What is E-Foiling?

The Basics

E-foiling, short for electric hydrofoil surfing, is a watersport where you stand on a surfboard that has an electric motor and a hydrofoil wing mounted underneath. The motor is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery inside the board, and you control the speed with a small wireless Bluetooth remote that fits in one hand. As you accelerate, the hydrofoil wing generates lift and raises the entire board out of the water. You end up hovering one to three feet above the surface, gliding silently at speeds up to 25 miles per hour.

Unlike traditional surfing, wakeboarding, or water skiing, e-foiling does not require a boat, waves, or wind. The board is completely self-propelled. That means you can ride on any body of water, in any conditions, at any time. E-foiling has been growing 30 to 40 percent year over year globally, making it one of the fastest-expanding segments in the watersports industry. Major brands like Lift Foils, Fliteboard, and Waydoo have brought the technology to market, and BT Wake Experience uses Lift eFoils for their proven safety record, performance, and durability.

How It Works

The eFoil board consists of three main components: the board itself (a buoyant composite deck roughly 5 to 6 feet long), the mast (a vertical strut that extends below the board), and the hydrofoil wing (a horizontal wing at the bottom of the mast). A silent electric motor sits inside a propeller housing at the base of the mast, just above the wing. When you squeeze the throttle on the wireless remote, the propeller spins and pushes the board forward. As speed increases, water flows over the curved surface of the hydrofoil wing, generating lift, the same principle that keeps an airplane in the air. Once enough lift is generated, the board separates from the water and you are flying.

Beginners typically start on their knees at low speed to get comfortable with the balance and the throttle response. From there, you progress to standing on the board while it is still in the water, then gradually increase speed until the foil lifts you up. The learning curve is surprisingly forgiving because you control the speed yourself; if anything feels off, you simply release the trigger and the board settles back into the water. Most first-timers are standing and foiling within 20 to 30 minutes of instruction.

Who Is It For?

E-foiling is for anyone who wants a unique on-the-water experience. You do not need prior experience with board sports, surfing, or water skiing. The self-powered nature of the board means you are not fighting waves or being pulled by a boat; you set your own pace. That makes it accessible to a wide range of ages and fitness levels. We recommend ages 14 and up, and riders should be comfortable in the water and able to swim. E-foiling appeals to tech enthusiasts curious about the engineering, adrenaline seekers looking for something new, couples wanting a memorable date activity, and anyone visiting Lake of the Ozarks who wants to try the most talked-about watersport of the decade.

Why Lake of the Ozarks?

Lake of the Ozarks is one of the best inland lakes in the country for e-foiling. The lake stretches over 54,000 acres with more than 1,100 miles of shoreline, giving you virtually unlimited room to ride. Water temperatures stay warm from May through September, the season when BT Wake Experience operates seven days a week. The lake features sheltered coves that provide flat, glassy water conditions ideal for learning, as well as open main channel areas where experienced riders can cruise at speed. Because the eFoil is silent and produces no wake, you can ride in areas where boat traffic is minimal and enjoy the scenery in a way that no other watercraft allows. The combination of ideal water conditions, long riding season, and professional coaching from BT Wake Experience makes Lake of the Ozarks the best place in Missouri to try e-foiling for the first time.