So I was in Maui last Sunday and rolled up to Kanaha after just arriving from the airport. I was was a bit surprised to see Kai Lenny in the parking lot loading up his gear into a truck when I said hi and introduced myself. I asked what the conditions were and he said “epic” go for a really small wing (4m max) and I got a selfie with the guy. He was super cool and really made my day, very nice guy! Fast forward 10 minutes and I see Josh Ku walking towards the parking lot. I said "hey Josh, I’m so and so, and really like his content. He was super awkward and acting like I was bothering him. I felt awkward and just didn’t engage further. I was really put off by the guy and it made me feel like maybe I dont want to buy Foil Drive products. I mean, they obvoiusly spend so much money on influencers you would think they would be cool when you meet them. Not so with Josh. I recently came into some extra cash to spend on Foil Gear and I dont think I will spend it on Foil Drive products. They seem to be more of a Influencer company than a foil assist company. Time to finish my DIY assist build and say a big FU to Foil Drive!
lol, what do you expect? How would you feel when strangers constantly try to engage with you? They are also humans and like to have a session without being bothered by anyone. They have bad days and good days, same as you.
Also I do not get the connection between a products quality and influencer mood.
Not sure I follow your logic for not wanting to buy their products. When I see Fred Hope on the beach testing gear I dont walk up to him and want a selfie.
FD is a decent DIY platform - it solves a bunch of problems like having a reliable water tight battery compartment and signal handling. You can build your own batteries (not like lift efoils where you have a proprietary CAN protocol), you can buy maytech v3 remote from AE and pair it with the unit, you can print your own motor pods, you can buy inexpensive flipsky 6384 or 5085 motors, 3D print the connector and get in working with the unit. Prop blades are some of the best available. These are the reasons I got my basic kit, not because of influencers.
Dont let that Josh Ku dick put you off. You should still buy FD because Paul Martin the founder is a top dude!
Nobody needs influencers or idols. If you personally feel that a foil drive is something you’ll enjoy and that you’ll benefit from it, then buy one. I’m not interested in those people; I’m old enough to form my own opinion and make a decision. And that’s what you should do here, too. Less talking and thinking, more time on the water. That should motivate you! The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.
This made me chuckle…
Foil Drive is a weird one. They offer a product and were first to market which means they have amassed a cult following and have the funds to throw at marketing and support. If you want a product that works at a rather high cost and decent support, then I’d say go for it. Their props work well, they aren’t anything special though. I designed a blade just as good and efficient with an online prop designer in 1 hour.
The Manta evo is more powerful, has better travel batteries, a less maintenance based motor and their team engage here. It could be argued they may be better than FD just don’t have the cult following.
Yeah, I mean I wasnt expecting a selfie from Josh and I dont even seek them out normally ,only got one with Kai to show my wife as she follows him on Insta.
It seems FD spend a lot of money on advertising and pay a bunch of pro riders to travel around promoting their gear instead of making their products better and more affordable. I mean, they are charging over $200 for the new mini pod which looks like a design I have seen here many times.
I reached out to FD to see if they can not include the regular mount and put in the mini pod as I wouldnt use it anyway and they said no, have to buy the “upgrade”. The mini pod looks like a rip off I have seen on this forum and they are charging $200 for some rubber and plastic.
The Manta Evo looks nice, has more power on paper. I might go that route if my diy assist doesnt work well. I only have to finish building my battery then I can start testing.