The Lowdown: DUOTONE YOUNGBLOOD CAMP

The third Young Blood Camp by Duotone set up shop in Tarifa this autumn, providing pro rider tuition (water based and classroom!) for some of the world’s best up and coming foil athletes, from eight different countries. In fact, recent Duotone pro team additions Alex & Tom Acherer and Charlie Loch cut their teeth in this camp, and it’s clearly serving them well already. Team Coach Jerome Cloetens let us know why he believes it’s so formative for the young athletes who attend… 

Photos Samuel Cárdenas

Each year during October, Duotone set up a Wingfoil Young Blood Camp in my hometown, Tarifa, which (and this is no coincidence) is usually a month of strong Levante winds. I always make sure to join in, because this camp is how I first got into being a professional athlete. My first camp was when I was 13, before foiling became super popular, and within it were kiteboarding legends such as Liam Whaley and Noé Font.

That camp was a clear before-and-after moment in my life. It was where I first realized what it takes to be a professional athlete. I made friends who shared the same goals, and I gained mentors to guide me along the way. I always say we underestimate how important these Youngblood Camps are. To give you an idea, I’ve now coached about five of these camps myself – some for kiting, where legends like the Casati brothers emerged – and now for wingfoiling, with talents like the Acherer twins, who are just starting out on their journey.

The kids who come to these camps are just kids when they arrive, but you can already see which ones are aiming to go all the way. That kind of energy is amazing to be around. It’s so exciting to watch these sports grow and know you’re playing a part in shaping the next generation of athletes.

This year was no different. We had around 15 to 20 kids, each with their own personality. There were a few troublemakers, some very sweet and polite ones, some who were shy, and others who were fully focused on becoming the best. The greatest part, though, is watching them come together – talking about their riding, pushing each other, and having a laugh. It gets competitive, but since it’s not an actual competition, it’s all about progression, which really gets the kids motivated. Duotone improves the concept every year, and this time they added a video challenge. Groups of four had to make a video, and the winners received GoPros.

As a kid, all you care about are tricks and TikToks, but this challenge was about learning how to connect with an audience and appeal to sponsors. That’s such an important skill for their careers, even if they don’t realize it yet. I think this challenge will stick with them as they grow.

This year’s weather wasn’t the best – we had a lot of rain – but we still managed to have a super fun foil day and a solid action day. The forecast didn’t deliver as expected, but that’s not what the camp is about. It’s about bringing the groms together, building a community, and setting them up for progression. I absolutely love these camps. They give me so much energy and remind me of what water sports are truly about: having fun, getting stoked, and not taking things too seriously.

One thing that always makes me laugh is seeing how long these groms stay in the water. Sometimes they’re out there for hours, and when they finally come back in, it’s just to grab an Aquarius or a Coke for a sugar kick before heading straight back in! They’re not thinking about “training” or “hours in the water” – they’re just playing. And that’s the best way to learn and progress. It’s something we adults forget, but the groms show you how it’s done. Every time I’m at these camps, I get fresh ideas for new tricks and a renewed energy to ride. It’s all about going back to that playful mindset, and the groms set the perfect example.