ALL ABOVE BOARD

Is eFoiling the best water sport ever? Matt Kollat learned to ride a Fliteboard to find out

The first liftoff came much earlier than expected. As I kneeled on my Fliteboard AIR, a more forgiving model for inexperienced eFoilers like me, the water suddenly felt less choppy than before. Glancing down, I saw the board hovering over the water like a magic carpet. I was instantly hooked.

eFoiling is one of those activities I always wanted to try. I’m sure you’ve seen those incredible images/videos of people riding these surfboard-like machines, effortlessly flying above the water, and thought: “I’ll put this on my bucket list!”

I did precisely that. I wrote a recent article about the launch of Fliteboard’s latest Series 3 boards, hoping that one day I’d get to try them. But as it happens, I didn’t have to wait until I grew old to try eFoiling, thanks to Fliteboard and the accommodating crew down at Easyriders in Poole. So, after a long day in the office, I took the train to Bournemouth and walked to Poole along the lovely beachfront to meet the team.

Once I put on my wetsuit, helmet and life vest, I was acquainted with the star of the day: the Fliteboard AIR. I was told there are a few different models, but considering I was a rookie surfer (at best) with some experience  with inflatable paddle boards, it’s best I started with the inflatable model as they are more buoyant and forgiving for beginners.

After a short intro to the different parts and controls, I anxiously made my way to the water, where the team prepared the Fliteboard AIR for me. The battery was fully charged, and the remote was securely attached to my wrist – it was time to go.