Foil Drive: Revolutionizing Foiling with Lightweight Innovation

At the AWSI trade show 2025, Foil Drive made it into Windsurfing Magazine’s top five most innovative products. Paul Martin, the driving force behind Foil Drive’s development, sat down with Windsurfing Magazine’s editor, John Bryja, to share the story behind the creation of this game-changing product.

The Origin of Foil Drive

Paul Martin’s journey began over four years ago when he transitioned from surfing to foiling. While foiling opened up new possibilities, the difficulty in achieving enough speed to get on the foil frustrated him. This challenge led him to experiment with electric foils (efoils), but the bulky and heavy designs diminished the joy of the sport for him.

“I wondered how far you could go in the opposite direction,” Martin explained, “What’s the smallest, lightest, most nimble thing that still had enough power to get you on foil?” This idea became the seed for Foil Drive’s development, leading to the creation of their first product, the original Assist, which has since evolved into the Gen 2 model.

From Personal Ambition to Global Success

What began as a personal project quickly gained traction, and by 2025, Foil Drive had become a global phenomenon. Martin highlighted how humbling it is to see some of the world’s best foilers using and enjoying the product, as well as newcomers to the sport benefiting from it. He expressed pride in how Foil Drive makes foiling more accessible by shortening the learning curve and giving beginners a faster route to the most enjoyable parts of the sport.

The Foil Drive Gen 2, now a modular system, lets users move the motor up and down the mast, offering a more “pure” foiling experience. Once the rider gets on foil, they can shut down the motor and enjoy free foiling without the motor’s drag. This innovation preserves the feeling of traditional foiling while providing the extra power needed to get on foil in challenging conditions.

Adapting to Different Conditions

One of the remarkable aspects of the Foil Drive system is its adaptability to various conditions. Riders from flat-water environments to those in big wave spots have been able to customize their setups. Whether you’re foiling in calm waters or riding big swells, Foil Drive’s modular system allows you to fine-tune your experience.

Martin shared his own experiences, from riding in 40 mph winds at the Hatchery to helping Great Lakes foilers catch waves they’d never thought possible. He also discussed the various configurations, including collaborations with brands like Sonova to create dedicated Foil Drive boards.

Battery and Performance

The Gen 2 unit is made of billet-machined aluminum, not cast parts, ensuring durability. Its high-energy-density battery system offers a solid 45 minutes to an hour of ride time, depending on conditions and wing size. Compared to the heavier efoils on the market, Foil Drive’s lightweight and modular system gives riders a freer, more nimble experience.

Looking Ahead

As Foil Drive continues to evolve, it remains true to its roots—enhancing the pure joy of foiling without compromising on performance. As Martin emphasized, the goal is to electrify foiling without losing the sport’s essence, a mission Foil Drive seems to have achieved.

For those looking to expand their foiling horizons or simply experience the sport in a new way, Foil Drive is clearly a product worth exploring.

For more information, visit Foil Drive’s official website, and stay tuned as they continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of foiling.