Why I Chose eFoil Over Power Surfing

A Reflection on the Harris Lake Tragedy, Responsibility, and the Outdoor Culture We Choose to Build

Last summer, the Harris Lake tragedy shook everyone who enjoys North Carolina's lakes.

A young girl lost her life. Another woman suffered life-changing injuries. According to investigators, the operator of the other boat was allegedly impaired while towing a tube. It wasn't simply a boating accident. It was a tragedy that left two families forever changed.

As someone who spends almost every week exploring lakes around the Triangle, that accident stayed in my mind.

It reminded me that every time we launch onto the water, we carry a responsibility—not only for ourselves, but for every family sharing the lake with us.

Water is beautiful.

But water never forgives careless decisions.

It's Not About Age

Some people may think these tragedies happen because young people like speed.

I don't think that's true.

The operator in the Harris Lake case wasn't a teenager.

Age wasn't the issue.

The real issue was something much deeper.

Responsibility.

Empathy.

Self-discipline.

Those qualities matter much more than horsepower or birthdays.

Whether you're twenty or seventy, the moment you become responsible for a boat—or for any powered machine—other people's lives are partly in your hands.

That deserves respect.

The Best Water Sports Let You Choose Your Limit

People often ask me why I chose eFoils instead of power surfing.

It's not because one sport is good and the other is bad.

Every water sport has its own beauty.

Power surfing is exciting.

Wake surfing is exciting.

Jet skiing is exciting.

They all have their place when enjoyed responsibly.

But as I grew older, I realized I wasn't looking for more excitement.

I was looking for more freedom.

The freedom to choose.

Some days I want to challenge myself.

Some days I simply want to glide quietly across the lake.

The best outdoor sports let you decide where your limit is.

Not every day needs to be an adrenaline competition.

My Mazda Taught Me Something

My first car was a Mazda3 hatchback.

I loved it.

It was fun, responsive, and always encouraged spirited driving.

For the first few years, I thought it was the perfect car.

Eventually I realized something.

Sometimes a machine can make your confidence grow faster than your ability.

Later, after getting married and becoming a father, I changed to a Toyota RAV4.

It isn't as sporty.

It lets you know when you're asking too much from it.

Some people might call that boring.

I call it honest.

The RAV4 didn't make me a more responsible person.

It simply fit the person I had become.

When you have a family waiting at home, getting home safely becomes part of the adventure.

Why eFoil Fits My Life

That's why I chose eFoil.

Not because it is the fastest.

Not because it is the newest.

Because it gives me choices.

With proper instruction, beginners can cruise slowly and comfortably.

A husband and wife can enjoy the lake together.

Parents can ride while their children cheer from the shore.

Friends can spend an afternoon exploring quiet coves instead of chasing speed records.

If someone wants more challenge later, the equipment is capable of it.

But the excitement is optional.

The elegant feeling of flying above the water is still there, even at lower speeds.

That matches the kind of outdoor life I want.

A Different Kind of Redneck

People often joke that North Carolina is "redneck country."

You know what?

After living here for years, I proudly consider myself one of them.

Not because I drink.

Not because I drive a pickup truck.

But because, to me, being a redneck means something much simpler.

Tell the truth.

Help your neighbors.

Love the outdoors.

Take care of your family.

Respect nature.

Work hard.

I've experienced that spirit myself.

Years ago, my son and I went camping.

I forgot our cast-iron pot at home.

I mentioned it in an online camping group.

A husband and wife I had never met drove nearly an hour just to bring us one.

They didn't know me.

They didn't owe me anything.

They simply wanted another family to enjoy the outdoors.

That's the North Carolina I know.

Warm-hearted.

Straightforward.

Always willing to help.

But There Is One More Thing

Being warm-hearted isn't enough.

Our outdoor community also needs self-discipline.

Freedom without self-discipline eventually becomes someone else's tragedy.

The Harris Lake accident wasn't a failure of outdoor culture.

It was a failure to live up to the best values of that culture.

Real outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen look after each other.

Real campers help strangers.

Real boaters slow down near swimmers.

Real anglers respect paddlers.

Real eFoil riders give beginners space.

Real people understand that every family on the lake deserves to return home safely.

The Community We Want to Build

Big Orange Water Sports isn't trying to build the fastest riders.

We're trying to build a better outdoor community.

A place where responsibility is respected.

Where empathy is normal.

Where self-discipline is something to be proud of.

Because skill without character isn't enough.

If our community becomes just a little more responsible, a little more empathetic, and a little more disciplined, then tragedies like Harris Lake become less likely.

Not because of more rules.

Not because of better equipment.

But because of better people.

I still proudly call myself a redneck.

Not because of what I drive.

Not because of what I wear.

But because I believe a real redneck tells the truth, helps strangers, loves the outdoors, and protects the people sharing it.

If that's the future of North Carolina's outdoor culture—and maybe even America's—I would be proud to be part of it.

And if Big Orange Water Sports can help build that culture, then teaching people to fly above the water will only be the beginning.