Is eFoiling dangerous?

By David Trewern

We’re often asked if eFoiling is a dangerous sport. The honest answer is, like most watersports, eFoiling can be dangerous to you and other water users. However with the right precautions you can protect yourself and everyone else in the water. These are our top seven tips to stay safe while eFoiling.

"I’ve spent nearly my whole life on the water, and countless hours on a Fliteboard. I’ve been able to do so because I’ve always stayed safe."
David Trewern Flite Founder & CEO

Remember it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re as safe as you can be, so please take these precautions seriously.

1. Wear a helmet. eFoils are both hard and heavy, protecting your head from knocks is crucial, and prevents even small incidents from escalating into something worse.
2. Wear a PFD. Just like helmets, a PFD can minimise injuries in the event of a crash, but will also help you stay afloat in the event you need to swim or wait for help. Keep your distance. Stay at least 100 metres away from other eFoilers, anyone else in the water and objects like boats, bridges and jetties. If you lose control of your eFoil you want to be sure that it won’t run into anything.
3. Fall correctly. No matter how skilled you are, you need to know the right way to fall off your eFoil. When you feel off balance, don’t try to fight it. Simply fall in the same direction as the board. That will make it most likely you are falling away from the eFoil and wings, which are the sharpest parts.
4. Buddy up. eFoiling with others means there’s always someone who can keep an eye out for you, and can help in the event of an emergency. Check the depth. Always ride in water at least 2 metres in depth. Keep an eye out for sandbanks, rocks and floating objects too. Make sure your hand controller is locked. Flite Controller requires unlocking and arming before you can apply the throttle. This helps to avoid accidents when entering the water or climbing back on the board. Make sure whatever eFoil you ride has a similar safety feature.
5. Exit strategy. Make sure you never eFoil further than you can swim. Be conscious of your distance to the shore, if the battery runs out or you experience a malfunction you should be close enough to be able to swim back to safety.
6. Stay out of harm’s way. When entering and exiting the water, float the board upside down and hold the mast, be aware of waves and ensure you stay in control of the eFoil at all times to avoid being hit by the wing.
7. Learn from the best. We have over 140 Fliteschools around the world that offer lessons with a professional instructor. Our instructors focus on safety whilst building your confidence and skills.