Electrify Your Foils

For Steven Anderson a love of the ocean, product and progression has shaped much of his life. From kite surfing and wakeboarding to motorbikes and now foiling, Steven has always been drawn to the next challenge. Alongside that, he has built a career around products, eventually starting his own brand, Follow, almost 15 years ago. Today, life is busy. With a wife, three kids, a business, staff and plenty of travel, finding time for himself can be difficult. For Steven, that's where Foil Drive has made a real difference. A Love of Product Steven's interest in products started well before Follow. Having spent much of his working life in retail, he became fascinated by how products work, why they work and, sometimes, why they break. Attention to detail became a big part of how he approached both his work and the products he used himself. That eventually led to the creation of Follow, the brand he has built over the last 15 years or so. But the interest in product goes beyond the business side of things. Steven has always loved trying new sports, new equipment and learning how everything works. He's naturally drawn to the early stages of a sport and the process of figuring things out. “I get to a level of something and then I'm like, what's next?” It's a mindset that has followed him from one pursuit to the next. Chasing the Next Challenge Kite surfing played a big role in Steven's early years, and from there the search for the next challenge continued. Even more recently, he found himself chasing speed and adrenaline through motorbike racing, competing on supersport motorcycles despite having a wife and three kids. A few crashes, broken collarbones, plates, screws and months spent recovering eventually put a different perspective on things. At around the same time, Steven's love of foiling was starting to take hold. Rather than spending as much time chasing speed on the asphalt, he found himself increasingly drawn back towards the water. As Steven has got older, work-life balance has become increasingly important. “Time's something you don't get back.” With a busy work life and a young family, there isn't always time for a long surf session. Foil Drive has given Steven another way to make the most of the time he does have. Being able to turn up at the beach and get a large number of waves in a short session has completely changed what a session can look like. “Just being able to turn up at the beach and get 30 waves in an hour is something I didn't have prior.” For Steven, it's not just about getting more waves. That extra time in the water has helped improve his fitness, his foiling and ultimately his overall lifestyle. The Ocean as a Reset The ocean has always played an important role in Steven's life. When work becomes stressful or life starts to feel overwhelming, time in the water gives him a chance to switch off. He describes the ocean as something that has always had a calming effect on him, and it's something he now sees in his own kids. After work, they might be waiting at the front door with skateboards or surfboards, ready to get outside. There's an understanding between them that sometimes you just need to get in the water, get moving and clear your head. For Steven, foiling brings that same feeling while still delivering the speed, adrenaline and challenge that have always attracted him to action sports. From Foil Drive Training Tool to Everyday Gear Steven initially approached Foil Drive as a training tool. After around a year and a half of prone foiling, he was still only catching three or four waves in a session. Plenty of paddling and limited opportunities to ride made progression difficult. Foil Drive changed that by giving him the ability to catch more waves and get more repetition in every session. Going from three or four waves to around 30 meant more time standing, more time riding and more opportunities to improve. That repetition also helped build fitness. As his fitness improved, so did his foiling, creating a cycle that encouraged him to spend even more time on the water. Interestingly, Steven still spends the majority of his sessions prone foiling. “I'd still say 70 to 80% of my time in the water is still paddling.” But when conditions are too difficult to paddle, or he simply wants to maximise the session, Foil Drive gives him another option. A Growing Foiling Community Steven has also seen a huge change in the local foiling community on the Gold Coast. When he first started, seeing one or two people foiling was relatively unusual. Now, groups of 12 to 15 foilers can regularly be found sharing the same banks. For Steven, that reminds him of the early days of kite surfing. There's a similar sense of community, with people helping each other and sharing the same enthusiasm for something that is still evolving. That community has become another important part of the experience. There are also plenty of highly skilled foilers around the Gold Coast, which gives Steven even more motivation to keep improving. “It just motivates me to be better, and also be fitter.” The 5am Routine Steven's days often start before sunrise. The night before, the messages begin. Where are we going? What's the swell doing? What's the forecast? What's the plan? Then comes the 5am alarm. By around 5:30am, Steven is at the beach watching the sunrise, checking the conditions and getting the gear ready. From there, it could be a prone session, Foil Drive, or a combination of both. After the session comes coffee with the crew, then it's off to work. By 8am, the phone is already going, with Steven dealing with a busy work schedule and plenty of international business. But those early hours on the water give him something important before the working day begins. “That early morning is a time where I get to centre myself and relax. I start the day with a clear mind.” From there, it's a full day. Work. School pickups. Kids' activities. Skateboarding. Surfing. Dinner. Family time. Then, by around 7:30 or 8pm, the day starts to wind down. Until the messages begin again. Another morning. Another forecast. Another session. It's a routine that works because it gives Steven something to look forward to and creates space in an otherwise busy schedule. For someone who has spent his life chasing the next challenge, whether that's building Follow, learning a new sport or improving on the water, Foil Drive has become another part of that progression. Not a replacement for prone foiling, and not simply another piece of gear, but a way to spend more time doing something he loves. Because ultimately, for Steven, it's about making the most of the time you have. And getting in the water whenever you can. [product-carousel]

At 77, surfing legend Gerry Lopez is still exploring new ways to ride. From his days at Pipeline to discovering foiling and riding with Foil Drive, Gerry reflects on a lifetime spent chasing new experiences on the water.

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.