A Certain Spanish Synergy

From the moment we arrived, our crew – Maui riders Annie Reickert and Olivia Jenkins, Brazilian Olympic sailor Martine Grael, Tahitian wave rider Naumi Eychenne, and local fourteen-year-old phenom Olivia Sánchez, whom we called Oli – hit the ground running. Representing the women of Armstrong, we came with one shared mission: ride everything, learn from one another, and show what’s possible when women come together on the water.

Over the week, Tarifa delivered a full menu of foiling: waves, downwind, and flat water. We were determined to experience it all.

Chasing Waves

Every athlete on the trip loves riding in waves – whether that be in breaking waves on Maui, chasing river swell in Hood River or ripping apart faces in Tahiti, therefore, everyone was keen to find waves in Tarifa to ride in. Right from the start, we got lucky. As with any wind trip, we chased the conditions. On our first full day, the wind wasn’t cooperating in town, so we loaded up the vans and drove an hour north in search of wind. We found a small yet playful right-hand point break with 15-18 knots at a spot called Los Caños de Meca. The wind was light but steady, the waves super playful. After wrangling our gear and putting masts and lowers together and pumping up wings, all the girls made it out to the lineup. It was a pretty sweet first day to line up small, mushy right-hand waves with welcoming wind, and with the spot all to ourselves. For a place not known for its surf, scoring both wind and waves on day one felt like a blessing.

Feeling stoked and satisfied, we were excited to see what else Tarifa had to offer. We weren’t quite as lucky on day two, but the next morning we went back to that same location for a double prone session. I’m still new to prone foiling – this was only my second attempt – but watching Naumi, Annie, Martine, and Olivia link waves effortlessly was mesmerizing. Their precision and grace reminded me how much artistry this sport demands. We sat down for a lunch of tapas, ordering plate after plate of Patatas Bravas, Huevos Rueveltos and a load of seafood to keep us fueled for more wave-chasing.

Downwinding the Coast

Midweek brought the highlight of our trip: two downwind runs, one on the Mediterranean side and one on the Atlantic.

For the first, we followed a dirt road six kilometers up the coast and launched from a rocky, nondescript beach. The downwinder lasted about forty minutes – short but scenic. The bumps were small, the wind light, and we had to work to stay on the swell. Naumi and Annie rode dedicated downwind setups while Olivia and I used our parawings, and Oli took her XPS MkII. We ended in the harbor in Tarifa proper (which we’d later be kicked out of…).

The second downwinder was even better. We launched directly from Playa Valdevaqueros, one of the main wind launches in Tarifa and rode all the way to Bolonia Beach, the next town to the north, tracing Tarifa’s rugged coastline as the late-afternoon light danced on the water. The swell was rolling, the wind perfectly filled in. At one point, we all caught the same wave – five women carving side by side, hooting and shouting encouragement. That’s the type of session I relish. We ended with sangria at the restaurant overlooking the beach. Very classic España.

Freestyle & Flat Water

Tarifa is known for strong winds and one of the most popular launch locations features flat, if slightly choppy, water. The main beach at Tangana, with its sandy launch and endless space, became our playground for freestyle and freeride sessions. As the wind filled each day, the beach transformed into a mosaic of wings and kites. We scored a number of flat-water sessions here, the most notable being riding as the sun set, with the electric feel of the beach goers welcoming us back at the end of the day. The music was pumping, the beach packed with wingers, kiters and families.

As we chased the epic backdrops, we also tried our luck inside the Tarifa harbor, near where all the Big Air kiteboarders launch into the sky, tempted by flat water and dramatic backdrops. The breeze was filled in, the backdrop epic, and we were stoked with how the shots could look, our videographer Slater was eager to get some different-looking shots – until the harbor master motored over to inform us that, despite a prior police check, winging there was off-limits. It’s all part of the adventure. We packed up and relocated to a tiny cove tucked beneath an old stone castle, where we practiced freestyle tricks against a postcard-worthy backdrop.

Learning from Each Other

Alongside the variety of conditions that we experienced, one of the most rewarding parts of the trip was the gear talk. When you gather a crew of dedicated riders, learning is bound to happen as you feed off of one another. We compared setups, foot placements, shims, mast lengths, and board sizes. Watching how each woman tuned her equipment for the conditions gave me a deeper understanding of how to maximize performance. For example, the Maui crew always uses footstraps when winging in the waves, which is not something I normally do, but gave me a lot more control over my foil.

Being surrounded by riders of similar skill levels creates an environment of collective progression. You see what’s possible. You watch someone make a drop on the wave or try a new trick – and suddenly it becomes possible for you too.

That was the true intention of this trip: to show other women what’s possible, to share knowledge, and to inspire more riders to step into this beautiful, liberating sport. Wingfoiling has opened up so much in terms of accessibility and exploration. While kiteboarding can sometimes feel intimidating – launch zones, long lines, crowded beaches – wingfoiling simplifies it. You can launch from almost anywhere, adjust for a wide range of conditions, and just go play.

Tarifa proved to be just as incredible for winging as it is for kiting. The wind was strong, the variety endless, and the local enthusiasm contagious. In the end, I was glad to experience this kiteboarding mecca as a winger.

Life Between Sessions

Of course, the experience wasn’t just about the water. Spain’s culture added its own rhythm to our days.

At home in Hood River, I usually eat dinner by 6 or 7pm – not exactly Spanish style. Adjusting to late-night meals was a challenge, especially traveling with my one-year-old. But we found our pace. After long sessions, we’d gather for tapas, fresh seafood, and Iberian pork in Tarifa’s Old Town. Narrow cobblestone streets glowed with soft lights, tiny café tables spilled onto the sidewalks, and music floated through open doorways.

Shops stayed open late, offering post-session strolls and impromptu gelato stops. The Old Town felt like a blend of beach culture and old-world Europe – salt air and centuries-old stone, adventure and charm intertwined. It’s the kind of place that pulls you in and refuses to let you go.

“That’s one of my favorite things about this sport – no matter where it takes you, you can connect with the other people who share this same passion.”

The Power of Shared Stoke

By the end of the week, we’d experienced every type of condition imaginable. We’d ridden waves, chased wind, explored cobblestone streets, and swapped stories. But more than anything, we’d connected – through the universal language of sessions and stoke.

That’s one of my favorite things about this sport – no matter where it takes you, you can connect with the other people who share this same passion. There’s also something special that happens when women ride together and push one another. It’s not about competition; it’s about encouragement.

I came home from Tarifa more confident in my setup, more tuned in to my own riding, and more in love with the possibilities of foiling. This sport keeps evolving, and so do we. Tarifa reminded me why I fell in love with riding in the first place – the feeling of freedom, connection, and community that happens when you let the wind carry you somewhere new.

And as our group packed up gear on the final day, I knew one thing for sure: I’d be back.