, lighter, more powerful. Our motors are becoming more compact and more powerful, the batteries more energy-efficient and the design ever more efficient. A good product doesn't get bigger, it literally disappears under your feet. This is exactly where we see the future of Foil Assist. Foiling is difficult to learn, and many people give up if they don't see any progress. A drive helps enormously in achieving a sense of achievement more quickly. As a result, more people stick with it in the long term - and that is extremely important for the development of the sport.

Thank you very much!

More info at foildrive.com