Flying Over Water: My First eFoiling Experience
Last summer, I had the chance to try out eFoiling for the first time, and it was an unforgettable experience. eFoiling is basically surfing with an electric hydrofoil board that lifts you above the water, giving you the sensation of flying—even on a calm, still lake. It's an incredible feeling, and I can honestly say it made for one of the coolest adventures I've ever had.
I went eFoiling on a lake here in Berlin with a company called eFoilution. The only downside to this experience was the cost: about 100 Euros for an hour-long session. But when you consider that the eFoil board itself costs around 15,000 Euros, the price makes a bit more sense. And honestly, it was worth every penny.
At first, I was a bit worried about getting sunburned since it was a hot summer day. But as it turns out, eFoiling involves wearing a wetsuit and even a helmet, so sunburn wasn't an issue at all. Instead, I could just focus on the fun of learning how to ride the board. The progression felt natural—starting by lying on the board, then kneeling, and eventually standing up as I picked up speed. Standing up for the first time was such an amazing feeling, and it instantly brought back memories of surfing in California.
During my study abroad semester in San Diego, I spent about six months riding long foam boards in whitewash waves. I had always missed that feeling of riding on the water, and eFoiling gave it back to me in a way that was even more exhilarating. One of the best things about eFoiling, compared to surfing, is that you don't have to wait for waves. In California, I felt like only about 5% of my time in the water was actually spent standing and balancing on the board. With eFoiling, the moment you fall—which I did probably 50 times in one hour—you can immediately get back up and keep practicing. There's no waiting, just pure riding.
The highlight of the experience was when I picked up enough speed to start "flying." The board lifted out of the water, and suddenly I was gliding above the lake, as if I was effortlessly skimming across the surface. What made it even more surreal was the fact that there was no wind, and the lake was otherwise completely still. Yet, here I was, flying above it, propelled by this amazing technology.
I haven't tried eFoiling in the winter yet, but the rental shop told me that, with the wetsuit, it's possible year-round—even when the weather is close to snowy. I can imagine how thrilling it would be to glide over a chilly winter lake, surrounded by that crisp air. Maybe that's something I'll tackle next.
While I wouldn't say that eFoiling is a major workout, it's definitely a fun way to connect with nature and experience the water in a whole new way. Now, my only challenge is figuring out how to make this hobby fit into my life a bit more regularly—because once you've flown over the water, you just want to keep doing it again and again.