August 2 — Scouting for a Backup Spot: Could Watarase Retaining Basin Be My New Wing Foil Base?
viva-wingfoilAugust 2, Saturday.
Ever since I jacked up my pinky SUP surfing last week on July 25, wing foiling has been put on pause.
My finger is still pretty swollen.
Trying to handle a wing, where you need to react in a split second, is honestly terrifying—and completely impossible right now.
That said, being stuck away from the beach on a weekend leaves me feeling so bored.
So, I decided to use this downtime to test out an idea I’ve had in my head for a while:
“Is there a spot closer to home where I can wing foil?”
Honestly, commuting all the way from Saitama to Enoshima every single time isn’t easy.
It’d be ideal if I had a local “home spot” where I could just drop by and practice whenever I want.
With that in mind, I decided to check out Watarase Retaining Basin as a potential candidate.
I visited once back in May, but there was zero wind, so no one was out.
Let’s see how today goes...
Major Upgrade on Parking Strategy
Last time I came, I learned one crucial lesson:
Depending on which parking lot you choose, you end up a mile away from the water.
Wing foiling requires an insane amount of gear.
Board.
Foil.
Wing.
Pump.
Wetsuit.
Hauling all of that over a long distance is a workout on its own.
However, on my last visit, I scoped out a parking area that lets you drive super close to the shore.
This time, I went straight there without second-guessing.
And man, it was the absolute right move!
Even though there were plenty of cars, there was still plenty of room, and I scored a sweet spot right on the edge.
From there, the water’s edge was less than 30 meters away—maybe even closer.
Plus, there’s a grassy area right next to it!
This means I can unload my gear straight out of the car, assemble my foil, and inflate my wing right on the grass.
“Yo, this is actually pretty sick.”
As far as a functional launch base for wing foiling goes, this setup was top-notch.
An Unexpected Wing Foiling Paradise
The water area here is super wide.
Sure, the usable zone seems restricted, but there’s still more than enough space to put in work and practice.
To top it off, there was actually a decent breeze today!
Looking out over the water, I spotted windsurfers, wing foilers, and even folks riding foils with these small, parachute-like wings.
Probably around a dozen or so people in total.
Way more people were out enjoying water sports than I expected.
“Okay, so this really IS a legit wing foil spot.”
Since I couldn’t get in the water due to my pinky, I just hung out on the shore and spectated for a while.
I Catch Myself Analyzing Other People’s Riding Now
As I was watching, I noticed a total beginner trying to wing foil.
He just couldn’t get going.
Even when he got a little speed, he’d fall right away.
His wing positioning and foot pressure were totally out of sync, and his wing control was super loose.
Watching him, my brain automatically started running commentary:
“Man, if he just adjusted his wing a bit more like this...”
“If he shifted his weight to his feet right there, he’d easily get lift.”
And then it hit me.
Wait... am I actually at the level where I can critique someone else’s riding?!
Obviously, I’m nowhere near good enough to actually coach anyone.
But not too long ago, I was the desperate beginner crying,
“How on earth do you make this thing fly?!”
Now, here I am standing on the shore watching a beginner and thinking,
“Ah, not quite, buddy.”
It’s hard to notice your own progress day-to-day.
But realizing it in a moment like this felt pretty cool.
The Biggest Upside Is the Proximity... but Here’s the Catch
The main issue is the distance.
It’s definitely closer than driving all the way down to Enoshima.
Still, it takes about an hour by car from my place—which means two hours round trip.
Calling it a “super convenient local spot” is a bit of a stretch.
Plus, not being able to store bulky gear like my board and wing nearby is another headache.
Now, if there were a storage locker or clubhouse nearby where I could stash my board, foil, and wing, that would completely change the game.
Drive one hour.
Grab the gear.
Hit the water instantly.
Ride for two or three hours.
Drive one hour back home.
If that were an option, it’d be totally worth it!
Otherwise, if I have to load a massive mountain of gear into my car every single time, I kinda wish it were just a little bit closer.
I Can’t Help but Compare It to Enoshima
Another thing I felt after being here was the complete shift in vibe.
It’s not that the water is super gross or anything.
It’s totally fine.
But it’s definitely not the ocean.
Being a lake or retaining basin, it’s basically standing water.
Looking at the color of the water and the grassy shorelines, I didn’t really get that,
“Hell yeah, let’s dive in!”
kind of urge.
More than anything, the overall atmosphere is completely different.
At Enoshima in the summer, you have beach huts lined up, tons of young people hanging out, and surfers and windsurfers everywhere.
Just hopping off the train and walking toward the beach gets you hyped like,
“Heck yeah, I’m at the ocean today!”
That energy alone pumps you up.
Watarase Retaining Basin, on the other hand, is super chill and quiet.
Honestly, if you just want a peaceful place to lock in and practice, this might actually be better.
For me, though, it felt a little too quiet.
It made me realize all over again that I don’t just love wing foiling itself.
I love the whole experience of going to play at the ocean.
Still a Strong Contender
So, is Watarase Retaining Basin a total write-off?
Nope.
Not at all.
In fact, purely as a practice ground, I think it’s a super strong contender.
The water area is huge.
There are actual wing foilers out there.
Parking is right by the water.
You can set up your gear comfortably on the grass.
And it’s way more low-maintenance than trekking all the way to Enoshima.
If I can eventually use it like,
“Hey, it’s windy today. Let’s go do a quick two-hour session.”
That would be hugely valuable.
Maybe the answer isn’t choosing one place over the other.
Enoshima is the place to soak up the ocean lifestyle.
Watarase is the training ground to grind out wing foil techniques.
Splitting my time between the two might be the play.
Even though my pinky kept me out of the water today, spectating from the shore gave me a lot of cool takeaways.
Above all, watching that beginner and realizing,
“Damn, I’ve actually come a long way.”
That was a nice little confidence boost.
Once my pinky heals up, I definitely wanna try flying here for real.
Watarase Retaining Basin—officially saved on my radar as a candidate for my new home spot!
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