CHANGE OF PROFESSION
I have moved over into professional wing-foiling. Since winging came on the scene it has grown enormously over the last few years. For the last two seasons I have been a full-time wing developer and wing athlete. I am sponsored by Ensis, which is a Swiss brand that originated right at the very beginning of this sport. Karl Müller was already the Severne distributer in Switzerland, so we already had a long relationship before. When winging started out, Robby Naish was riding a 4m wing in Hawaii, Karl picked up on the sport and started Ensis with bigger wings in mind, which was a great decision because it grew like crazy. It has changed my life completely and I'm now almost daily on the water with all of my sports. Of course, I am still windsurfing, but that is not my main income anymore. Five years ago I would never have dreamt that I was going to be a pro wingfoiler. I am still a professional windsurfer, but most of all I am a really passionate windsurfer. I love to spend time on the water. So now with this shift I don't feel that pressure in windsurfing so much anymore, but in fact I'm actually windsurf better than ever before. My sailing has gone hand in hand with the release of pressure and now I don't feel any pressure windsurfing. I am just having a blast. In wingfoiling it is at the point where I have to perform and people expect something. I am making a living from wing-foiling, so that is the pressure you have to accept comes with it.
LANDSCAPING
My old job as a landscaper has pretty much come to an end. I just don't have the time for it anymore. My old boss keeps calling me up to sneak in two or three weeks on a project here and there. I would like to help, but it is impossible and it would be overkill. Landscaping is extremely physical.
EXPONENTIAL PROGRESS
This story is from the Issue 436 - August 2024 edition of Windsurf.
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This story is from the Issue 436 - August 2024 edition of Windsurf.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
