I think the main market for this is still people on yachts. People who own boats get tired of setting up efoils. This thing just all clicks together. It’s a bonus that you can use it to surf also. New FD podcast about BOOT says people on boats are looking at FD for toys since they’re lighter.
I’d love one. Don’t have boat money though.
Boat money? Yeah, it’s an expensive venture to get into, but let’s be honest, foiling in general is. It’s not an average dude sport. With foil technology evolving at a superfast rate with meaningful gains in performance, it doesn’t leave the average consumer a lot of hope trying to keep pace with the all of the sport’s exponential changes. I’d guess that most people on this forum have easily spent equal amounts of money, if not more, refining their quivers with all of the different disciplines they choose to take on. Add a few boards, add a few foils, switch brands a few times, and get in the groove of constantly replacing a quiver of disposable wings and parawings, and you’re not far off.
For me, it’s about time on foil given the conditions I choose to ride in and the money I have available for the ride. I don’t have parawing conditions, and even winging can be bullshit half the time. For me, this kind of small manoeuvrable E foil will turn every day into a win day. Even if it’s just training for when I go to better destinations with the kind of swell I really enjoy riding. If you live in Maui or spend your entire summer in Hood River with ideal conditions 80% of the time, this probably doesn’t make sense. But the opportunity something like this would open up for me is huge. I think Lift is nailing it in this regard, and while I haven’t ridden one, the reviews and videos are far more convincing to me than anything foil drive has put out. The integration and construction looks truly top-notch. On that note, I’ve been eyeing up foil drive since its beginnings, and it looks like a lot of mechanicals and maintenance (please happily prove me wrong so I can save a chunk of money). This just looks way more slick and refined with no real compromise in ride quality. If a golden goose came and shit on my lawn, I’d buy one of these in a heartbeat.
These things are still on par cost wise versus a middle of the road electric mountain bike. I’m seeing way more of even the high end electric mountain bikes out in the wild than efoils. Plently of people have the money, it is just a matter of time
It’s the same mind bend with e-bikes…for me, my e-bike doesn’t replace my analogue mtb, it compliments it. I get more ride days in than I would without it which results in better fitness, skills progression, and more time on trail. E-foiling will augment my foiling experience in the same way…more time on foil for the conditions I’m given equals progression…
Lift just seems more dialled than anyone else, and that’s the premium to play on their gear right now.
Thinking of how many boats and jet skis are on the water and they are far more expensive, I don’t think money is as big of an issue as some make it out to be. I bet some people are financing with Affirm or CC vs buying in one cash drop. Not that I have $, but the market must be viable since they have been doing this for a while now
Apparently there was a LiftX on the podium at both the Pensacola and Cocoa beach FSRL foil assist events, but I don’t know how to find any footage.