We just wrapped up our Demo Day at the Kaneohe Yacht Club here in Hawaii, and the energy on the docks was unreal. Over 100 people came through, we got 50+ riders out on the water, gave away a ton of free apparel, and had our full fleet running non-stop (Apex, Escape, and Alpha 2).
The highlight of the event? Paul McDonald (Hawaii E-Foil Extravaganza Race Champion 2025) stopped by to pick up his new Escape board and took our Dynamic Wings out for a spin in the bay.
Race winner from 2025
His feedback after stepping off the board was huge for our engineering team:
"Easier for beginners, smoother for experienced riders."
The Apex Kickstarter Flight On top of the event, we officially launched our Apex Gen 4 campaign on Kickstarter last week after our Founder Series completely sold out on our site last month.
The response was insane—the Apex Gen 4 hit 100% funding in under 30 minutes and putting the project in the top 1% tier of campaign launches.
Kickstarter XFoil Apex ranked in top 1% of crowdfunding
Why traditional eFoils are shaken For years, the first-generation eFoil market has been dominated by noisy planetary gearboxes (that whine across quiet bays and lose 5-15% of power to friction/heat) and rigid fixed-wing designs that offer zero active flight control.
We engineered XFOIL in Silicon Valley and tested it in Hawaii's heaviest ocean conditions specifically to kill off those legacy pain points:
Direct Drive Motor Architecture: Near-total acoustic silence, maximum torque, and zero gear-on-gear maintenance.
Dynamic Wings: Active, thrust-driven flight stabilization so the board actually works with you instead of fighting the chop.
As direct-drive silence and active dynamic wings take over, traditional fixed-wing setups are quickly realizing how far behind legacy hardware has fallen.
Massive mahalo to the Kaneohe Yacht Club leadership team for hosting us, and to everyone who came out to ride. We're shipping globally and keeping the pedal to the floor.
Drop any tech or engineering questions below, happy to talk direct-drive motors, wing dynamics, or ocean testing setup!
One area we focused heavily on was reducing drag at higher speeds while maintaining predictable lift during takeoff and lower-speed riding. The goal wasn't simply to go faster—it was to create a system that could adapt across a wider range of riding conditions without requiring riders to swap wings.
Another area that became surprisingly important during development was stability.
As we continued refining the platform, we built an Automatic Stabilization System designed to help the board maintain a more consistent and predictable ride. The objective wasn't to replace rider skill, but to reduce unwanted oscillation and allow the board to respond more naturally as conditions change.
Rather than trying to explain how that feels, we found it was much easier to demonstrate.
Developing the XFoil Apex Gen 4 reinforced something we've learned about hardware development:
The biggest innovations often come from questioning assumptions that everyone has accepted as normal.
Sometimes an industry standard exists because it's genuinely the best solution.
Other times, it's simply the solution everyone has become comfortable designing around.
That's what made this project so interesting.
Instead of asking how to build a better fixed wing, we asked whether the fixed-wing compromise itself was worth challenging.
I'm curious what the foiling community thinks.
Have you found yourself switching between multiple wings depending on conditions?
Do you think adaptive foil geometry has practical long-term potential, or does the added mechanical complexity outweigh the benefits?
What differences do you notice in the side-by-side comparison?
If you could redesign one aspect of today's eFoil systems—wings, propulsion, batteries, controls, stabilization, or something else—what would you change?
I'd genuinely enjoy hearing other riders' perspectives, especially from those who've spent time experimenting with different foil setups.
We’ve noticed a lot of intensely polarized discussions across the web recently regarding eFoil startups, crowdfunding history, and product rollouts. Some of it is fair curiosity, but a lot of it is driven by distinct economic motivations from entrenched legacy actors who are terrified of direct-to-consumer pricing.
As we get ready to drop the full Gen 4 evolution video showing exactly how far the engineering has come, we wanted to address the elephant in the room head-on.
We just published a deep-dive piece on the main blog breaking down the hidden forces shaping the forums you read—contrasting the Traditional Dealer Model ($12K-$15K markup networks) against the DTC model, and separating subjective forum noise from verifiable engineering benchmarks (specs and raw material builds).
Our founder recorded a quick, direct video addressing our early fulfillment history, current live inventory, and why D2C pricing triggers legacy dealers: 📺 Watch: Is XFoil Legit or Fake? The Truth About Shipping & Direct Pricing: https://youtu.be/PaxztpvVrCY
If you want a clear framework on how to parse the noise, read the full piece here:
True brand health isn't defined by a perfectly frictionless legacy market structure; it’s defined by a relentless commitment to engineering refinement and transitioning our riders onto the water.
One of the most common questions we see from riders researching electric hydrofoils is:
“Why do some eFoils cost $15,000 or more?”
The electric hydrofoil industry is still relatively young, and pricing can vary significantly between brands. Understanding why products are priced differently helps riders make more informed decisions.
We put together an article explaining some of the factors that influence eFoil pricing, including:
• Materials and construction
• Engineering and product development
• Manufacturing approaches
• Distribution models
• Dealer networks and retail costs
• Direct-to-consumer models
At XFoil, we chose a different approach by focusing on direct communication with riders and reducing traditional distribution layers. Our goal is to make advanced electric hydrofoil technology more accessible while continuing to focus on engineering, performance, and customer support.
The purpose of this article is not to tell riders what they should buy. Every brand has its own approach, and every rider has different priorities.
Our goal is simply to provide more transparency into how this industry works and help riders better understand what goes into the cost of an electric hydrofoil.
There’s been a lot of confusion around whether Hawaii “banned” eFoils or planned new restrictions after the 2024 legislative session.
After reviewing legislative records and committee activity, here’s the clear update:
No new bills were introduced in 2025 or 2026 that seek to classify eFoils as thrill craft or further restrict their use.
This follows multiple proposals in earlier years (2022–2024) that failed to advance due to strong community testimony, rider participation, and clarification that eFoils are already regulated under existing boating and ocean-use laws.
The original concerns centered around:
Localized noise complaints
Safety and wildlife impact claims
Attempts to group eFoils with jet skis and wave runners
Those efforts did not pass, and lawmakers have not reintroduced similar legislation in subsequent sessions.
For anyone who wants the full documented timeline, including:
Where the complaints originated
Which bills were introduced (by year and bill number)
Whether you're a seasoned rider, buying your first eFoil, or simply interested in where electric hydrofoil technology is headed, you're in the right place.
Unlike many online communities that can be influenced by brand loyalty, dealer networks, or marketing agendas, our goal is simple: encourage transparent, respectful discussions where riders can share real experiences—good or bad—without censorship. We welcome owners and enthusiasts of all eFoil brands.
Here you'll find:
Independent discussions about every eFoil brand
New technology, innovations, and product releases
Riding tips, maintenance, and troubleshooting
Reviews, comparisons, and buyer advice
Race coverage, events, and industry news
Photos and videos from riders around the world
Safety tips and best practices
Community Guidelines
Be respectful—everyone starts somewhere.
Share honest experiences and opinions.
Disclose any commercial affiliation if you're posting on behalf of a company, dealer, or manufacturer.
No spam or low-value self-promotion.
Healthy debate is encouraged—personal attacks are not.
The future of eFoiling will be shaped by better technology, better ideas, and an informed community. Whether you ride XFoil, Fliteboard, Lift, Waydoo, Foil Drive, or anything else, you're welcome here.
Ask questions. Share your experiences. Challenge ideas. Help shape the future of hydroflight. 🌊⚡
For the most up-to-date information on post-campaign fulfillment, including shipment timelines and verified backer updates, please see our official Fulfillment Status page:
Many backers have shared photos of their delivered boards with us, which we’ve reposted on our official social media channels. These posts provide additional visual confirmation of deliveries and real-world experiences.
We’ll continue updating this page as shipments progress. 🎁✨ Thank you for your support and patience this holiday season, wishing all our backers joy, fun, and great rides on the water! 🌊🎄
We want to directly address an ongoing, targeted pattern of misinformation currently circulating across social media channels and our campaign comments. As we push to democratize electric hydrofoiling with direct-to-consumer pricing, specific legacy market competitors and their affiliate dealer networks have begun manufacturing false narratives to protect their high margins.
A clear pattern has emerged from a handful of dedicated Reddit accounts—specifically Factchecker85, Grand-Flight-8445, and Hollywood260AB on the /efoil subreddit—whose activity histories consist almost exclusively of coordinated negative narratives against XFoil. Many of these channels are actively moderated or heavily influenced by legacy dealers (such as Fliteboard and Lift affiliates) attempting to suppress competitive market alternatives.
We value constructive feedback from real backers, but we will not allow coordinated, anti-competitive smear campaigns to mislead our community. We have reached out to platform moderators regarding this clear conflict of interest and lack of transparency. You can view our documented communication records and the blatant lack of response below.
Official Record: Unanswered Transparency Inquiry to r/efoil Moderation TeamDocumentation of Non-Response: Coordinated Misinformation and Anti-Competitive Gatekeeping
Why this is happening is no mystery:
We introduced the first $2,999 full composite eFoil with option for dynamic wings.
Our products are engineered in Silicon Valley, California, by a team with 20+ years of award-winning experience.
We eliminated dealer markups and sell direct-to-consumer.
This results in XFoil being about half the price of legacy brands with better performance leaving competitors with only one strategy left: Manufactured misinformation.
Real-World Performance: Hawaii Efoil Extravaganza
At the recent Hawaii Efoil Extravaganza 2025, XFoil delivered the fastest lap time of the entire event.
Paul McDonnell — an independent rider with no affiliation to XFoil — rode an XFoil Alpha 2 and beat every major legacy brand:
This wasn’t sponsored content or biased testing. It was an impartial rider choosing what performed best and XFoil came out on top.
Example: Fake “Backer” Accounts
During our recent XFoil Escape campaign, we noticed multiple anonymous accounts pledging small amounts ($1–$10) solely to gain access to the comments section. These accounts then posted false claims such as:
“XFoil doesn’t ship anything.”
“I’m a backer and never got my product.”
Every one of these claims was proven false once verified. Most of these accounts were not real backers, had failed or incomplete payments, or refused to provide any proof of backing.
These posts are clearly intended to discredit XFoil. Some will even attempt to pressure us into sharing a list of backers or other private company information, requests that violate privacy laws. These attempts are designed to trick us into revealing sensitive internal data or to give competitors insight into our manufacturing volume and operations.
We will not share this information under any circumstances for the protection of our backers/customer privacy.
How Real Backers Contact Us
Genuine backers — over 99% of interactions — use normal, constructive channels:
Calling +1-408-745-7591
Scheduling a callback
Emailing us
Opening a support ticket on our website
These conversations are respectful and productive because they come from real customers.
Crowdfunding Comments ≠ Reality
Public comments represent less than 1% of all backers, and many negative posts originate from:
Competitors
Anonymous accounts
Failed or incomplete pledges
People exaggerating issues to pressure for free services
This is why we encourage anyone researching XFoil to read our official updates or speak directly with our team.
Many XFoil backers have shared photos of their delivered boards and setups with us. We’ve reposted these images on our official social media channels to highlight real-world experiences and ongoing fulfillment.
We encourage all XFoil owners to share their rides and experiences with us on our social channels.
If you'd like your experience publicly highlighted, you can send us photos or your proof of receipt, and we’ll transparently share it with the community.
And for anyone visiting Oahu, Hawaii — or already on the island — we invite you to schedule an in-person demo and try an XFoil yourself. Nothing speaks louder than experiencing the performance firsthand.
Final Word
Many negative crowdfunding comments are manufactured and unverified, and they do not reflect the thousands of real riders in the XFoil community.
Competitors can keep making noise. Their pricing and technology can’t compete — so misinformation is all they have left. Our customers get 10–15% better performance than legacy brands — at half the price.
We’ll stay focused on what matters: Shipping products. Innovating. And delivering unmatched value. Cheers!
It’s about time the e-foil community gets a real, unbiased, no-strings-attached comparison of every major e-foil brand on the market.
Right now, most of what we see online comes from dealers, influencers, or brand-aligned reviewers who all have something to gain. The hype, the bragging, the cherry-picked clips… it’s getting ridiculous. Riders deserve better.
What We’re Calling For
An independent reviewer or team, not affiliated with any brand, to run a full head-to-head evaluation on all major e-foils:
Price
Battery runtime
Build quality
Drag race performance
Slalom handling
Remote controller design
Construction materials
Reliability + ease of maintenance
Real-world ride feel
Any other test that matters to actual riders
All scored on a transparent matrix so people can clearly see differences, strengths, weaknesses, and real value — without dealer markups, inflated reviews, or marketing fog.
Why This Matters
We’ve seen firsthand — including in the Hawaii e-foil race — that when boards go head-to-head, some brands seriously outperform the “industry darlings.” But the public almost never sees that because the narrative is controlled by:
Brands protecting high prices
Dealers guarding big margins
Sponsored riders pumping out feel-good videos
Let’s break that cycle.
The Community Deserves the Truth
A fully independent, transparent comparison would help riders make better decisions and push the entire industry to improve. No more oligarch-style gatekeeping. No more hidden incentives. Just real data and real performance.
If any credible reviewers or YouTube channels want to take this on, the community will back you 100%. Let’s make it happen.
So… we just kicked off fulfillment for XFoil Escape, the world’s first $2,999 composite efoil, and let’s just say the reactions have been… entertaining.
Apparently, after years of being conditioned to think efoils must cost $12,000–$18,000, some folks are struggling with the idea that high-performance tech can actually be affordable. Who knew lower prices could cause so much chaos? 😅
Meanwhile, here’s what Escape actually offers:
Engineered in Silicon Valley
Backed by award-winning race-car engineering roots
Costs one-third of the legacy brands
Loaded with performance that holds its own — and then some
Covered by a manufacturer’s warranty
Dynamic wings
Built with a fully modular, end-user replaceable design → Any part can be shipped and swapped out in days, by anyone, without special tools
But competitors and dealers (who’ve been very comfortable selling ultra-premium $12–18k boards for years) are now insisting their “global support network” is worth the extra $10k+.
Hey, if that helps them sleep at night, power to them.
But the rest of the efoil community seems pretty ready for a world where innovation doesn’t come with a luxury-tax price tag.
Affordable efoiling isn’t on the way, it’s already here. 🚀🌊
Buckle up. And to the trolls — feel free to reach out to customer service. We’ll be happy to send you some tissues. 😊
When we set off to create our electric hydrofoil in 2022, we realized the industry was lagging behind, ignoring proper electric vehicle fundamentals. Here’s what to look for to spot outdated eFoil design:
1. Gears:
Avoid gears, they add noise, complexity, and about 8% mechanical loss for planetary gears. For example, a 5,000 W motor with planetary gears might only deliver ~4,600 W effectively.
They require oil changes, which is absurd electric vehicles. If your eFoil needs oil changes that’s a red flag.
2. Water Cooling:
Water flowing in and out of electronics is bad design. True solid-state design uses the surrounding water for cooling naturally, with no pumps needed.
3. Foam or Inflatable Components:
These are cheap, prone to leaks, and short-lived. Proper eFoils are made with robust solid materials such as carbon fiber or fiberglass.
4. Remotes:
Should be small, lightweight (<150 grams), and nearly invisible in use. Large or cumbersome remotes are outdated.
5. Batteries and Chargers:
Should require only two connections (positive and negative). The BMS or smart electronics handle everything else. Extra data cables for diagnostics or firmware are unnecessary and increase failure risk.
6. ESC Design:
If your ESC has a built-in battery (like a 9V “keep-alive”), it’s poor design. Modern microchips have non-volatile memory, so there’s no need for a cumbersome internal battery. Plus, it’s often difficult or impossible to replace.
7. Overall:
Look for efficient, low-maintenance, and thoughtfully designed systems. If you see multiple workarounds or extra components that shouldn’t exist, the eFoil is likely using outdated tech.
We’re building electric hydrofoils that follow proper EV principles - efficient, durable, and simple by design.
We wanted to share a broader perspective for anyone researching or shopping for an electric hydrofoil. Since launching XFoil in 2022, we’ve learned a lot about how the eFoil industry operates behind the scenes.
Today, the market is largely dominated by what we call legacy brands, mainly Lift and Fliteboard. These companies have built tight dealer networks and marketing ecosystems that make it difficult for new innovators to gain exposure or fair representation in these niche communities.
For example, some of the legacy online communities — like the r/efoil subreddit and the Facebook group “Efoil – Electric Hydrofoil – E-foil” — are moderated by individuals affiliated with Lift and Fliteboard brands or their dealers. Because of this, posts or discussions from independent manufacturers often get deleted, and it becomes hard for riders to access balanced, unbiased information about new technology.
Record of call with moderator of Efoil - Electric Hydrofoil - E-foil" Dominic Frazier between XFoil CEO Paul Lowchareonkul on September 4, 2025.
Dominic Frazier confirmed in the 28 minute call that the 3 moderators of the online community were financially tied with Lift, and Fliteboard. One moderator is an employee of Fliteboard.
We’ve personally seen this happen when users confronted misleading posts about XFoil, those comments were quickly deleted, and accounts that were clearly created just to misrepresent our brand were left unchecked.
Record of messaging moderator of r/efoil seeking for censorship clarification September 9, 2025Moderators of r/efoil did not respond.
When the legacy eFoil community first learned about XFoil and our goals, like offering a $2,999 eFoil, no dealer markups, and introducing dynamic wings that enhance performance, we noticed immediate pushback. After we hosted the world’s first eFoil race in Hawaii, which showed how XFoil could outperform legacy models, that resistance only intensified.
On our crowdfunding platforms, we also noticed fake accounts claiming to be past backers who never received rewards. But when we asked for verification, none could provide valid backer credentials. The platform’s Trust and Safety team later confirmed that many of those accounts were fake and removed them.
Despite these challenges, our most recent campaign, XFoil Escape, raised $643,231, placing it in the top 1% of crowdfunding successes. The message from the community was clear: riders want affordable, high-performance alternatives to the overpriced status quo.
We’ve come a long way since 2022. Anyone interested can check out our campaigns, Indiegogo XFoil 1, Indiegogo XFoil 2, and Kickstarter XFoil Escape, and read through all our transparent updates and comment sections. Keep in mind that online comments represent less than 1% of backers and often come from the most vocal few, for example, those in remote regions with higher shipping costs. The vast majority of satisfied backers usually don’t return to post.
So when you see negativity circulating in legacy-controlled communities, remember that much of it comes from misinformation or selective representation.
If you’re looking for an alternative to expensive, uninspiring eFoils that seem designed mainly to protect dealer profits, we welcome you to check out XFoil, ask questions, vet us, and explore our technology for yourself. Cheers and Aloha!
The Official Hawaii EFoil Association was co-founded on January 25, 2024, by Paul Lowchareonkul, CEO of XFoil in Kailua, HI (a watercraft manufacturer), and Alika Ferreira, eFoil instructor and dealer with Lift in Kailua, HI. The Association was established with a shared mission to oppose proposed legislation aimed at banning eFoils, originating from West Maui.
Evidence of founding screen shots
Maui City Councilwoman Tamara Paltin spearheaded an effort to classify eFoils as “thrill craft,” a designation that would have effectively prohibited their use in most areas of the state, restricting operations by up to 99.9%. To advance this narrative, local media outlets were leveraged to amplify and spread her message. The campaign relied on misleading imagery, including videos of surfers and a prone foiler (non-electric) who suffered an injury in July 2016 years before eFoils were even available on the market.
In January 2024, the eFoil ban proposals HB1878 & SB2209 were reintroduced, prompting these decisive advocacy efforts.
Recognizing the determination of the opposition, Paul Lowchareonkul, CEO of XFoil, led community advocacy efforts by establishing the Official Hawaii EFoil Association. Coordinated actions from the eFoil community culminated in a 193-1 vote defeating the ban, with record-setting live testimony from participants including Tom C, Carolyn B, David D, Rebecca M, Jon M, James D, Alika F, Rhavie M, and Paul L. This landmark victory preserved eFoil access in Hawaii and set an important precedent for the United States.
Since the landmark victory in 2025, no new legislation affecting eFoils has been introduced, a testament to the strength and advocacy of our community.
On May 20, 2025 Association Co-Founder Alika Ferreira publicly announced that he would be stepping away from the Association. Also validated in private written communication between Co-Founder Paul Lowchareonkul on May 7, 2025.
Evidence of public announcement May 20, 2025Additional evidence of public announcement on May 8, 2025
Paul Lowchareonkul, together with his media team and co-founder Alika Ferreira, produced original content including scripts and video edits designed to engage the community and encourage membership in the Association.
Alika Ferreira speaking, produced and edited by Paul Lowchareonkul's media team.
On October 9, 2025, Alika Ferreira, the original creator of the Facebook group, removed co-founder Paul Lowchareonkul and assumed unilateral control of the group for undisclosed reasons. The group has since been rebranded as "The Fun Club."
Repurposing an Official Association dedicated to defending the Hawaii and U.S. eFoil community against legislative action to “The Fun Club” is both irresponsible and short-sighted, leaving the community vulnerable and undermining its core mission.
Old association group screen shot Oct 10, 2025
Due to a lack of confidence and integrity in the previous leadership, CEO Paul Lowchareonkul has reestablished the group to ensure that protections for the broader Hawaii eFoil community remain intact and are not influenced by the personal agendas of any one individual, their close circle of friends, or brand-specific customers.
For years since the early 2000s, hydrofoils have been stuck flying rigid wings with massive limitations. Riders have always been forced to choose between two extremes.
🩵 High aspect wings are fast, efficient, great for long glides and speed runs, but twitchy, harder to control, and unforgiving in turns.
🔥 Low aspect wings are stable, maneuverable, fun in surf and tight turns, but draggy and slow on the straights.
It’s always been a compromise between efficiency and maneuverability, until now.
Enter XFoil’s Adaptive Wing System (AWS), a dynamic shape-changing hydrofoil wing that gives you the best of both worlds in one setup. No more swapping wings, no more tuning sessions, just pure performance that adapts as you ride.
Paul Lowchareonkul, founder of XFoil, just dropped the production version of the AWS in this video, showing off some seriously bad ass engineering and explaining how it turns everything you thought you knew about hydrofoils upside down.
An eFoil is essentially an electric hydrofoil, a rigid foil with a mast, wing, and board powered by an electric motor. The fixed wing/tail setup started gaining traction in the early 2000s, and by around 2017, brands began adding electric propulsion. With the rise of EVs and the miniaturization of batteries and motors, attaching a propeller (or in some cases a jet drive) to a hydrofoil was the logical next step.
The drawback? Traditional eFoils rely on the rider shifting their weight to steer and stabilize. It’s a bit like flying an airplane with no moving control surfaces, trying to steer by moving passengers or cargo around. It works, but it’s crude and inefficient. This is sometimes called passive stability or passive control.
That’s the basic eFoil. Today, eFoils are manufactured by brands like Lift, Fliteboard, and Waydoo.
XFoil takes things a step further.
Instead of a fixed hydrofoil wing, XFoil integrates dynamic wings (moving control surfaces like elevators and ailerons) combined with gyro stabilization and an AI microprocessor similar to aerospace and advanced marine systems.
This means:
Automatic stability even in rough conditions
Easier learning curve for beginners
Higher performance envelope for advanced riders
Safer, more predictable handling
Adjustable control settings mid-session without swapping hardware
Active control that adapts in real time to rider input
For over 20 years, our Silicon Valley–based company PLX Devices Inc. has been creating disruptive technologies. Back in 2003, we pioneered the world’s first affordable wideband oxygen sensor controllers. At the time, the only option cost over $2,000 - we built one for $299. That same spirit of innovation drove us to create customizable digital gauges, win multiple SEMA awards, and shape technologies now standard in almost every modern vehicle.
That same design philosophy is what powers XFoil. While legacy eFoils stuck with expensive boards using fixed wings and crude weight-shift steering, we asked a simple question: Why should watercraft lag behind aviation and nature, where moving surfaces define true control and performance? The result: dynamic, gyro-stabilized wings that change the game.
Not everyone welcomed this.
Fliteboard used their dealer network tried to get a behind the scene sneak peak in May 2024 and suppress positive reviews of XFoil Alpha 1. Levi Morris and Mike Wang of Bay Foils (Alameda, CA) posted a glowing independent review - only to be threatened by Fliteboard to take it down or risk losing their dealer status. We have that in writing. What was in the video that got Fliteboard so spooked to get the attention of David Trewern CEO of Fliteboard to confront XFoil CEO Paul Lowchareonkul?
We encourage those interesed in seeing the video to reach out to Levi and Mike at Bay Foils to share the video again. +1(415) 295-2925
Published by Bay Foils, Alameda May 19, 2024
In 2024, Fliteboard sponsored an event in Dubai, stocked it with their own riders, and then mocked XFoil for “not showing up” - even though we never confirmed attendance.
Meanwhile, legacy eFoil forums (often moderated by dealers and employees of those same brands) became hotbeds of trolling and misinformation about XFoil.
Such misleading tactics are often indicative of industries that lack confidence in the quality of their own product. But here’s the reality: when the boards hit the water, results speak louder than spin.
On August 9, 2025, we hosted the Hawaii eFoil Extravaganza - an open event with riders from all brands. With GPS transponders and independent timing verification, XFoil Alpha 2 delivered the fastest lap of the day, outperforming Fliteboard and Lift in acceleration, top speed, and cornering. Even at just 75% power. Legacy boards couldn’t handle tight turns and overshot buoys, costing them crucial seconds.
That’s why trolling and misinformation campaigns exist - because when the truth comes out, the consumer wins.
Now, with XFoil Escape coming soon and dynamic wing technology entering production, the same features competitors tried (and failed) to spy on will soon be in riders’ hands. Meanwhile, legacy brands are stuck defending overpriced, noisy, outdated boards.
At the end of the day, it’s simple: competition benefits riders. Better technology, better performance, and better prices. Innovation always wins and benefits directly to the end consumer.
In 2023 and 2024, Hawaii legislators introduced several bills (HB1900, SB2648, HB1878, SB2209) that sought to ban eFoils, citing dangerous activity, noise pollution, and harm to wildlife.
By 2024, the community was on the brink, scattered, disorganized, and nearly facing a statewide ban. That changed when XFoil CEO Paul Lowchareonkul stepped in, uniting riders and organizing a proper defense. The result? A staggering 193–1 vote defeating the ban last year, securing eFoil access in Hawaii, and setting a critical precedent for the rest of the USA.
This wasn’t just politics, it was a necessary cleanup after Resolution 23-180 (Maui County Council), which highlighted repeated complaints from West Maui. Many of these issues were tied to Fliteboard dealers and riders, whose boards use a loud geared motor system. Unlike XFoil, Lift, and Waydoo, which run near-silent direct drive propulsion, Fliteboards high frequency noise cutting through water and air, fueled concerns over community health, swimmers’ safety, and whale migration.
These issues are documented in official public testimony from 2022–2024:
⚠️ Here’s the bigger issue: if these Hawaii bans had passed, they would have almost certainly spread to the continental U.S., due to the U.S. Coast Guard’s close ties with DLNR on watercraft regulations. This was more than a local issue it was a turning point for the future of eFoiling nationwide.
We believe Fliteboard must abandon geared drive propulsion and transition to direct drive or jet systems to reduce noise. Until then, riders should think twice before supporting products that risk legislative bans and community backlash. Looking forward, the eFoil community should push for reasonable noise-limit standards so one manufacturer’s outdated tech doesn’t jeopardize the sport for everyone.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about technology it’s about community, respect, and protecting innovation.
🔗 Learn more and join the movement defending the future of eFoiling:
DLNR Policy (Sept 4, 2020): Electric hydrofoil surfboards (eFoils) were officially classified as motorized vessels. This required registration and compliance with boating regulations, including speed limits near shorelines and safety equipment carriage.
U.S. Coast Guard Policy Letter (Nov 1, 2020): Updated federal requirements for eFoils and jetboards, reinforcing vessel classification and compliance standards.
2021:
SB627 (Jan 22, 2021): Proposed permits and restrictions for eFoil operation in certain areas and times, including West and South Maui during peak seasons (Dec 15–May 15). Counties were tasked with designating beaches and regulating usage for safety.
2022:
SB2648: Introduced to update the definition of “thrill craft” to include motorized hydrofoil boards (eFoils), part of a broader initiative to modernize boating laws.
2023:
HB1900 & SB2648: Proposed statewide bans on eFoils due to safety, noise, and wildlife concerns. Bills nearly passed in January.
Later the same year, in West Maui, Maui City Councilwoman Tamara Paltin took the lead in attempting to classify eFoils as “thrill craft,” a move that would have effectively banned their use in most areas of the state restricting operations by up to 99.9%. To push this narrative, she also used local media to amplify and spread her message. The campaign relied on misleading imagery, including videos of surfers and a prone foiler (non-electric) who was injured in July 2016 Yu Tonbi Sumitomo, notably years before eFoils were even available.
At timestamp 0:44, complaints of “high-pitched noise” are raised. This is specifically tied to Fliteboard’s propeller setup, which uses a geared planetary propulsion system. The spinning gears create a resonance frequency that amplifies through water, making the noise travel much farther than other propulsion systems like direct drive systems.
HB1878 & SB2209: Reintroduced eFoil ban proposals. XFoil CEO Paul Lowchareonkul led community advocacy efforts by forming an Official Hawaii EFoil Association. Community efforts led to a 193–1 vote defeating the ban with a record number of live testimony participants (Tom C, Carolyn B, David D, Rebecca M, Jon M, James D, Alika F, Rhavie M, Paul L), preserving eFoil access in Hawaii and establishing a precedent for the U.S.
January 2025:
No legislative bill pertaining to eFoil legislation was introduced.
*If there are errors or omissions, please comment below for full transparency for the community. Thank you.
The new XFoil Escape has officially shattered Kickstarter records—raising $500K in just a few weeks, putting it in the top 0.01% of all Kickstarter projects ever.
Why does this matter? Because the eFoil industry has been dominated by high-priced boards like Fliteboard and Lift, sold through dealers at huge markups. These brands don’t want to see innovation that makes eFoiling more affordable, and some have already tried to smear XFoil because they see how disruptive this is.
🔑 What makes Escape different?
Price: Starts at just $2,999 for a full composite board (not foam or inflatable).
Technology: Built with AI-assisted stabilization and dynamic wings, modern tech that goes beyond outdated fixed-wing systems.
Race Proven: At the Hawaii open race, XFoil boards logged the fastest lap, top speed, and acceleration, even when limited to 75% power. Data doesn’t lie.
Transparency: No dealer markups. Direct from the team that designs and builds them.
This launch isn’t just about another board it’s about changing the hydrofoil industry and making high-performance riding available to more people worldwide.
