Electrify Your Foils

After three years away from home, Foil Drive pro team and North team rider Noé Cantaloube returned to French Polynesia, the islands that shaped him, his family, and his connection to the ocean. This short film, created in collaboration between Foil Drive and North Foils, follows Noé and filmmaker Eric Wittkopf as they document a long awaited homecoming. It is a story about returning to where it all began and reconnecting with the people, places, and rhythms that define island life. A Life Shaped by the Ocean Noé grew up between French Polynesia and the Ryukyu Islands, but Polynesia has always been his anchor. For him, it represents something deeper than just a place. It is connection to nature, to family, and to the ocean. Life in the islands is guided by the elements. There is no fixed schedule, only conditions. If the wind arrives, it is time to wing foil. If waves appear, it becomes a surf or surf foil session. Every day is shaped by what the ocean gives. That connection is what Noé missed most while living away. At home, everything feels connected again. The ocean, the land, and the people who taught him how to move through both. Discovering Foiling Away From Home Ironically, Noé’s foiling journey began far from the islands. Like many young Polynesians pursuing study and opportunity, he left for France. It was there that he first discovered foiling. At the time, the sport was still emerging and expensive. Equipment was hard to access, and progression required sacrifice. Noé remembers long periods of eating simply to save for gear, slowly building his first setup piece by piece. But the motivation was clear. Every session was a step closer to freedom on the water. From those early days in Europe, he developed the skills that would eventually shape his professional path. Wing foiling, dock starts, and learning to read the ocean in a completely new way became part of his daily life. What started as curiosity became a career. Returning to Tahiti and Bora Bora Back in Tahiti, Noé reconnected with family, friends, and the rhythm of island life. Days were simple. Mornings with family, afternoons on the water, and evenings sharing stories with friends he had grown up with. Local foil spots came alive with familiar faces, where the focus is never competition, only enjoyment of the ocean and time together. The journey also took him to Bora Bora. Returning there carried a different feeling. Years earlier, before leaving for Europe, Noé had helped his uncle build a house on the island. Coming back to see it completed and lived in added a personal layer to the trip that went beyond sport. Bora Bora has changed over the years. More people, more tourism, and a different pace of life. But the natural landscape remains unchanged. The mountains, the lagoon, and the water still define everything. Even without consistent surf, the lagoon offers endless opportunities for foiling, boat sessions, and time on the water with family and friends. Foiling as Connection One of the strongest themes throughout this journey is how foiling brings people together. Returning as a Foil Drive pro team rider, Noé was able to share his world with the people closest to him in a new way. Sessions on the water became a shared experience again, whether behind boats, in the lagoon, or at local spots with friends who have been part of his life since childhood. There is no pressure in these moments. Just time on the water, laughter, and connection. This is where Foil Drive plays a subtle but important role. By expanding the range of conditions and making time on foil more accessible, it helps unlock more of these shared experiences, especially in places where conditions can be unpredictable. North × Foil Drive Collaboration This film is a collaboration between North Foils and Foil Drive, highlighting the evolution of modern foiling and the ways riders are exploring the ocean today. From remote island lagoons to marginal wind days and long boat sessions, electric foil assist has opened new possibilities for riders like Noé. It allows more time on the water, more consistency in training, and more freedom to explore places that were previously harder to access. For Noé, it is not just about performance. It is about connection, exploration, and time spent in the ocean he grew up in. [product-carousel] A Story of Home At its core, Homecoming is not only a foiling film. It is a story about returning. Returning to family. Returning to culture. Returning to the ocean that shaped a life. French Polynesia remains unchanged in its essence. The water, the land, and the people continue to define everything that happens there. And for Noé, coming back is a reminder that no matter how far you travel, some places will always feel like home.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, how long have you been foiling and where are you from? My name is Julia Castro, I was born in Fuerteventura, Spain. I am a professional Waterwoman, I used to be a professional kitesurfer but then became an all-around watersports addict. I have also did some years competing in the cable wakeboard side of the world, tried some wingfoil comps along the way and now I am currently working on a big video project and sharing the stoke! I started foiling in the Philippines in 2017 and have not stopped ever since. What sparked your interest in Foil Drive? Upon the introduction to Foil Drive by a dear friend, I found myself captivated by the product's allure even before experiencing it first-hand. My longstanding commitment to indulging in various water sports has always been driven by my desire to savor every moment in the water. Foil Drive, however, seemed like the key toy I needed to amplify my passion to immerse myself further and relish the optimal conditions to the fullest. Mission accomplished. What was the learning curve like with Foil Drive? I have to admit, had a perfect day for learning, no wind and flatwater, and the best teacher possible, Dominic. it took me not more than 10 minutes to be foiling around, and after that time I already tried going on some small waves, way easier than I thought. Mega stoked!   Tell us about which type of foiling you’re most in to, what’s a standard session out foiling for you? I just love foiling, I mainly kite and wingfoil, and now thanks to Foil Drive I go on waves without a wing or a kite. There's no standard day for me on the water. Forecast changes quite a bit here in Fuerteventura so, every day is a new day and every day there's a toy for the occasion. I feel really lucky to be able to do so many sports and enjoy different conditions.    What is your next adventure with your Foil Drive? I am producing a big video/documentary I hope I will be able to show you before the end of the year. It's a video that talks about being born on an island, recycling, adventures... Can't tell you more but  I can't wait to show you the final product!   Who would you think would benefit the most from having a Foil Drive? Honestly, If you like foiling (or even if you haven't tried it yet, it is such a great product for everyone... But to narrow it up I'd say: Whoever that A) Does not want to buy a jet ski B) Whoever loves spending time on the water C) Whoever loves foiling   Follow Julia: 📸 @Fuertejulia 👤 Facebook 📺 YouTube 👔 Linked In

Tell us a little bit about yourself, how long have you been foiling and where are you from?  I've been playing in nature since I was a kid. I grew up in the French Alps and did lots of outdoor sports, skiing, snowboarding, mountain bike, climbing... Windsurfing was my first watersport. The connection with the water had a special effect on me. Through the years, I decided to dedicate my life to it. I started SUP and then foiled in the early days of the sport. It's every time such an incredible thing to be part of the birth of a sport community. I feel super lucky to be alive with this strong passion and I couldn't imagine my life without it. I also love to share this passion with others.   What sparked your interest in Foil Drive? I immediately imagined myself with the Foil Drive surfing big mellow waves I couldn't paddle in with a regular SUP or prone foil board! I have to say James Casey made me dream about it!   What was the learning curve like with Foil Drive? Using the Foil Drive for the first time is not as easy as it looks. It's a specific technique and it needs a bit of time to get it. My first session was basically about swimming and watching Dominic Hoskyns turning around me!! Ahah! I had the chance to learn it with Dominic and his tips and watching him Foil Driving was a big help. The third session we went surfing consistent swell! It blew my mind!! What is your go to Foil Drive setup and why, and what’s your weight? My favourite set up is the Gen2 Assist Max on my Axis Pump board 4'6 37l, 82 carbon mast and 780 Spitfire. I'm 67kg or 147Lbs. Tell us about which type of foiling you’re most in to, what’s a standard session out foiling for you? My favorite session with the Foildrive is catching overhead mellow long waves on my local foiling spot.  What is your next adventure with your Foil Drive? My next adventure with the Foildrive will be to surf as long as possible beach breaks downwind along the coast!   Who would you think would benefit the most from having a Foil Drive? The Foil Drive is a game changer to learn SUP Downwind foil and to improve your surfing skills. It makes you improve so much faster enjoying a large panel of conditions.   Olivia’s Foiling Achievements  3 x SUP Racing World Champion (2018, distance race ISA | China), (2019, sprint and technical race ICF | China) 1 x GWA Wingfoil Racing Champion (2021) 1 x Winner of the M20 Sup Foiling (2023)   Photos by Benjamin Borez.   Follow Olivia📸 @oliviapiana 📺 YouTube