Magic Carpet Ride – The next big development in water sports
31st January 2022
E-Foiling allows people to effortlessly glide above water in a futuristic activity that has been likened to taking a magic carpet ride.
Once the preserve of millionaires, these high-end boards are no longer just play toys for the wealthy. The new sport of E Foiling has found a home on Strangford Lough. Celebrities such as Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, big wave surfer Laird Hamilton and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerburg have tried it, the latter going viral for flying above the water carrying an American Flag. This unique experience can be compared with driving a supercar or learning to fly a plane. For the same price as a night out, anyone can enjoy the feeling of flying above the water at speeds of up to 30mph.
E Foiling uses an electric powered surfboard on a hydrofoil wing which lifts almost a metre out of the water. The boards offer an unparalleled experience of flying, as Rory Martin, owner of Strangford Lough Activity Centre can testify:
“It’s like riding a magic carpet or a hoverboard. If you’ve seen Back to the Future, Disney’s Aladdin or Marvel’s Silver Surfer then you’ll have an idea of what to expect. We have purchased 4 of the Lift E Foils with the help of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s -Experience Development Programme. Lift EFoils are considered the best available anywhere in the world. They are expensive pieces of kit, but we expect demand to be high and have received a huge amount of interest. The funding has allowed us to offer an introductory rate which should make it more affordable for the public.”
The latest Technological advances that were once used only for passenger ferries or high-end sporting competitions such as the America’s Cup, is developing quickly. Powered by lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries, these boards use an all-carbon hydrofoil wing which allows weight reduction and longer battery life with a flying time of 2 hours.
E Foiling is ideal for the environs of Strangford Lough, with plenty of space, flat enclosed waters and beautiful scenery. Furthermore, as a noiseless and pollution-less activity it is in keeping with our sustainable ethos. You don’t have to be a pro surfer to enjoy the activity. With some flexibility, most people can get up on the board on their first session. With all equipment provided including wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets, participants just need to turn up and give it a go as Rory explains:
“As we emerge from the pandemic, we expect the demand for newfound water sports to continue. Paddle Boarding, kayaking and wild swimming have massively increased in popularity and we have been instrumental in increasing access to the water. E Foiling is an addition to the activities we already offer, and we expect demand to surge. Be warned, It is very addictive and some of our initial customers are already looking at purchasing boards through our affiliate system, where they receive a discount. We are very proud to be the first people to offer it in Ireland.”
Find out more on the SLAC website or email them at strangfordloughactivitycentre@hotmail.co.uk.
