Electrify Your Foils

For Scarborough local Grant Hore, Foil Drive is more than a way to get on the water. It's a chance to reset, find perspective and return to the people who matter most. Driven is about connecting riders from around the world, sharing their why behind foiling and capturing the everyday moments that make this community what it is. In this episode, we head to Scarborough, Queensland in Australia to meet Grant Hore. A Foil Driver since the early days, Grant is a husband, dad, local electrician and business owner with a deep connection to the ocean and a family history rooted in surf lifesaving. His story is a reminder that sometimes, the most valuable part of a session has nothing to do with how long you ride, what gear you're on or how good the conditions are. Sometimes, it's simply about finding a little space to breathe. Finding space to reset Running a business, raising a family and keeping up with the demands of everyday life can be a balancing act. Grant knows that firsthand. After starting his electrical business, getting married, taking on a mortgage and welcoming two daughters within a relatively short period, he found himself needing some extra support. Rather than continuing to push through, Grant made the decision to seek help. Today, he speaks openly about his mental health journey and the value of having someone to turn to for perspective and guidance. He describes his therapist as his “village elder”, a source of insight and wisdom that helps him navigate life's challenges and show up for his family. For Grant, time on the water plays an important role in that process. Living close to the beach means he can finish work, charge his batteries and head out for a session before returning home. Out on the ocean, the daily pressures fall away. There's no list of jobs to work through or customers to think about. Just the water, the foil and the freedom to be present. “I can really forget the day. I can forget my work customers and just come back home with a sense of relief and really get to enjoy my family.” It's a feeling many of us can relate to. Finding time for ourselves doesn't mean stepping away from the people we care about. Sometimes, it's what helps us reconnect with them. A connection to the water that runs generations deep Grant's relationship with the ocean goes back much further than his own time on a board. His grandfather competed in surf lifesaving during the 1920s, followed by his father, who was involved in surf lifesaving and officiating for decades. Growing up with that family history, the beach was always part of the picture. Grant eventually found his own path through surfing, discovering the independence and freedom that comes with spending time in the water. Over time, though, he came to appreciate something else: the importance of community. While surfing can be an individual pursuit, foiling has given Grant another way to connect with the people around him. The local Scarborough crew might keep things relaxed, but there's always time after a session to catch up, share a drink, talk about the latest gear and put the world to rights. It's the kind of community that doesn't need much organising. Someone brings the esky this week, someone else brings it next week. People show up, check in and look out for each other. For Grant, those connections matter. And they're part of why he believes we should be paying attention to the people around us, both in and out of the water. The freedom to foil, whenever the conditions allow One of the things Grant loves most about Foil Drive is the independence it gives him. Without needing to rely on wind for a kite or wing session, he can make the most of the conditions available and get out on the water when time allows. Whether it's a quick session at his local beach after work or a road trip with mates, the freedom to get out there is a big part of the appeal. His current setup includes the Slingshot Flow 1000 with the One-Lock system, backed up by the Glide 935, paired with a high-modulus carbon mast and a locally made Carbon Co board. It's a practical setup that works for him, built around making the most of his time on the water rather than overcomplicating it. But for Grant, the real value of Foil Drive goes well beyond the equipment. He describes how a particular song, Father Ocean, connected with the feeling he gets from being out on the water alone at sunrise or sunset. It's a simple but powerful combination: music, ocean and the ability to head out whenever he needs that space. “Being able to ride a Foil Drive is not a hard thing. It takes some time, but the gift it gives me of being able to get into my own space and just think of nothing else is really true. It's just a pleasure.” At its heart, Grant's story is about finding balance and recognising the things that help us be better versions of ourselves. For him, that's his family, his local community, professional support when he needs it and time spent in the ocean. Everyone's combination will look a little different, but there's something universal in the idea of finding an outlet, making space for yourself and staying connected to the people around you. It's also a reminder that you never really know what someone else might be dealing with beneath the surface. A conversation after a session, checking in on a mate or simply making time to listen can mean more than we realise. We're grateful to Grant for sharing his story so openly, welcoming us into his local community and reminding us what the Foil Drive community is all about. Because it's not just about what gets you on the water. It's about what brings you back, what keeps you grounded and the people who make the journey worthwhile.

Gen2.5 is more than a new generation of Foil Drive technology. It introduces a more connected ecosystem of systems and batteries, giving riders more freedom to build a setup around the way they actually ride. At the heart of the generation are the Assist MAX+ and Fusion, supported by the new FM+ battery range. Together, they create more options for riders who want to change how they ride without having to start from scratch every time. And while the technology behind Gen2.5 brings more power, more runtime and new features, the bigger story is what that flexibility allows you to do on the water. One ecosystem. More ways to ride. Foil Drive setups have always been about finding the right balance between power, weight, runtime and ride feel. Gen2.5 expands those possibilities. The new FM+650 battery is designed to work across both the Assist MAX+ and Fusion systems. That means one battery can become part of two very different Foil Drive experiences. The MAX+ keeps things compact and responsive, bringing more power and thrust into the familiar MAX format. Fusion takes the same Gen2.5 battery technology and pairs it with a larger-capacity system designed around longer sessions and a different riding experience. Rather than choosing a system and being locked into one configuration, the Gen2.5 ecosystem gives riders more room to build, adapt and evolve their setup. More power changes more than your top speed The Assist MAX+ brings Gen2.5 power into the compact MAX format. The result isn't simply more speed. Extra power can change what is possible throughout a session. More thrust can make getting onto foil easier, particularly when conditions aren't perfect. It can give you more authority when taking off on a smaller board or foil, and more power to recover when you touch down. Once you're up and riding, that additional power can also mean you don't need to run the system as hard to maintain your ride. For progressing riders, that can open up different equipment choices. Smaller boards and foils become more accessible, while experienced riders can use the additional power to push their setup further. The important part is that MAX+ delivers this increased capability without moving away from what made the MAX so popular: a compact, lightweight setup designed to stay responsive under your feet. More runtime without simply adding more bulk Power is only useful if you can use it for the session you want. Gen2.5 brings a new approach to battery technology, combining increased performance with a more flexible battery ecosystem. The FM+650 gives riders more capacity while remaining compatible with both MAX+ and Fusion. This means the same battery can serve different purposes depending on the system you're riding. That flexibility becomes particularly useful as your riding changes. You might want the compact feel of MAX+ for a surf session, then move to Fusion when you're looking for longer sessions. Instead of needing a completely different battery ecosystem for each system, the FM+ range gives you more options. The freedom to build around how you ride There isn't one Foil Drive setup that makes sense for every rider. Your ideal setup depends on where you ride, what you're riding, how long you want to stay on the water and what you're trying to progress. A rider chasing small, technical surf may prioritise a compact and responsive setup. Someone exploring longer e-foiling sessions may put more emphasis on runtime. Another rider may be progressing onto smaller boards and foils and want the additional power to make that transition easier. And for riders who own more than one Foil Drive system, having batteries that work across the Gen2.5 ecosystem creates even more flexibility. That's the idea behind Gen2.5. Build your setup around the way you ride, rather than changing the way you ride to suit your setup. MAX+ and Fusion: different systems, connected technology MAX+ and Fusion aren't designed to be identical systems. They each have their own character and are suited to different riding preferences. MAX+ takes the compact MAX concept and adds the power, battery technology and features of Gen2.5. It's the all-rounder for riders who want a balance of power, weight, runtime and responsiveness. Fusion takes Gen2.5 in a different direction, with a larger-capacity battery and a system designed around longer sessions and a different balance of performance and runtime. What connects them is the technology underneath. The FM+ battery range creates a common ecosystem between the systems, giving riders more freedom to choose the setup that suits the session. And Gen2.5 is only getting started The launch of MAX+, Fusion and the FM+650 is the beginning of the Gen2.5 ecosystem, not the end of it. The FM+430 is coming, bringing another battery option to the platform and giving riders even more choice in how they balance weight, runtime and performance. As the Gen2.5 range continues to grow, the idea remains the same: create systems that work together and give riders more flexibility as their riding evolves. Because your Foil Drive setup shouldn't have to stay the same forever. Your riding changes. Your equipment changes. The conditions change. Your Foil Drive should be able to change with you. More freedom. More possibilities. Gen2.5 brings together more power, more battery flexibility and more ways to configure your Foil Drive setup. But the real benefit isn't found in a specification sheet. It's the freedom to choose the system, battery and configuration that makes sense for the way you want to ride today, while knowing you have more options as that changes tomorrow. One ecosystem. More ways to ride. [product-carousel]

Foiling has the potential to change how people experience the water. For some, it is about performance. For others, it is about discovering a completely new way to move, progress and experience the freedom of being above the water. Now, Foil Drive and Australian Sailing are working together to help make that experience accessible to more people. Australian Sailing has announced Foil Drive as its Official Electric-assisted Hydrofoiling Partner, formalising a partnership focused on supporting the development of Para Sailing and creating new opportunities for people of all abilities to experience and progress in foiling. For Foil Drive, the partnership builds on our involvement with Australian Sailing's Para Inclusive Wing Development Program, including the seated wing foiling camps being held around Australia. Creating new ways to experience foiling The Para Inclusive Wing Development Program is exploring what happens when traditional approaches to sailing are adapted around the individual. Rather than starting with a fixed idea of what the sport should look like, the program is developing the equipment, techniques and skills alongside the athletes taking part. That was the focus of the recent Para Wing Foiling Camp in Townsville, the fourth camp in the program following sessions in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. Participants came together to try seated wing foiling, build confidence and develop their skills on the water. For some, it was their first experience of foiling. For others, it was an opportunity to continue developing something they had already discovered they loved. The Australian Sailing camp video captures that progression, from learning the fundamentals through to the feeling of getting up and flying across the water. “It's just this free flying feeling of soaring across the water.” That feeling is at the heart of why we believe foiling can be so powerful. Technology that helps remove barriers Getting onto foil traditionally requires a combination of paddling, pumping, balance and physical movement. Electric assistance can change that equation. Foil Drive provides powered assistance during take-off and low-speed riding, giving riders another tool to help them get up on foil and develop their skills. For adaptive riders, that can create opportunities to approach foiling differently. The right setup might involve a different board, foil, mast position, cable length, riding position or level of powered assistance. The important thing is that the equipment can be adapted around the rider, rather than expecting every rider to adapt to the same setup. Explore Adaptive Foiling with Foil Drive. We've seen this firsthand through our adaptive foiling community and our work with riders like Jason Sauer, whose experience and practical advice are featured in our Adaptive Foiling with Foil Drive article. There is no single way to foil adaptively. The goal is to find a setup that works for the individual and helps them progress. From the first flight to greater independence For the athletes involved in the Townsville camp, the experience was about much more than simply learning a new watersport. Participants spoke about the freedom of getting onto the water and experiencing flight from a completely different perspective. Coaches and athletes worked together to develop skills, solve problems and explore what could be possible. The program is also opening up a different pathway into sailing. Traditionally, Para Sailing has largely centred around boats. Seated wing foiling introduces the possibility of experiencing sailing and foiling from a board, with participants able to develop new skills and experience the water in a different way. And importantly, the sport is still being developed. As the Townsville camp demonstrated, athletes, coaches and organisers are learning together, developing equipment and refining techniques as they go. Looking towards Brisbane 2032 Australian Sailing's work is part of a broader effort to grow Para Sailing in Australia and explore potential pathways towards the return of sailing to the Paralympic Games at Brisbane 2032. For Foil Drive, supporting that work is an opportunity to contribute technology, equipment and technical expertise while learning alongside the athletes and coaches developing the sport. As Foil Drive Global Sales and Marketing Director Chris Radford explains: “Our role is not to define what people can or can’t do, but to provide the technology, equipment and support that helps sailors find their own pathway into foiling and progress at their own pace.” That philosophy extends beyond Para Sailing. Foil Drive was founded in Australia with the ambition of making foiling more accessible and giving more people the opportunity to experience what is possible on a foil. The work being done with Australian Sailing is another step towards that goal. The future of inclusive foiling The Townsville camp showed what can happen when athletes, coaches, organisations and technology come together to explore something new. There is still plenty to learn. Equipment will continue to evolve. Techniques will continue to develop. And every rider will have their own pathway. But that is what makes adaptive foiling so exciting. It is not about finding one solution that works for everyone. It is about creating more possibilities.