April 11 — A Windless Day, and a Clear Look at What’s Next

ESaturday, April 11. Last week was a total washout—too much wind, massive waves, and every lesson and solo session got canceled. I couldn't even get near the water. So, this was my first time back in two weeks. My goal was crystal clear: "This is the week I stabilize my foiling." I’ve already got a taste of that "flight" feeling. Now, I just need to make it consistent. I headed out with that mission in mind.

Expectations vs. Reality The forecast called for 4 m/s. "Perfect. I can definitely pump into a foil with that," I thought. It was almost ideal for where I’m at. But then, a text from my instructor popped up in the morning: "Zero wind today, so a lesson will be tough. But the SUP surf is looking good—want to practice catching waves instead?" Honestly? My first thought was, Not again. But it’s the weekend. Staying home wasn't an option. "Worst case, I SUP. If the wind kicks in, I wing." I made the call and hit the road.

Complete Radio Silence (Wind-wise) Two hours of driving later, I arrived to find... absolutely nothing. Maybe 1 m/s at best. No windsurfers, no wingers. Just a few sailboats drifting around. "Okay, this is gonna be rough." However, the waves were actually there. Time to pivot.

The Strategy (A little hack) I brought all my gear just in case the wind showed up. But instead of fully rigging the foil like usual, I kept it broken down in the car. I brought my tools so I could assemble it on the fly if needed. A bit of extra work, sure, but it saved me from hauling a fully built setup for no reason. Work smarter, not harder.

SUP Surfing: A Major Win It was over 25°C (77°F) out—way too hot for a semi-dry suit. I zipped it down and paddled out. And honestly? It was incredible. The waves were big and peaking far out, which meant long rides. Usually, waves end in a flash, but today I was getting 10-second-plus rides. From the very first wave, I was locked in. Turns, line choice, where to look—because I had so much time on the wave, I could actually think and practice everything. "This is actually elite training," I realized. I was able to put everything I've learned into play:

• Keeping a low center of gravity.
• Loading the back foot.
• Using the paddle for balance. I could feel myself leveling up.

The Wind Enters the Chat About two hours in, a breeze finally kicked. Maybe 3–4 m/s. "Here we go." No hesitation. It was Saturday, so I didn't care how late I stayed. If I didn't go out now, what was the point of coming? I swapped my SUP for the Wingfoil setup immediately.

The Wing Sprint I rushed the assembly and got out there. Initially, it felt great. Pumping felt solid, I was staying upwind, and I cruised way out. "We’re in the flow now," I thought. I kept repeating my transitions and pumping drills. But... No lift. The wind was just a hair too weak. Looking around, nobody else was foiling either. The conditions just weren't quite there yet.

Knowing When to Fold After about 15–20 minutes, the wind started to die again. If I stayed out too long, I’d be stuck paddling back. There was no point in forcing it. I made the call and headed in after 30 minutes.

The Takeaway In the end, I didn't get any "flashy" foil clips today. But:

• My pumping muscle memory is back.
• I felt stable even after a two-week break.
• I made the right tactical calls (when to go out, when to quit). That's a win in my book.

The Surprise MVP: SUP The real highlight was the SUP surfing.

• Caught some long rides.
• Felt comfortable in the impact zone.
• Gained way more control over the board. I definitely feel like I've moved up a tier. The only goal now? Catching the wave even earlier. That’s the next mission.

What’s Next No big "flight" today, but I’m moving forward. It’s simple now: As soon as the wind hits, I’m foiling. Period. I’m ready for it. Next week, I’m going for that breakthrough.