My passion for wingfoiling builds on my passion for surfing and my fascination with all kinds of surf sports.
Surfing offers a special connection to the ocean that’s always had me hooked: reading the waves, sitting in the lineup as the set rolls in and the waves start to build, paddling for the wave you’ve chosen – and then that rush of stoke mixed with a shot of adrenaline when the wave picks you up, you drop in, gain speed, and get carried by pure energy.
Wingfoiling gives me a very similar feeling – and yet it’s a little different. I don’t need the perfect swell or an almost empty lineup to get into that flow. Unlike surfers, wingfoilers aren’t tied to being in exactly the right spot to catch a wave, and can spread out more across the spot. Thanks to foiling, I can ride waves far out in the ocean. If it gets too crowded, I just head a bit further out or take the next wave – no long waits, less competition. For me, that means more actual time on the wave. And it feels quite similar when the catches the wave and you feel its energy lifting and accelerating you.
Replacing surfing with wingfoiling? Theoretically, maybe – because it triggers similar emotions in me: a mix of connection with the ocean, happiness, adrenaline, escape, and freedom. But for me, wingfoiling is more of a complement to surfing than a replacement.
Riding a wave with a surfboard still feels more direct to me. Without a wing, I’m potentially freer in my movements. And the kick is a bit different too – When surfing I'm naturally closer to the most powerfull part of the wave, where its enrgy unloads. And also, because the chance of getting fully washed in a wipeout is higher 😅. I’ve had that happen on a foilboard as well, but usually I’m farther away from the impact zone.
So why as a complement? Because it opens up new possibilities in the waves when surfing is hardly, or not at all, an option – mainly for four reasons: swell, surf quality, wind, and crowds. Surfing requires a certain standard of swell and clean, breaking waves – ideally with no wind, light wind, or offshore wind to keep the faces open. Too much wind can flatten them and make them unrideable. Wingfoiling, on the other hand, actually thrives on wind, and even the choppy bumps of a small windswell are foilable – they don’t even need to break into surfable sections. With moderate wind that doesn’t ruin the shape, and when the lineup is packed, I just head farther out and ride the open swell before it even hits the surf zone. I’m happy to leave that inside section to the surfers – partly because, for now, my foiling skills in breaking waves aren’t yet strong enough to stay out of the way and avoid becoming a hazard.
But foiling waves is just one of many ways to ride when you’re wingfoiling. One of the biggest things for me is that when I’m landlocked, I don’t even need to hit the coast to get that surf feeling. With just a little breeze, it’s waiting for me at the lake around the corner.
And the ways to experience it are incredibly versatile. You can ride waves like when surfing, fly dynamically over the water while carving, jibing, tacking, throwing jumps – or just cruise smooth and easy, even sit down mid-ride and enjoy the flow. Or you can go full speed across a lake, a lagoon, or the ocean. Everything’s possible.
For me, wingfoiling is not a substitute for surfing, but a way to experience the surf feeling even when I’m landlocked or when the conditions at the spot aren’t right for surfing. It comes very close to surfing, but it’s still not the same. Both surfing and wingfoiling give me magical moments. With wingfoiling, these moments are often easier to access for me, and I can experience them more often – almost anywhere there’s deeper water and a bit of wind. That’s why it won’t let me go – and why, alongside my passion for surfing, it has become an important part of my life.
This lifestyle no longer reflects itself only on the water, but also on land – in the way I live and the way I shape my home. You can also find a touch of surf and foil flair in our Lifestyle Collection.
