Flying In Paradise: The First eFoil Session IN INDO’S Mentawai Islands
The Mentawai Islands, a chain of jungle-draped gems off West Sumatra, have long been the stuff of surf dreams. Hollow, turquoise barrels spinning over razor-sharp coral reef, where trade winds airbrush the surface of endless points and the next headland holds another mystery. For decades, surfers have made the pilgrimage to breaks like Macaronis, Rifles, and Lances Right, chasing that perfect wave. But in September 2024, a new kind of stoke hit these waters: the first-ever Fliteboard eFoil session at Seven Palms, a lesser-known gem on the Mentawai map. Leading the charge were West Coast eFoil team rider Zara, a 14-year-old prodigy with a fearless energy, and Anthony Spencer, an Australian shredder whose name is synonymous with rail surfing and exploration.
After months of planning and logistics, with batteries and equipment travelling weeks in advance of the team, the first ever e-foiling session took flight in one of the world’s most iconic surf zones.
The Setup: Seven Palms and the Fliteboard Frontier
Seven Palms, tucked in the southern Mentawais, isn’t your headline-grabbing break like HT’s or Rifles. It’s a playful, rippable left-hander that peels over a coral shelf, offering long walls and punchy sections when the swell aligns. Named for the cluster of coconut trees swaying over the white-sand beach, it’s got that raw, untouched feel — remote enough to feel like you’re cheating the crowds, but accessible via a quick boat ride from Tua Pejat. The break’s versatility makes it a perfect canvas for eFoiling, where you don’t need a massive swell to fly.
Fliteboard, the Aussie-born electric hydrofoil brand, has been rewriting the rules of water sports since its inception. Their Series 5 eFoil—think carbon-fiber sleekness, a silent jet propulsion system, and a Flitecell battery that hums for up to 2.5 hours—is less a board and more a time machine. It lifts you above the water, skimming over the surface like a low-flying pelican, controlled by a Bluetooth remote that feels like an extension of your imagination. The mix of high-tech against a timeless backdrop of raw jungle was surreal.
The duo rolled up to Seven Palms with a crew from West Coast eFoil, who’d hauled their gear across the Indian Ocean for this historic sesh. The logistics were no joke: fast ferries from Padang, a bouncing boat ride through indigo channels, and a quiver of Fliteboards strapped to the deck. The vibe was electric — it’s not often you get to ride a new high-tech craft in such a wild location.
As the boat anchored off the reef, Zara, all 14 years of grit and stoke, was already eyeing the lineup, while Spencer, with his trademark gaze, was itching to carve up the glassy walls.
The First Flight: Zara’s Meteoric Rise
Zara, the youngest rider to ever rep West Coast eFoil, is a force of nature. At 14, she’s got the kind of fearless energy that makes grown surfers rethink their life choices. Raised on Perth’s lacklustre beach breaks, she’s quickly gravitated towards the open ocean potential of e-foiling. She can often be seen with her dad riding the 3-mile reef off Hillarys. But eFoiling at Seven Palms? That’s next-level. “I’m kind of nervous but also excited,” Zara said, clutching the Flite controller, as she jumped off the Villa Mentawai surf boat.
The Fliteboard’s learning curve is famously forgiving—beginners can be foiling in minutes—but doing it in the Mentawais, where reef lurks inches below, takes serious cojones. Navigating the coral reef and dodging clean-up sets was quite the feat for our teenage waterwoman.
Zara’s first run was a blend of trepidation and beauty. If she hot the reef it could have been the end of the trip. The Fliteboard’s jet kicked in, lifting her above the water as she balanced, eyed the lineup, then locked in. Seven Palms was glassy, overcast, with a gentle 3-foot swell rolling through, and Zara was flying—literally—carving smooth arcs across the face of the water outside the foam line. The board’s aluminium mast sliced silently through the water, leaving barely a ripple.
“This is the best thing I’ve ever done,” she yelled over the hum of the jet. The mix of pride and apprehension on her dad’s face was palpable.
“I’m glad her mum can’t see this,” he said from behind the glass of a Canon SLR.
By Zara’s third run, she was pumping the board closer to the break, weaving through imaginary slalom gates, her hoots echoing into the densely-packed palms. The locals on the beach—kids mostly, wide-eyed and pointing—had never seen anything like it. To them, Zara was a superhero, skimming over the reef like something out of a sci-fi flick.
Spencer’s Masterclass: Shredding the Invisible Wave
Anthony Spencer, the Aussie legend who’s been torching lineups from Yallingup to Byron since the early 2000s, brought a different flavour. Known for his style and rail surfing, he approached the Fliteboard like a shortboard on steroids.
Spencer immediately arced into the impact zone, driving the Fliteboard’s wing tips closer to the reef for maximum buzz. Seven Palms offered just enough swell to let him play, but the eFoil’s magic is that it doesn’t need waves to shred. Spencer was out there carving up on a day when most surfers were watching the AFL grand final at The Bakery.
Anthony cranked the Fliteboard to 35 km/h, skimming parallel to a peeling left, then soul arched down the reef in a move that had the boat hooting.
“It’s like surfing with cheat codes,” he laughed, shaking saltwater from his hair.
Unlike traditional surfing, where you’re at the mercy of the ocean’s mood, the Fliteboard gave Spencer the chance to rip on what would normally have been a lay day. He was painting lines on a blank slate, turning Seven Palms into his personal playground.
The Thrill of Exploration: Redefining the Mentawai Dream
What made this session historic wasn’t just the tech—it was the spirit of exploration. The Mentawais have always been about pushing boundaries, from the early surfers who braved the local boats and malaria risks in the ‘80s to the modern chargers chasing 10-foot barrels at Greenbush. Zara and Spencer were rewriting what’s possible in these waters. The Fliteboard let them explore beyond the break, cruising over coral gardens and sand channels where traditional boards can’t go.
Later in the trip they would explore mangroves, chase schools of fish, and zip around Awera and Aloita Resorts, where the water was so clear you almost lost track of your altitude.
For Zara, it was about freedom. “You’re not stuck waiting for sets,” she said. “You can just go—anywhere, anytime.”
The Fliteboard’s eco-friendly edge — no emissions, near-silent propulsion — also resonated in the Mentawais, where the pristine environment is as much a draw as the waves. The locals, initially skeptical, were won over when they saw how cleanly the boards moved, leaving the reef untouched.
The defining image of the session was Anthony gliding on a wall, without so much as rippling the wave face, while a surfer rode behind him, hooting at the surreal sight he was witnessing.
The Aftermath: A New Chapter for Indo Adventure
For now, the Mentawais remain a surfer’s paradise, but Zara and Spencer’s session at Seven Palms has cracked open a new frontier. It’s not about replacing traditional surfing—it’s about expanding the playground. As Zara put it, “It’s like surfing, but you’re free to explore the whole ocean.”
And in a place as wild and untouched as the Mentawais, that’s the kind of freedom that keeps the dream alive.