Rising Up: Noé Cuyala

Drawing upon his multi-sport training and experience, 18-year-old Noé Cuyala came to wingfoiling five years ago, and has been racking up the medals across the competitive circuit ever since. His recent move to VAYU has only hypercharged his performance and determination as he heads into the 2026 season…

Hey Noé, great to have you in Rising Up. First up – tell us a little about yourself. Where are you based, and what does a normal training week look like for you right now?

I’m based in the south of Corsica. It’s a bit complicated for me to describe a typical training week because the conditions change a lot here. But I’m on the water whenever there’s wind, whether it’s light or strong, hot or cold, waves or flat. We have to train in all conditions because you never know what you’ll get in competition.

When there’s no wind, I always do physical training, mainly in the gym. I also have to schedule time for my studies. This summer I joined EDHEC, a major business school. They offer a distance learning program for high-level athletes, which allows me to manage my studies and my training in the best way.

You started sailing at four and were windsurfing by five – that’s a pretty solid introduction. What was it that you loved about the wind and the water?

I think what made me love sailing was the people around me in that world. I was lucky to have some amazing instructors, especially one that I’m still very close to today. Over the years, windsurfing allowed me to discover the incredible sensations you can have on the water thanks to the wind and the waves. I always wanted to go faster and higher.

It sounds like skiing was a huge part of your life too. What did your early ski career teach you that you still carry into wingfoiling today?

Discipline, never giving up, and the fact that life isn’t always easy, especially in sport. I had some very hard moments in skiing. It’s an extremely tough world. One year I broke my hand, and they told me, “If you want to stay in the sports program, you can’t stop.” So less than two weeks after the accident, I was back on skis with a cast on my right hand. The coach used to tape my hand to the pole before every training. I even raced with the cast. That moment, and many others, taught me that you should never give up, even when it’s really hard.

At 13 you discovered wingfoiling, just as the sport was really beginning to take off. Was it love at first wing?!

From my very first session, I completely fell in love. I was already doing some windfoiling, but this was different. You were free in your movements, and I could feel there was huge potential for progression. And let’s be honest, when you first start foiling, the feeling of flying is just insane.

Was it a hard call to leave your budding ski career behind to go all-in on wingfoiling?

Of course, the decision was hard. At the time, skiing was my main passion and I had been working hard at it for years. But since I was a kid, I always felt more attracted to the water. In Corsica, on the sea, is where I felt the best. So even though the future of wingfoiling was still unknown and uncertain at that time, I went for it. Now, looking back, I have no regrets. I had amazing years in skiing, some of the best of my life, but I made the right decision. I feel even more fulfilled with my foil.

Freestyle at the top level is getting pretty wild. What are you currently working on in your riding? Any tricks you’re obsessed with landing right now?

Yes, the level is getting crazier and crazier. I didn’t even think all this was possible just two years ago.

Right now I have a few tricks in mind, like the Palao 1080 and the Frontside 1440. One trick that really obsesses me is the Double Backflip. I have to admit it scares me, but I know I have to go for it. For the first Double Backflips you need very specific conditions, and I’ve only had them a few times. But every time, the trick is on my mind for the whole session. Don’t worry though, it’s coming soon.

You’ve just joined Team VAYU and you’ve already been testing the 2026 range in Cape Verde. What’s your current setup, and how’s that new gear feeling?

First of all, I’m totally blown away by my new gear. My board is the FLY Carbon 60L, and for freestyle I mainly use the EOS v3 wings. I’m really happy with this setup.

Two things impressed me from my very first sessions with VAYU. First, the light weight of the gear, both the boards and the wings. And second, the stability of the wings. They feel very stable in the air, they never get in the way during jumps, and I feel very safe with them. They’re extremely high-performance wings, but still easy to use, which I think is really interesting both for me as a pro rider and for the general public.

You’ve traveled a lot already. Which spot has left the biggest impression on you so far? And where’s still high on the bucket list?

There are quite a few. But for sure, it’s a wave spot. I immediately think about Sal Island in Cape Verde, with its many impressive rights. Ponta Preta is the most beautiful, with its deep blue water, but I also have strong memories of Alibaba and especially Fontona. That’s where I caught my biggest wave during my last trip.

Another spot I still think about is One Eye in Mauritius. I had a few sessions there three years ago. My level wasn’t the same back then, but I still get goosebumps thinking about it. That left is just perfect, with a tube running along a reef with incredible colors.

Final one from us… what’s Noé Cuyala doing in 10 years’ time? 

Oh, tough question! For the next few years, I want to keep pushing both parts of my project: winging at a high level and fully committing to my higher education. With my move to the VAYU team, my career is taking a new direction. First, I’m getting back into racing, a discipline I stopped a few years ago because I didn’t have the right gear. I also hope to help VAYU develop new, even more high-performance products. In the longer term, I’m not really sure yet. But I’ll take every good opportunity that comes and always give my best in whatever I do.