An amalgamation of surfing and hydrofoiling, powered by electric propulsion, eFoil technology has quite literally taken off, with investment bankers and tech startup founders gliding well above sea level at a body of water near you. While the technology behind an eFoil has always been impressive, a collaboration between fellow Australians — premium eFoil company Flite and famed industrial designer Marc Newson — is set to take the category to new heights.
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Having worked with the likes of Ferrari, Louis Vuitton, Qantas, and Apple — responsible for co-designing the Apple watch — Newson’s take on the eFoil sees it executed in carbon fibre. Limited to 999 examples, the Flite x Marc Newson eFoil takes on a monobloc structure, with the mast and fuselage system moulded as a singular piece for the first time in a production eFoil. Crafted from Japanese high modulus carbon fibre — typically used in the motorsport and aerospace industries — it utilises the signature Fliteboard unibody fuselage design to create the lightest, strongest, and stiffest propulsion system on the market, improving ride quality. Titanium accents were also fitted to the eFoil’s front wing and board, with the material selected for its anticorrosive, lightweight, and hard wearing properties.
We identified reducing the mass of the eFoil system as an overall goal and achieved this using a very high-quality carbon fibre, so as to streamline both manufacturing and the appearance of the board,” shares Newson. “Not only is this an incredibly strong and lightweight material, but it also allows the foil and board to be moulded in single pieces in a state of the art autoclave. This reduction in the number of interfacing parts eliminated various mechanical joints, and in turn weight.”
Weighing less than 20kg, it’s the “world’s lightest performance eFoil,” according to the brand.
Designed with high performance in mind, the Flite x Marc Newson takes a reductionist approach, reducing the number of individual elements while improving hydrodynamic qualities. “This project was technically driven, and the aesthetics were a result of the technical requirements,” explains Newson. “The carbon fibre construction means the product is more streamlined in terms of functionality and manufacturing processes — there is less assembly, which makes the board lighter.”
The Flite x Marc Newson is available in two sizes, MN60 and MN86. The former is 4’6” and designed with a responsive ride in mind, making it the ideal choice for lighter or experienced riders. Meanwhile the MN86 is 5’4” and provides a better ride for heavier or novice riders.
The Flite x Marc Newson is available via the Flite webstore.
Words by Theo Rosen
