4th May 2026
A World First: All-Electric E1 Racebird Tows Freeride Watersports Athlete In Never-Before-Seen Stunt On Lake Como
In a groundbreaking demonstration pushing the boundaries of foiling innovation, Team AIUIa Championed by LeBron James has completed a world-first: using its fully electric E1 RaceBird - combining electric propulsion with hydrofoil technology - to tow British freeride watersports athlete, Tom Court, across Lake Como, Italy.
Team AIUIa’s E1 RaceBird was driven by AIUIa’s pilot, Spanish racing driver Nerea Martí, who delivered a controlled, high-speed tow across the crystal-clear waters of Lake Como. The never-before-seen display was staged ahead of the E1 Lake Como GP 2026 presented by Villa d’Este race weekend, and set against the lake’s iconic alpine backdrop.
The showcase marks the first time an E1 RaceBird has been used to tow an extreme sports athlete at speed, combining elite electric propulsion technology with freestyle foiling performance.
As the E1 RaceBird lifted cleanly onto its foils and accelerated smoothly to fly above the water, behind it rider Tom Court maintained tension and balance through a tow line, dynamically adapting to the boat’s lift, cornering forces, and rapid speed transitions.
The result delivered a high-performance technical showcase of next-generation on-water foiling activation.
Nerea Martí, Team AIUIa Championed by LeBron James Pilot: “Racing the E1 RaceBird is already fun, but adding Tom to the back made it even more so. There was pressure on my side to make sure everything was super precise and lined up. At one point I looked back and saw Tom absolutely blow up. The whole thing was really cool!”
Tom Court, Free-Ride Athlete: “The hardest thing was the combination of the two foils and the moment we had to start foiling together. It was hands down the fastest I’ve ever been on a foil. It felt insanely fast on my board which was a completely new feeling on the water. It felt like riding behind a moving platform that’s flying!
John Marlow, Team AIUIa Championed by LeBron James Co-Team Principal: “This is a world first - bringing together these two foiling vessels. It’s our love letter to foiling if you like! We’ve created something pretty special here. It’s been surreal to watch, and unlike anything we’ve seen with these RaceBirds before. E1 has been really supportive, so we’d like to thank them for helping us to make it happen. I think this is just the beginning there are some very adventurous people in this circuit, and we’re proud to have led the way!”
As the weekend progressed, focus returned to championship competition, with Team AIUIa going head-to-head against nine E1 RaceBirds across qualifying and race day, in a tightly contested race weekend on Lake Como.
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