🍊 Meet the Founder

Howard Xing

Big Orange Water Sports began with a simple curiosity about water, movement, and the joy of discovering new outdoor experiences.

Like many meaningful journeys, it started unexpectedly.

The Early Days

My interest in the water sports industry began during the pandemic.

At that time, my son Tony and I spent many weekends camping across state parks in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Those trips introduced us to a lifestyle we quickly fell in love with — the outdoor life.

Surrounded by lakes, forests, and mountains, we began spending more time outside and exploring new activities together. Being close to the water naturally drew my attention to the world of water sports.

Eventually I had the chance to test ride several power surfboards.

The experience was exciting. Gliding across the water at speed felt completely different from anything I had tried before, and I immediately understood why people enjoy this kind of sport.

However, something didn’t feel quite right.

Many powered surfboards were relatively loud and produced noticeable wake. On a busy lake, that noise and disturbance could easily interrupt fishermen, paddlers, swimmers, or families quietly enjoying the shoreline.

I loved the sensation of surfing across calm water, but I hoped there could be a quieter and more elegant way to experience it.

Fortunately, around that same time, a new technology began to appear — electric hydrofoil boards, often called eFoils.

Unlike traditional powered boards, an eFoil lifts above the water on a hydrofoil wing. Once the foil engages, the board glides smoothly above the surface with very little disturbance to the surrounding water.

When I first saw this concept, it immediately matched what I had imagined.

A quieter ride.A smoother glide.A different relationship with the water.

As soon as the opportunity became available, I began learning to ride.

What started as curiosity soon became a long journey of exploration.

“I loved the feeling of gliding across the water, but I wanted it to be quieter, smoother, and more respectful to the lake.That is when eFoiling captured my imagination.”— Howard Xing

Exploring Boards and Prototypes

As my interest in electric hydrofoiling grew, riding gradually became more than just a personal hobby. It became a process of exploration and learning.

Different eFoil boards behave very differently on the water. Stability, lift speed, turning response, and rider confidence can all change depending on the board’s volume, shape, and construction.

Over time, I had the opportunity to ride and test boards from several manufacturers, including Waydoo, JetWave, and my own experimental Big Orange prototype boards.

To better understand the characteristics of different designs, I spent time riding boards with a wide range of volumes, including:

• 55L performance boards

• 75L and 100L intermediate boards

• 110L and 130L stability-oriented boards

• 150L and 230L inflatable boards designed for beginner-friendly riding

These boards ranged from inflatable constructions to full carbon fiber designs, each offering a very different riding experience.

Testing them across lakes, rivers, and ocean bays helped me understand how equipment interacts with different water conditions and rider skill levels.

Smaller boards tend to be more agile and responsive but require stronger balance and control. Larger boards provide more stability and buoyancy, making them more forgiving for beginners who are learning their first takeoffs.

Even today, I am still working on my first Big Orange prototype eFoil board, continuing to modify and refine it. There are always new ideas to test and improvements to explore.

For me, experimentation is part of the joy of the sport.

Equipment Snapshot

Brands Tested

Waydoo

JetWaveBig

Orange prototype

Board Volumes

55L75L100L110L130L150L (inflatable)230L (inflatable)

Riding Environments

Lakes

Rivers

Ocean bays

Board Types

Carbon fiber boards

Inflatable training boards

Building a Learning Path

As I spent more time riding and testing different boards, another question gradually became important:

How can beginners learn electric hydrofoiling in a safe and enjoyable way?

Many people see an eFoil board flying above the water and assume it must be extremely difficult to learn.

In reality, most beginners struggle not because the sport is impossible, but because they try to learn too many things at once.

Balance, throttle control, body position, and turning all happen simultaneously. Without a clear progression, the first few sessions can easily feel confusing or frustrating.

Through experience and experimentation, I gradually developed a step-by-step learning path.

Training begins on land, where riders practice balance and stance on the board. They learn how to climb onto the board, kneel safely, and understand how shifting their center of gravity affects stability.

Once those fundamentals are comfortable, training moves onto the water using paddleboard-style practice with electric propulsion. At this stage, riders experience the feeling of speed while learning how to guide the board with vision and body movement.

Standing up is not required at first. Many beginners begin in a kneeling position, which allows them to become comfortable with the board’s movement without unnecessary pressure.

As riders gain confidence, they progress to hydrofoil board practice, learning different starting techniques such as seated starts, kneeling starts, and standing starts.

Later sessions focus on longer glide times, smooth turns, and safe throttle control. Riders also learn proper landing techniques and how to respond to unexpected situations on the water.

After completing this progression, riders demonstrate their skills through a simple evaluation that includes:

• smooth takeoff and landing• stable gliding above the water• controlled left and right turns• confident board control

When these abilities are demonstrated, the rider moves from Trainee to Team Orange.

At that moment, they are no longer just learning the basics.

They have become part of the Big Orange riding community.

Why I Founded Big Orange

Over time, these experiences — exploring different boards, testing equipment, and developing a learning path for beginners — gradually shaped a larger idea.

Electric hydrofoiling is an incredible sport, but for many people it still feels distant or difficult to access.

When people first see an eFoil board gliding above the water, their reaction is often the same:

"That looks amazing… but it must be very hard."

In reality, learning becomes much easier when the right conditions and guidance are available.

Through my own experience riding in lakes, rivers, and ocean bays, I realized that three things make the biggest difference for beginners:

• calm water conditions• the right equipment• a patient and structured learning approach

When these elements come together, the learning process becomes much more enjoyable.

That realization eventually led to the creation of Big Orange Water Sports.

Big Orange was designed not simply as a training program, but as a club — a place where people can learn, practice, and explore together.

Some members arrive for their very first ride, curious about what it feels like to glide above the water. Others return to improve their skills, explore new lakes, or share rides with friends and family.

Everyone moves forward at their own pace.

The goal of Big Orange is not only to teach a technique. It is to create a welcoming community where people can enjoy the water, build confidence, and discover new places together.

Looking Ahead

Big Orange is still at the beginning of its journey.

New riders are discovering electric hydrofoiling every year, and new waters continue to reveal themselves across the region.

Through exploration rides, training sessions, and the Mid-South 100 Waters Project, Big Orange aims to build a community that enjoys the water with curiosity, responsibility, and respect.

There are still many lakes to explore.Many riders to welcome.And many quiet mornings waiting on the water.

Fall. Rise. Foil.

Every sport has its techniques.

But behind every great riding experience, there is also a simple philosophy.

At Big Orange Water Sports, three words guide everything we do on the water:

Fall. Rise. Foil.

When someone steps onto an eFoil board for the first time, falling is almost guaranteed. The board feels unfamiliar, balance is uncertain, and the water usually wins the first few rounds.

That is completely normal.

Every experienced rider started the same way — adjusting their stance, learning from each attempt, and trying again.

With patience and practice, something begins to change.

Your body starts to understand the movement of the board. Small adjustments in weight and balance begin to make sense. Then one moment arrives when the foil engages and the board lifts gently above the surface.

Suddenly the ride becomes quiet, smooth, and almost effortless.

For many riders, that moment is unforgettable.

At Big Orange, this process is not only about learning a sport. It is about enjoying the journey of improvement, sharing the experience with others, and discovering the calm beauty of being on the water.

Some riders will explore new lakes.Some will refine their techniques.Others simply enjoy gliding across the water with friends and family.

Every path is welcome.

And along the way, the philosophy remains the same:

🍊 Fall. Rise. Foil.

Ready to experience the feeling of flying above the water?

🍊 Start Your First Ride