Electrify Your Foils

For Mark “Curly” Thomas, foiling is more than a sport. It is a way to explore, move, and connect with the ocean. Based in the South Island of New Zealand, far from the coastline he loves to ride, Curly has built a life around chasing waves, exploring new places, and finding moments of freedom on the water. In this episode, we follow Curly through some of New Zealand’s most pristine coastlines and get a glimpse into the unhurried lifestyle he has created around surfing, foiling, and adventure. Watch Curly’s journey and discover why Foil Drive has become such an important part of his ocean experience. A lifelong need to move “I don't know how successfully I could exist without having some form of movement. It's like what I was made to do.” For Curly, movement has always been part of who he is. Whether it is music, surfing, exploring, or spending time outdoors, creativity and adventure have shaped the way he lives. Although he lives inland near Wānaka, around 15km outside of town, the ocean has always been a major part of his life. After learning to surf in his 40s, Curly spent years chasing waves and building a deep connection with the water. Over time, he discovered foiling, and quickly found a new way to experience the ocean. “Foil Drive very quickly became my passion.” Creating more opportunities on the water One of the biggest changes foiling brought Curly was the ability to turn conditions that might otherwise be overlooked into memorable sessions. For many surfers, small swell or imperfect conditions can mean waiting for another day. Foiling changes that perspective. With a foil setup, wind bumps, small rolling swells, and waves that may not suit traditional surfing can become incredible opportunities to explore. Learn more about how Foil Drive opens up new possibilities across different foiling disciplines, from prone foiling and downwind adventures to wing and SUP foiling. Chasing coastlines and chasing conditions Living away from the ocean might seem like a challenge, but Curly sees it differently. With access to the west coast, south coast, and east coast of New Zealand, he has the freedom to make a decision each day based on the forecast and chase the best conditions available. His van has become the ultimate adventure base, loaded and ready to go at a moment’s notice. “All I have to do is throw a bit of food in the fridge and throw a dog in the van and I’m gone.” That sense of freedom is what keeps Curly exploring. The ability to pack up, travel, and find new places to ride is what makes foiling such a unique experience. For Curly, the biggest reward is not just the ride. It is the connection to the environment. “I feel so connected to nature. That is the single biggest thing for me in what I do.” Foiling has given him a new perspective on the ocean and expanded what is possible on the water. The ability to glide across different conditions and explore new locations has made every session an opportunity to experience something different. Explore the technology behind the ride with our How Foil Drive Works guide and see how electric assist technology is helping riders access more waves, more often. Riding more waves than ever At this stage of his life, Curly feels like he is experiencing the ocean more than ever before. Through foiling, travelling, and the freedom provided by Foil Drive, he has been able to create more opportunities to ride and explore. “I’m certainly riding more waves than I’ve ever ridden before.” For Curly, that is what foiling is all about. Freedom, exploration, and making the most of every opportunity the ocean provides.

Some people choose the ocean. For Olívia Piana, it feels like the ocean chose her. Three-time Stand Up Paddle Race World Champion, coach, adventurer and lifelong waterwoman, Olívia has spent her life chasing the feeling that only time on the water can provide. Whether racing around the world, surfing empty peaks or introducing newcomers to foiling, one thing has always remained the same: a relentless desire to spend more time in the ocean. In this episode of Driven, we sat down with Olívia to talk about her journey, what motivates her, and how Foil Drive has opened entirely new possibilities for both her own riding and the way she teaches others. Finding Home in the Ocean "The ocean is a dangerous place," Olívia said. "But at the same time, it's where I feel safe." It's a statement that perfectly captures her relationship with the sea. Respect has always come first, but so has connection. Growing up, any excuse to get in the water was a good one. Windsurfing with her mum became the starting point for a lifelong pursuit that would eventually take her across almost every discipline imaginable. That connection wasn't built around winning trophies. It was built around simply being in the ocean. Olívia discovered Stand Up Paddle in 2012, initially focusing on surfing waves before competitive racing took her around the globe. Over the next eight years she established herself as one of the sport's most accomplished athletes, claiming three SUP Race World Championships while becoming one of the most recognisable faces in international paddling. But for Olívia, the greatest memories weren't just the podium finishes. They were the people. She speaks passionately about the SUP community, describing it as welcoming, supportive and inclusive. It became a sport where friendships often mattered just as much as results, helping shape the athlete and coach she is today. (Image Credit: Benjamin Boerez) Discovering Foiling Like many experienced water athletes, Olívia was immediately captivated when foiling began to emerge across Europe. She started surf foiling in 2018 before quickly progressing into SUP foiling, discovering an entirely new way to experience the ocean. What drew her in wasn't just the performance. It was the freedom. Foiling allowed her to connect waves that would previously go unridden, explore quieter parts of the lineup and spend long periods simply flowing across the water. For someone who enjoys finding moments of solitude in the ocean, it felt like another evolution in the way she could ride. When Foil Drive first arrived in Portugal in 2023, Olívia admits she wasn't immediately convinced. Like many experienced foilers, she was cautious about electric assistance. Everything changed after a few sessions. Starting on flatwater before progressing into the surf, she quickly recognised that Foil Drive wasn't replacing the experience she loved. It was expanding it. Rather than changing what foiling was, it opened access to waves that were difficult or impossible to paddle into, allowing her to spend more time riding and less time waiting. "It isn't just an innovation," she explained. "It's a revolution." More Time Riding. More Possibilities. For elite riders, Foil Drive creates opportunities to push limits, link more waves and experiment with new ideas that simply weren't possible before. But Olívia believes its biggest impact stretches far beyond high-performance riding. Because the system mounts to a standard foil board, riders can continue using the equipment they already know while adding powered assistance only when they want it. It creates more opportunities to explore, practise and progress. And sometimes, it simply makes difficult days more enjoyable. Whether escaping the impact zone after a wipeout or reaching a distant peak that would normally be out of reach, Foil Drive becomes another tool that keeps you on the water longer. Changing the Way People Learn Perhaps nowhere has Foil Drive made a bigger impact than in Olívia's coaching. At her school in Portugal, around 80% of students now learn using Foil Drive. The reason is simple. Students progress faster. Instead of spending entire sessions fighting for waves or paddling back into position, riders are able to focus on the skills that matter most: balance, board control and understanding foil flight. For coaches, that means more teaching. For students, it means more successful rides. Watching people experience their first sustained flights has become one of the most rewarding parts of Olívia's career. Helping someone discover a passion that could change their life is every bit as satisfying as standing on a podium. Looking Ahead Olívia believes we're only scratching the surface of what's possible. From downwind adventures to dedicated Foil Drive racing, she sees enormous potential for the future of assisted foiling. As the sport continues to evolve, athletes like Olívia aren't just adapting to new technology, they're helping shape how it's used, taught and experienced around the world. For someone whose life has always been driven by curiosity, progression and time in the ocean, that feels like the perfect next chapter. Watch the Full Episode Watch the latest episode of Driven featuring Olívia Piana to hear her story in her own words and discover how Foil Drive is helping redefine what's possible on the water.

With Foil Drive continuously bridging the gap between an assist system and a traditional e-foil, we headed to Morocco for the opening stop of the 2026 Surf Foil World Tour in Marchica, Nador. It was the tour’s very first time visiting Morocco, making it the perfect setting for our official competitive debut. We were absolutely stoked to watch team rider Julia Castro, riding a Fusion, secure an awesome second-place podium finish riding the Foil Drive Fusion.  The SFT events have been a link for non-wind related water sports and their incredible riders and community with meetings and events all over the world. With this year's highly competitive competitions it’s been really exciting to see the Fusion create a lane of its own as a highly adaptable foiling unit, showcasing its convertible features during beginner demo’s and families to podium worthy speed and maneuverability on the world stage. It’s been able to shine as a single tool, with endless possibilities. Competing against a fleet of fully integrated e-foil setups, Julia proved the capability of the Fusion system at the highest level of competition. In a discipline traditionally dominated by conventional e-foils, securing a second-place finish on a Foil Drive assist system marks a massive milestone for us and the community. Facing a highly competitive international field, the Fusion delivered the power, efficiency, and responsiveness required to bring competitive top speeds and with its lighter battery and unit weight its reactiveness and maneuverability had an impact on every heat.  It is a clear demonstration that elite racing performance is no longer limited to traditional, heavy e-foil designs.  As the e-foil World Championship enters its second season, the level of competition and the pace of technological evolution are skyrocketing. The Surf Foil World Tour now heads to its upcoming international stops in Munich, China, and France.  Jeremy Wilmotte will be riding  in Shengzhen China in May for the next competition riding Armstrong x Foil Drive, bringing his own impressive skills to the event. [product-carousel] With this podium finish, Julia and the Foil Drive Fusion have set the tone early for 2026, challenging industry expectations and redefining what is possible in competitive e-foiling.  Congratulations, Julia. We cannot wait to see what the rest of the tour brings. "I am super stoked about my result in Marchica, Morocco. I have been out of the competition scene for quite a while but very hungry to make it back, and finally the moment arrived. Although my board selection was not great, I went with way too little litres, I managed to be on the podium and even fighting for first place. I competed with the Foil Drive FUSION and the new V3 remote. Taking home a second place means a lot to me and I can't wait for the next event which for me will be Munich.”