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At last year's Windsurf World Cup on Fuerte, the anchor lines of the jibe buoys already got in the way of some foils. And the same applies to this year's wingfoilers: if you choose a radius that is too tight, you run the risk of getting tangled up and taking a huge dive forwards. As you can see in this clip, it becomes particularly risky for the drivers behind. Fortunately, everything went well here - albeit very narrowly.
Benjamin May in free flight
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The World Cup in Pozo was wild - with 35 to 40 knots of wind, even the best wingfoilers on the planet were sometimes pushed to the limit. Benjamin May, who finished a sensational second in the big air discipline, was also caught out from time to time. In this 720 attempt, the rotation and height definitely fit, only the board somehow had other plans. By now at the latest, it should be clear to the inclined spectator why all the pros are travelling without a leash - having a board and foil in the entry lane when exiting at a height of six metres is simply not an option.
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No waves? No problem!
What to do when the sea is flat as a pancake but your heart beats for endless downwinders? That's no problem for the foil crew on the Isle of Wight. Because numerous ferries arrive and depart here every day, a few surfable waves are as certain as the Amen in church. And the best thing is that it's easy to plan ahead, as long as you have the current wind forecast and the timetable halfway in your head.
The freestyle show of Chris MacDonald
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Chris MacDonald was THE protagonist of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Pozo. In the freestyle final, he completed all seven trick attempts and finished with 29.01 out of a possible 30 points. He also managed the first triple move combination ever performed in a contest. This and a few other tricks can be seen in the clip. Fasten your seatbelts and be amazed!
Luck in misfortune - Foil meets cameraman
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This clip makes your heart skip a beat. During a jump, the fuselage suddenly detaches from the mast and flies with its sharp wings right in the direction of cameraman Evan Netsch. In the video, you can see that it "fortunately" flies towards him with the flat side and he is able to stop it with the camera. Evan escapes unhurt and with a bit of a scare. It is not clear whether it was due to screws not being properly tightened or a defect - the main thing is that the cameraman survived this stunt unscathed.
From 100 to 0 in 1 second
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Jerome Cloetens wants to really go for it in this situation - his facial expression speaks volumes. He is probably chasing his personal speed record. And perhaps he would have broken it if it hadn't been for this nasty shallow section. So instead of a record, there's a nasty buzzing head. And almost certainly a damaged foil. HERE by the way, there's a test of water sports helmets - just in case anyone is spontaneously interested ;-)
Dream waves in New Caledonia with Titouan Galea
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New Caledonian Titouan Galea is undoubtedly one of the best wave riders in the world. While many wingfoilers prefer to surf the round shoulders of the waves, Galea goes where it hurts - the breaking lip of the wave. Here he surfs an outer reef at his home spot - although he keeps the exact name of the spot to himself. The drone perspective in particular gives an idea of how flat and sharp the reef must be, over which the wave breaks in perfection.
Shy of water? Landing with dry feet
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It is not known whether Theo Demanez is afraid of water or even a non-swimmer. If you look at his take-off and landing technique, you might get this impression, as he doesn't get much more than the tips of his feet wet during this action. We would be interested to know whether Theo can also pull off the landing technique on rocky spots...
Wriggling with whales
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Vinnicius Martins actually only wanted to get out on the water to film a clip of the new NeilPryde Fly Wing (HERE there's a test, by the way). As the drone circled in the sky, Vinnicius was suddenly visited - by a veritable whale. "I'm still totally flashed after this encounter," wrote Vinni on Instagram. More than understandable given this clip.
Chicama - the longest wingsurf wave in the world
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The Chicama wave (Peru) is considered the longest surfable wave in the world. When everything is right, several breaks combine to form a wave and kilometres of riding along the dusty coast are possible. Tonico Correa doesn't get a really long ride on this day - by Chicama standards - but every wave fan would probably like to swap places with him. The Chicama lines are not only as smooth as glass, but also break relatively moderately - just the way wingfoilers want them to.
Windsurfing moves for wingsurfing pros
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New moves are invented almost daily in wingfoiling. Whereby "invented" in many cases goes too far. Because many wingfoilers have a background as windsurfers or kiters, moves are "brazenly" copied. Alex Merts' trick is a good example of this: Anyone with freestyle skills in windsurfing will immediately discover that this move is almost 1:1 similar to a kono in windsurfing. Alex is also amazed: "Who would have thought that windsurfing moves could be transferred so well?"
Wings are rocket science after all
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Benjamin Castenskiold never expected to be pulled so high into the air. Perhaps he simply underestimated the power of his Cabrinha Wing: "I didn't expect to climb so high!" Benjamin said afterwards, somewhat surprised. Wings are sometimes rocket science after all.
45 Knots - Balz Müller uncut
Balz Müller, alias Radiculo, takes us, equipped with a microphone, on a fun session at 45 knots. On this day in the south of France, the Defi Wing race was cancelled for safety reasons. Of course, staying ashore was not an option for Balz. The fact that Balz still has time to comment on his own action in conditions in which 99 per cent of all wingsurfers probably wouldn't even have got their equipment to the water in one piece is definitely an exciting insight. And you'll also get to know his favourite move: The catapult!
10 casual jibe variations by Gregorio Pugliese
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Anyone at risk of getting bored with wingsurfing should take a look at this clip by Gregorio Pugliese. It shows some casual jibe variations, e.g. the surfer jibe, cowboy jibe or the double duck jibe. Copying is expressly encouraged!
Petros Kontarinis, alias Lucky Luke, with the Save of the Year
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Everything goes wrong for Petros Kontarinis at this flying start to the race. Just as he crosses the start line, his lower wingtip gets stuck in the water and he loses his wing. But instead of crashing as expected, Kontarinis pulls faster than Lucky Luke - on the leash. Less than a second later, he has it back in his hand and masters the turnaround while pumping over the foil to avoid getting stuck. In the end, this fail costs him a few places, but also earns him lots of clicks on his Insta channel.
Alan Fedit - 5 moves in 40 seconds
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The fact that the young Frenchman Alan Fedit has an impressive level should have become clear since his victory at the Wingfoil World Cup in Leucate a few weeks ago. However, this clip shows just how confidently Alan celebrates his moves: in less than 40 seconds, he conjures up five tricks on the water - with unerring confidence. Chapeau!
The dance with the giant
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San Francisco Bay has plenty of wind - and if you broaden your horizons, endless waves too. This local, unknown to us, is using the bow wave of a giant container ship and from the looks of things, it's not the first time he's done this. However, you shouldn't get too close to the giant.
Chris MacDonald on his way into orbit
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The other day we were out testing on the beach at Laboe. An interested tourist came by who had probably never seen a wingsurfer before: "That looks great. Can you jump with it?" he asked. "Yes, you can jump too," was our answer. Looking back, that was wrong, because "jumping" is an understatement. "Flying" is a better word - at least if you take the crazy child prodigy from the States, Chris MacDonald, as a benchmark. Has a wingsurfer ever jumped, er, flown higher? Probably not. But see for yourself.
Endless swell waves with Keahi De Aboitiz
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Foils open up a whole new world even in normal swell waves. This video by Keahi De Aboitiz shows that you don't need breaking waves to make endlessly long flights. Keahi uses a fairly small 700 front wing here, but points out that relaxed rides are also possible with larger wings as long as the waves don't get too fast and powerful. Anyone interested in the basics of foiling in small waves can find HERE a complete guide. And of course you shouldn't miss the video by Keahi to get you in the mood.
Benoit Carpentier vs Ponta Preta 0:1
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The first Wingfoil World Cup is currently underway in Cape Verde - apparently in epic conditions. However, you can see what happens if you crash at the Ponta Preta spot in this clip from Benoit Carpentier, who describes the situation as follows: "Not necessarily the place where you want to crash, but that's how it is when you want to play with the big boys. I got washed under the wing on the first wash, but luckily made it to the surface before the second set wave came. With this one, I had no choice but to release the leash of the wing - otherwise I wouldn't have a shoulder today. In any case, it was an instructive experience. Thanks also to Titouan Galea for his help! Go big or go home!"
Bryan Metcalf-Perez gets a good beating
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This wave is fantastic! Except when you get it right on your head. There's not much Brian Metcalf-Perez can do at this moment except give the wing a well-intentioned push upwards and hope that the wave passes underneath. In this case, it didn't really work. "Vaporised", Brian wrote on his Insta channel. In the end, however, he had a good laugh because the wing actually survived the wash and Brian was able to continue the session after an extensive swim.
Seeing eye to eye into ruin
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Cynthia Cynbad Brown is the self-appointed "ambassador of amusement". In this case, she fulfils her task with flying colours. She flies "back to wing" at what feels like 40 kilometres an hour. That alone is pretty impressive and she obviously has things well under control. However, as the riff gets closer and closer, Cynthia starts to get a little nervous. The result is a heavy crash, which the fun ambassador presumably smiles away.
Dream waves with Titouan Galea
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Titouan Galea is lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful wingsurfing spots in the world - New Caledonia. Especially now, when winter in Central Europe doesn't seem to want to end and everyone is longing for sun and warmth, you sometimes wish you were in places like this. Titouan rides perfect waves here in crystal-clear water - and only in board shorts.
He can walk on water!!!
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Wingdingjosh squeezes the last tenth of a knot of top speed out of his material here on the Rietvlej near Cape Town. That's impressive, but then someone hits the brakes. Whether he simply got a stall or a tuft of seaweed got caught on the foil is not known. Either way, the board slows down more than the rider - but the Jesus of wingsurfing quickly runs a few more steps across the water.
The champ of the future?
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This post by Klaas Voget shows that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. His 7-year-old son Tebbe is already cruising relaxed across the water here, jumping through the air and then completing a frontside 360. Tebbe has probably learnt three new moves in the time it took us to write these lines. Chapeau!
Orane Ceris' crash session in the snow
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As we all know, snow is just frozen water. And because French rider Orane Ceris is currently busy practising her front and back flips on the water, she also used the days in the snow for an extensive training session. The advantage: the landings are nice and soft in the soft powder snow and you don't even have to worry about hitting the sharp foil. In this respect, Orane was able to relax and accept that not everything went according to plan during this snow session.
Vinnicius Martins in Nazaré
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The Portuguese big wave spot Nazaré is notorious. Every winter, huge waves roll onto the cliffs here, attracting big wave surfers from all over the world. Because the waves are as fast as a goods train and don't always break at the same point, surfers are usually pulled into the walls of water on jet skis. Brazilian surfer Vinnicius Martins has now been out with a wingfoil for the first time in Nazaré - on a comparatively short day. Nevertheless, you can guess what kind of speed he achieves: "A lot still needs to be improved. But I'm happy to have made a start"Martins revealed on Instagram.
Longest film mast in the world?
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If this post had gone online on 1 April, things would have been clear. So we're not quite sure: is this three-metre-long film mast real or is the clip a well-made fake? We would like to believe in option 1, but would like to see how the colleague starts. What are your opinions? Leave a comment below!!!
Maxime Lhuillier's leap over the pier
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Jumping over obstacles is one of those things: if it goes well, everything looks easy and safe. If it goes wrong, the session ends up at the local repair service at best and in hospital at worst. In this case, however, Maxime Lhuillier obviously had things well under control. Let's just hope it stays that way in the future...
Alex Mertens' qualities as a taker
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If, like Alex Mertens, you want to go for the big moves, you have to be prepared to take a lot of punishment. Alex obviously has no problem with this and shares his impressive repertoire of jumps with us in this clip. Chapeau!
New Wing model from F-one
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Manufacturer F-one is launching a new Wing model on the market. "Great importance was attached to the best possible handling"according to a brand representative. We are sceptical, especially with regard to the wind range. A test model has already arrived, but the editor responsible is still looking for a suitable pump. But maybe it will be under the Christmas tree. We'll stay tuned. Merry Christmas to you all!
Take off!
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It is not known which young storm chaser takes off here. The protagonist has probably underestimated the wind force or the power of the wing. And so he lifts off, only to land roughly 30 metres downwind a few seconds later in the North Sea sand.
Monster Crash by Valentin Lux
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If you want to get to the big moves, you have to be able to take it - and hope that the sword of Damocles under the board will spare you. Like many other pros, Valentin Lux practises such moves without a leash so that he can remove himself from the board if the worst comes to the worst. This tactic worked in this case and Valentin had a good laugh after the crash.
Balz makes the butterfly
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What do you do when it's whistling on the lake but there's no wind on the shore to take off? 99.9 per cent of all wingsurfers would inevitably take the wing in tow and paddle off, but Balz Müller once again has a better idea: quickly strap the wing to your back like butterfly wings, then your hands are free for the dock start.
Crash test by Clement Colmas
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Clement Colmas is presumably carefully dismantling his foil on a sandbank. The film crew's pity is limited: "Holy sh!!!, glad I got that." You have to have friends... But somehow it would have been a shame if this crash treat had not been preserved for posterity.
Shorebreak vs Winsurfer 1:0
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Wingsurfing in the waves is one of those things: if the ground slopes gently, the surf is tame, but you ruin your foil in shallow water. Beaches that drop off steeply would be better - if it weren't for a gatekeeper called Shorebreak. Ewan Pithie gets to experience the downsides of this type of spot and is given a real long time in the shorebreak.
Paula Novotna against the foil scalpel
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What happens to the newly crowned world champion Paula Novotna is an absolute nightmare. In the middle of the jump, the board suddenly goes flat, flips over and the sharp foil sticks up. It is not clear from her Insta post whether Paula survived this backflip attempt without injury. "Always keep your foot straps tight"that's all it says. And don't forget your helmet, we would add. HERE by the way, there's a test with numerous helmet models...
Don't try this at home!
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Funsport professionals like Baptiste Cloarec sometimes have a relaxed attitude to risk. However, it is doubtful whether Cloarec expected the onshore wind to lift him so high into the air when he jumped from this Breton dune. But, as we all know, they all come down...
Leon Schiel in the stratosphere
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Leon Schiel really knocks it out of the park here! The fact that Leon is only 12 years old makes it all the more impressive. So it's no wonder that manufacturer F-one has already snapped up the youngster as a team rider - Leon is part of F-one's "Next Generation" team. So it shouldn't be long before Leon makes a name for himself in the GWA Wingfoil World Cup.
Wesley Brito's casual beach start
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Wingsurf pro Wesley Brito lives in Cape Verde and has perhaps the most relaxed take-off technique up his sleeve. "No wind, no waves, no problem"Wesley commented succinctly on his Instagram channel. By the way: If you want to see a more down-to-earth take-off technique, you should watch Wesley's riding technique on the Starting on small boards check.
Kegan Hart in gliding mode
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Whether it was the strong wind, the skills of wingfoiler Keegan Hart or the high-lift wing remains to be seen. In any case, this soaring flight and the butter-soft landing at the end are truly impressive. Is there actually a contest for the longest hangtime?
Jump training on the trampoline
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How do the pros practise new tricks? There are certainly some who simply go out on the water, try it out and pray that the sharp foil spares their wing and body. Jerome Cloetens obviously takes a more professional approach and practised the front flip with wing and skateboard deck on the trampoline. In the second part of the short clip "Practice & Results", you can see that his training method has paid off.
Malo Guénolé's front flip into the wave
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The front flip is currently one of the most challenging manoeuvres in wingfoiling. The French worldcupper Malo Guénolé has of course mastered this move. However, integrating this trick into wave riding is in a completely different league. Guénolé managed this trick right at the start of his winter training in Brazil. "The first few days here in Brazil are quite good", Guénolé commented succinctly.
Signs of wear and tear at Balz Müller?
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Balz Müller, alias "Radiculo", is obviously not getting any younger either. "It feels good to go crazy again. But the morning after hurts!" And all because of a few paltry moves? Where is this going to lead...
Fernando Novaes - Peruvian wave dream
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Peru is considered the country with the longest waves in the world. In addition to the increasingly well-known spot Pacasmayo, Chicama in particular enjoys a legendary reputation - especially among surfers. But because there is always a light offshore breeze blowing out to sea in Chicama, windfoilers can also regularly enjoy endless lines here. Fernando Novaes caught a moderate day here, on which the wave broke gently and allowed endless rides with a neutral wing. Waves to dream about. If you want to see a longer edit with beautiful wingfoil and prone surf action, you should visit HERE check out the F-one YouTube channel.
Circus act by Wesley Brito
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Wesley Brito, a professional winger from Cape Verde, delivers a circus act here. Whether he really travelled all the way to work in this way is doubtful. What would have interested us is how Wesley got into driving in the first place. Maybe he'll reveal that in his next Insta post...
Who put that thing there?
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Who did that there? For wingfoiler Jeremiah McDonald, it obviously came as something of a surprise that the water becomes shallower towards the beach. And so the otherwise flawless foil pump stroke ends not with an elegant descent, but with a catapult. It happens to the best of us!
Attention, shallow water!!!
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Sometimes stupid things happen - you overlook a nasty boulder in the middle of nowhere, or a fat plastic bag suddenly crosses your path. In this case, however, we can't really absolve the French foil pilot. You could have guessed that the water two metres behind the dry sand might be too shallow to speed past at full throttle. At least the protagonist was not injured, but whether the foil survived this stunt is questionable.
Noe Cantaloube's wave ride into the reef
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A glassy line and of course Noe Cantaloube doesn't need to be asked twice. It's just a shame if you overlook the shallow reef while riding the waves. If you take a look into the wave trough during this clip, you can guess what follows: An ungentle full braking - no, a foil braking - on the reef, including a full wash. Whether the surfing day was over after this action is not known. By the way: Don't forget to switch on the sound while watching!
Alan Fedit vents his Wing - differently than planned!
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Ever since Alan Fedit was able to capture the first triple rotation in wingsurfing history on video with a 1080°, the French bird of paradise has made a name for himself in the scene. But even with pros like Alan, not everything always goes well, as the video proves. Here, Fedit attempts a backflip with the wing held only by the front handle. A good idea - as long as you don't lose the board and sink the sharp foil into your own wing. Alan's pragmatic comment: "Sometimes everything is good & sometimes not." Which says it all...
Julien Bouyer with the faceplant of the year
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Julien Bouyer first caused a stir in 2021 when he made his debut on the GWA Wingfoil World Tour together with his brother Camille. Since then, the young Frenchman, who lives on the Ile de Re, has been known for his uncompromising riding style. But if you want to raise the bar, you sometimes have to take a big hit - as Julien also learnt with this move. Whether it was an over-twisted front flip or whether Julien actually attempted a double front flip is not known - only that he had to shake himself vigorously after this faceplant. Incidentally, crashes like this are also the reason why many freestyle pros are now travelling without a leash. Julien certainly wouldn't have been in the mood for a foil boomerang either...
Benjamin May's first Frontflip-360
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Just a year ago, the frontside 360 was one of the top moves in freestyle, even earning big points from the judges in the World Cup. Then front and back flips came along and raised the bar to a new level. But because the evolution of tricks is progressing at breakneck speed, even move combinations have long been the order of the day for top riders. With this Frontflip-360, the combination of Frontflip and Frontside-360, Benjamin May is sending a really big statement into the world. Chapeau!!!
Balz Müller in tornado mode
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Balz Müller, stage name "Radiculo", is one of the most innovative wingfoilers in the world. As a kitesurfer, surfer and windsurfing freestyle pro, he transports movements known from other water sports into wingfoiling seemingly effortlessly - he is now responsible for various move creations such as the "Radiculo 720".
During this training session, Balz once again let go of all inhibitions and rotated like a tornado.
Gollito Estredo's jump over the motorboat
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Gollito Estredo is now one of the best wingfoilers in the world. As a 9-time world champion in freestyle windsurfing, he has a wealth of experience in moves and the necessary competitive toughness. At the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Lanzarote he consequently claimed his first victory on the professional tour in July.
Estredo also regularly trains on Lake Garda - and is obviously pretty sure of himself. Otherwise he would hardly jump over a five-metre motorboat without batting an eyelid.
