In this episode of The Foil Pod, Rou Chater sits down with Thomas Radiguet from Manta Foils to take a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of e-foils and foil assist.
Thomas has been involved with electric foiling since the early days and brings a refreshingly broad perspective to the conversation. We talk about the shift from traditional e-foils towards lighter foil-assist systems, why he believes the market could follow a similar path to electric mountain bikes, and how batteries, motors and integrated boards are likely to develop over the next few years.
We also get into the challenges of combining high-powered electronics with salt water, the huge importance of reliability and after-sales support, Manta’s approach to zero-maintenance motors and travel-friendly batteries, and the debate between backpacks, trench boards and fully integrated systems.
It’s a fascinating look behind the technology, but also a wider conversation about where electric assistance fits into foiling, why it doesn’t need to replace prone or wing foiling, and how it could open up entirely new ways to get on the water.
