Optimise your FoilDrive Set Up
Technology makes leaps forward when other components are updated. This has been happening in the last year with FoilDrive. The release of the Gen 2 Foil Assist created a new form factor which put all the components between the base plate and the bottom of the board. This was a huge step forward from the old lunchbox set up however it did create some issues. Weight distribution and most notably drag. A box on the bottom of the board created a huge amount of drag which required more power to get going, but also issues when touching down.
FoilDrive Specific Boards
Dedicated boards for use with FoilDrive systems was the first step. AXIS were as ever quick off the mark with their original FoilDrive board. This was a longer, narrower and more efficient shape to help get the board up to speed more quickly, using less battery power.
The following year saw the development of the trench board. Most of the early boards were customs, but in early 2025 Appletree released the Zapple - the first production trench board. This was a huge step forward, it quickly became a very popular board and is still one of the very few available production trench boards on the market. The initial attraction was to reduce the motor drag - but very quickly the added advantage of reducing board thickness under foot made these boards feel massively more connected underfoot. A vital feeling when weight is also being increased by the Foildrive system.
As the popularity of the foil assist discipline grew, so did the level of the riders. Those at the forefront of this were riding pretty serious waves and making big turns. The mid length inspired trench boards were great for intermediate riders but still too big and cumbersome for advanced riders. Appletree launched the Zapple S to meet this demand. A smaller, lower volume shape, based more off a prone shape. This had a closer connection to the foil and a smaller board allowing advanced riders to continue to push.
For next year (2026) AXIS are taking things to the next level with the new Pocket board. This takes the trench concept to the next level by covering it up so as the name suggests, it is a pocket. In addition to this, one of the main niggles of the trench concept has been how to access the battery compartment - do you make the trench really long and wide, or do you have to just remove the FoilDrive unit. AXIS have developed an innovative track system for the Pocket board which allows the unit to slide back and lift in and out easily. These will be popular!
Integrated Masts
The other big area of drag on a FoilDrive is the motor pod and the cables which connect it to the main controller. These are typically taped to the trailing edge of the mast. None of this is ideal. Early alumiunium extruded masts were adapted with built in motor pods therefore creating the first integrated masts. Whilst these were good, the motor pods were still bolted to the masts and could still be massively more streamlined.
After years of prototyping, this autumn brands have finally released their carbon integrated masts and in a matter of weeks (mid November) we should finally see the AXIS Model. This is the next level of optimisation providing gains comparative to the trench board. These are technically very complex products to build as you are cutting out a major section of the mast, therefore killing its strength. Solving this layup issue alongside an updated motor pod design from FoilDrive has allowed brands to finally build great, strong integrated carbon masts.
If the trench board killed the drag from the battery unit, then the integrated masts have killed the drag from the motorpod - or at least severely reduced it. Theres no bulbous nose sticking forward of the mast leading edge, and the new motor pod has allowed the brands to build the pod so tight in the mast that the overall chord is barely any different to a standard mast.
Reducing drag from the battery unit helps take off, but reducing drag from the motor pod reduces drag whilst riding and being too low on the mast. This used to be such a pain when you got too low on the mast on a wave and immediately felt the foil slow down due to the pod dragging. Reducing this gives you more time to fix your problem on the wave. More time on foil = betterer all round.
Do I Need one?
Foildrive is expensive, its niche and it might not be for everybody - we don't dispute that. But its also possibly the fastest growing discipline within the foiling world - and the brand has grown tremendously over the past few years since its inception. Proving that despite what we've said - its incredibly popular and we think its unlikely to be going anywhere anytime soon. Its also very bloody fun....
Foil Assist is now its own discipline and it is many folk's sole discipline - ie. the only foiling style they do. For those folks, they want the best equipment for the job. And pairing your Foildrive with a trench board and/or an Integrated mast of your brands choice makes for one slippery, impressive overall bit of kit. Theres no doubting the performance increase from these products.