THE NEW DEVICE THAT LETS YOU ‘LEVITATE ON WATERWAYS’

A BYRON BAY man behind a propeller-powered foiling surfboard says it feels like you are “levitating on water”.

David Trewern’s Fliteboard eFoil will be shown off for the first time at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) from today.

It behaves like a surfboard or snowboard but needs no waves or snow – just water – and can go 40km per hour.

Mr Trewern said he will do demos on the waterways at SCIBS for the next four days. The kiteboarding enthusiast said he first came up with the idea three years ago at a kiteboarding regatta with little wind.

He decided to rig up a propeller on his kiteboard and it “went pretty well”.

He spent the past few years developing the final version and started taking orders six weeks ago.

“It’s an amazing experience. It’s quiet and you feel like a dolphin – or you are flying on wings in the water.

“It’s engaging but very calm and you feel like you are king of the world.

“It almost doesn’t feel right. You feel like you are levitating above the water.”

The device, which he assembles in Byron Bay with parts from Germany and Asia, retails at $13,850 including shipping. It has a handheld controller with a screen showing speed and distance left on the battery.