A 15-year-old from Mooloolaba, Queensland, is making waves with an unofficial world record after navigating over 60 kilometers of open ocean on an electric hydrofoil. Malakai Lamby’s remarkable journey from Golden Beach to Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast was supported by a dedicated crew, including Coast Guard volunteers and fellow e-foil enthusiasts.
“I only saw one Fliteboarder [at Noosa] and I was a bit disappointed, but they all just popped up out of nowhere and there was like 20 of them — it was really crazy,” Malakai recounted, reflecting on the unexpected camaraderie that emerged during his adventure.
The Rise of Hydrofoiling
Hydrofoiling, a burgeoning sport, involves riding a surfboard-like craft equipped with a curved, wing-shaped fin that allows the rider to glide above the water’s surface. This innovative mode of transportation offers a unique perspective of the ocean, and Malakai’s journey was enriched by the presence of dolphins and whales.
“We saw dolphins and two whales — that was really cool,” he shared, highlighting the natural wonders encountered along the way.
Setting a New Benchmark
While Malakai’s feat was not officially recognized by Guinness World Records, Flite Australia acknowledged it as a new benchmark for the longest distance traveled on a single battery charge. Flite Australia, a leading manufacturer in the industry, has logged over 150,000 rides through its platform.
“On the new technology, with all the new stuff that’s come out and my weight and ability, I’ve been able to smash out [an extra] 20 kilometers, so the new record is now 67 kilometers,” Malakai stated.
He further explained the technical challenges faced during the journey: “It was pretty rough so when you get on the back of a wave, you have to use more power. The aim is to not have the board touch the water, so if the board stays out of the water, you use less battery and you can be really efficient and go really far.”
A Family Affair and Community Support
Malakai’s passion for hydrofoiling was sparked three years ago by his mother, De Lamby. Despite the challenging conditions, she remained confident in her son’s abilities.
“The current was really playing with where he was going but we had communications with him the whole way,” Ms. Lamby said. “Everything that came into his mind he verbalized, which was quite distressing on the boat because any near miss or ‘I’m going to fall off’, you knew firsthand. I was just like, ‘I hope he makes it’ and he smashed it, he absolutely smashed it.”
The event was not just a personal triumph but also a community celebration, with local supporters rallying behind Malakai’s ambitious endeavor.
Growing Popularity of E-Foiling
Michael Wallent, an instructor at Fliteschool Noosa, believes Malakai’s achievement will shine a spotlight on the sport’s growing popularity. “It’s generally Europeans that are doing things like breaking records and trying to ride as fast as they can,” Wallent noted. “To have an Australian and especially a local Sunshine Coast lad doing it, we were all really excited and wanted to get behind him.”
Wallent emphasized the accessibility of hydrofoiling, stating, “But it can take a little bit more to master … it’s quite incredible how he [Malakai] rode. To conserve battery capacity, you need to what we call ‘fly high’, so keeping the board up off of the water and nice and constant, not too much pitch variation — it’s a pretty impressive feat.”
Looking Ahead
With his sights set on future records, Malakai is driven to push the boundaries of what is possible on an electric hydrofoil. His mother, De Lamby, expressed her unwavering support: “He’s really driven … I wasn’t nagging him to do any of it. It was really easy for me to go, ‘Why not let him do it?’. And it’s good, the community came and rallied behind him.”
As Malakai continues to inspire others with his passion and determination, the future of hydrofoiling looks promising, with new records and adventures on the horizon.
