Foil School

After the two hours at the cable, the wind started to pick up. We didn’t wait, we packed everything, grabbed a lunch box, and went straight to the beach. The conditions were turning on… around thirty wingfoilers were already on site, ready for some coaching. We had about four hours of solid wind, and I spent the whole time in the water, riding next to people, giving tips, correcting stances, and helping them understand how to ride waves or improve their turns. The wind was cross-offshore, the waves were small but fun, and everyone was smiling and learning. Coaching this many people at once is intense, you’re always moving, watching, talking, and helping. But I love it. I get to share my passion and see people progress in real time.

As the sun started to set, the wind got even stronger. A little apéro was waiting on the beach with some drinks and snacks for everyone. Most people started to relax and enjoy the sunset. But after being in the water all day for others, I needed a session for myself. So I grabbed my setup and jumped into the water for a proper sunset foil session. The conditions were classic Viana do Castelo: small swell, strong side-off wind, and almost no one in the water.

That’s what I love about this spot, it’s not too crowded, even in summer. You have space to ride, try tricks, and enjoy the session without stress. It’s also super consistent. You can surf in the morning when the ocean is glassy, and then wingfoil or kite in the afternoon once the wind kicks in. During this last session of the day, I just let go. I surfed the small waves, did a bit of freestyle, and trained especially hard on my frontflips. It was super windy, I probably should’ve used a 3m wing, but I decided to go with a Nova Pro 4.2m instead. I wanted to go big and really test what was possible.

With this setup, the kickers were perfect, and I had all the speed I needed. I started throwing high frontflips, and I noticed something important. When I sent the trick too much upwind, I lost the line and landed weirdly, often finishing with a kind of frontside 360 instead of a frontflip. The key is to throw the frontflip more across the wind, not directly into it. That way, the rotation becomes more like a loop, and your wing works like a catapult that launches the board forward under your feet.

If I had a few tips for anyone trying to land a proper frontflip, it’s these: first, look side back. You really need to turn your head behind your shoulder to initiate the rotation. Second, don’t be afraid to throw the wing upside down, that’s what creates the catapult effect and pulls your board into the flip. Also, it helps a lot to tuck your knees in just a bit. It makes the rotation faster and keeps you tight in the air, which helps avoid getting pulled too hard. So the steps are: jump, start looking back with your head, send the wing down and, finally, spot your landing. This sunset session really helped me understand the timing and positioning for high frontflips. With the strong wind and the way the kickers line up in Viana, it’s one of the best places to train this move.

The whole day in Viana was intense and fun. There wasn’t much time for my own riding, but it was full of energy, learning, and good people. Coaching sessions like this remind me why I love this sport so much. And finishing with a personal session full of big frontflips at sunset? That’s the dream.