Electrify Your Foils

After three years away from home, Foil Drive pro team and North team rider Noé Cantaloube returned to French Polynesia, the islands that shaped him, his family, and his connection to the ocean. This short film, created in collaboration between Foil Drive and North Foils, follows Noé and filmmaker Eric Wittkopf as they document a long awaited homecoming. It is a story about returning to where it all began and reconnecting with the people, places, and rhythms that define island life. A Life Shaped by the Ocean Noé grew up between French Polynesia and the Ryukyu Islands, but Polynesia has always been his anchor. For him, it represents something deeper than just a place. It is connection to nature, to family, and to the ocean. Life in the islands is guided by the elements. There is no fixed schedule, only conditions. If the wind arrives, it is time to wing foil. If waves appear, it becomes a surf or surf foil session. Every day is shaped by what the ocean gives. That connection is what Noé missed most while living away. At home, everything feels connected again. The ocean, the land, and the people who taught him how to move through both. Discovering Foiling Away From Home Ironically, Noé’s foiling journey began far from the islands. Like many young Polynesians pursuing study and opportunity, he left for France. It was there that he first discovered foiling. At the time, the sport was still emerging and expensive. Equipment was hard to access, and progression required sacrifice. Noé remembers long periods of eating simply to save for gear, slowly building his first setup piece by piece. But the motivation was clear. Every session was a step closer to freedom on the water. From those early days in Europe, he developed the skills that would eventually shape his professional path. Wing foiling, dock starts, and learning to read the ocean in a completely new way became part of his daily life. What started as curiosity became a career. Returning to Tahiti and Bora Bora Back in Tahiti, Noé reconnected with family, friends, and the rhythm of island life. Days were simple. Mornings with family, afternoons on the water, and evenings sharing stories with friends he had grown up with. Local foil spots came alive with familiar faces, where the focus is never competition, only enjoyment of the ocean and time together. The journey also took him to Bora Bora. Returning there carried a different feeling. Years earlier, before leaving for Europe, Noé had helped his uncle build a house on the island. Coming back to see it completed and lived in added a personal layer to the trip that went beyond sport. Bora Bora has changed over the years. More people, more tourism, and a different pace of life. But the natural landscape remains unchanged. The mountains, the lagoon, and the water still define everything. Even without consistent surf, the lagoon offers endless opportunities for foiling, boat sessions, and time on the water with family and friends. Foiling as Connection One of the strongest themes throughout this journey is how foiling brings people together. Returning as a Foil Drive pro team rider, Noé was able to share his world with the people closest to him in a new way. Sessions on the water became a shared experience again, whether behind boats, in the lagoon, or at local spots with friends who have been part of his life since childhood. There is no pressure in these moments. Just time on the water, laughter, and connection. This is where Foil Drive plays a subtle but important role. By expanding the range of conditions and making time on foil more accessible, it helps unlock more of these shared experiences, especially in places where conditions can be unpredictable. North × Foil Drive Collaboration This film is a collaboration between North Foils and Foil Drive, highlighting the evolution of modern foiling and the ways riders are exploring the ocean today. From remote island lagoons to marginal wind days and long boat sessions, electric foil assist has opened new possibilities for riders like Noé. It allows more time on the water, more consistency in training, and more freedom to explore places that were previously harder to access. For Noé, it is not just about performance. It is about connection, exploration, and time spent in the ocean he grew up in. [product-carousel] A Story of Home At its core, Homecoming is not only a foiling film. It is a story about returning. Returning to family. Returning to culture. Returning to the ocean that shaped a life. French Polynesia remains unchanged in its essence. The water, the land, and the people continue to define everything that happens there. And for Noé, coming back is a reminder that no matter how far you travel, some places will always feel like home.

Foiling is about freedom, but the path to that first glide looks different for everyone. In this Q&A, we sit down with Foil Drive pro staff, Josh Ku, and Jason Sauer, a double-amputee and dedicated adaptive foiler, to share the real-world tips he’s learned while pushing the limits of his setup. 

Foil Drive made waves at the Summer Kite Festival in Poland, showcasing its electric foil assistance system across varied conditions and audiences. Here's a look at how this transformative tech is pushing the boundaries of foiling in Europe and what’s next for Foil Drive enthusiasts. The event was held in a quaint Polish town along a picturesque coastline, a prime spot for water sports with clean waters, steady winds, and beautiful weather. The setup allowed Foil Drive to demonstrate the flexibility of its system in real-world scenarios, from racing to recreational use. Dominic, who heads Foil Drive Europe, noted that while some participants were initially sceptical, they soon realised Foil Drive’s full capabilities. Once people hit the water, there was a noticeable “click moment,” where the light, power, and fun factor of Foil Drive became immediately apparent. Foil Drive Europe: New Developments for a Growing Audience Foil Drive Europe, a budding team of three, has ambitious plans for the region. While products are currently shipped from Australia, a significant shift is coming in October 2024, when Foil Drive Europe will handle its own stock and distribution. This change means faster shipping, reduced taxes, and a generally smoother process for European customers. The primary role of the Foil Drive Europe team is to increase awareness and accessibility. Over the past year, Dominic has tirelessly travelled to foil and surf destinations, organising demos and introducing riders to the thrill of using Foil Drive. Each country presents unique challenges and user demands—from wing foiling and pump foiling in Germany to downwinding along coastal Europe—and Foil Drive is proving versatile enough to meet these diverse needs. A Foiling Revelation for Newbies and Pros Alike The Polish audience was diverse, with both complete beginners and experienced foilers giving Foil Drive a try. It’s not just the capabilities of the Foil Drive that impressed but the simplicity with which it opened up foiling for new users. Beginners, who might typically struggle with the steep learning curve of foiling, found themselves on foil faster and with far less frustration. For seasoned surfers and wing foilers, Foil Drive offered a lightweight, reliable solution for flat water, pumping, and even downwind sessions. This blend of utility for both beginners and advanced riders reinforces Foil Drive’s position as more than just an “eFoil alternative.” It’s a system tailored to add value across a spectrum of use cases. Tailoring Gear to Maximise Performance One of the frequently asked questions at the event was about the best gear setup for Foil Drive. The system's adaptability across various front wings allows riders to choose high-aspect wings for calm conditions and small, manoeuvrable wings for bumpier days. Dominic shared that mid-length boards and foil-specific designs from major brands work particularly well with Foil Drive, offering enhanced glide and stability without excessive drag. Key tips for optimising performance included choosing boards with minimal rocker for easy takeoff, a feature that helps beginners avoid excessive energy burn when planning. Likewise, high-aspect foils work well with Foil Drive, especially in European waters where light wind and flat-water sessions are common. Battery life is always a top query, especially for riders looking to maximise time on the water. As Dominic explained, battery life varies based on factors like rider weight, conditions, and skill level. Typically, an average rider (around 80 kg) can expect over an hour on a Power battery and close to 45 minutes on the Sport battery. The Power battery, which lasts longer, is ideal for all-day outings, while the lighter Slim model with a performance battery suits flat-water sessions and wake thieving. In Poland, the team enjoyed upwind and downwind runs of 600-800 meters, clocking in over two hours of foiling. Even as conditions changed, Foil Drive’s setup allowed for extended glides and uninterrupted fun, with minimal drag once up on foil. “Try Before You Buy” and European Expansion Plans Foil Drive is committed to letting prospective buyers experience the system first-hand. Through a growing network of European dealers, team riders, and ambassadors, Foil Drive demos are becoming increasingly available. Dominic noted that while not all ambassadors can provide demos due to equipment investment, many are eager to spread the word, often making their own gear available for testing. Upcoming Events and Product Launches Dominic is gearing up for the Association of Wind and Water Sports Industries (AWSI) event in Hood River, where the team will unveil new products, though the core Gen 2 system remains unchanged and future-proofed. Following AWSI, Foil Drive Europe has several informal downwind events lined up and a big showing planned for the prestigious Düsseldorf Boat Show in early 2025. The goal is clear: to make Foil Drive more accessible and expand its footprint across Europe. The Summer Kite Festival offered Polish enthusiasts an up-close look at how Foil Drive can redefine their foiling experience, from enabling flat-water pumping sessions to making challenging downwind rides more accessible. As Foil Drive Europe expands its presence and product range, the future of foiling in Europe looks brighter, faster, and more fun than ever. Keep an eye on Foil Drive’s social media channels for upcoming events, demos, and updates. Whether you’re a first-time foiler or a seasoned pro, there’s no substitute for trying it out yourself and experiencing that “click moment” on the water. Watch the full episode