Learning Tricks In Wingfoiling

….From Fear to Backflips

Learning new tricks in wingfoiling—or any sport—can seem intimidating at first. A year ago, wingfoiling was still quite new to me. No tricks, just the basics I picked up from someone on the water. To be honest, I almost quit. The first few times were rough—the wind was never quite right, I never seemed to have enough time, I choose the most extreme conditions on the ocean and I wasn’t used to the equipment. The foil even went straight through my wing at one point! (-I am not going to lie, a few times..). Coming from kiting, I wasn’t used to riding without lines, the gusts and everything felt awkward and frustrating (!). Maybe someone should have told me at that time that you can learn wingfoiling in less than 40 knots too…………and it doesnt have to be in the ocean…

But then, I kept seeing the “older” guys on the water, always stoked. Every session, they were out there practicing, just riding, turns, some jumping, spinning their wings in all directions, riding hudge waves as if it was nothing, pushing their own limits. Even in winter time.  It was impossible not to notice their energy.  I knew there was more to wingfoiling than just going back and forth, but I wasn’t quite convinced it was for me – after already killing wings, foils and I haven’t even started jumping – yet. It reminded me of when I started kiting—I wasn’t sure if I’d ever truly get into it.

At the time, I was still deeply focused on my Olympic discipline and freestyle kite competitions, both on snow and water. But when that Olympic chapter of my life came to a close, I decided to give wingfoiling one more chance In the waves, I finally managed to ride one, following the example of the others. To my surprise, they told me I did a great job out there, flashing huge smiles. It was unexpected—honestly, I had no idea what I was doing!

One of the guys on the lake who was jumping around later gave me a simple explanation for a trick, and those small moments of guidance and positive feedback changed everything. Their encouragement and energy made me feel part of something bigger, and that kind of support was exactly what I needed to push forward. Something that broke down in the Olympic discipline and also let me almost quit wingfoiling.

..To all the amazing people who’ve shared the stoke of wingfoiling with me: thank you for being my inspiration, for bringing the joy of wingfoiling into my life. Your energy, passion and love for this sport have truly made it a part of me!

.. And a special thanks for capturing all the moments that keep the stoke alive!

So there we are; It was the end of 2023 when I set a goal for myself: land a 360 by the end of the year and tackle the backflip the next 2024. Oh, and finally learn to ride the waves instead of fearing them. At that point, all I could do was jump, avoid big waves, and get thoroughly wiped out. But I was determined to dive deeper into the world of wingfoiling and uncover what made everyone so stoked about it.  And that meant learning new tricks, dive into the ocean again – starting at 0. The answer to your questions along the way; The “things” I learned the hard way and how to manage it:  

Overcoming Fear: The Mental Game

One of the biggest hurdles when learning tricks or riding huge waves is fear. Crashing feels scary at first. What if the foil goes through your wing? What if you fall hard? What if people are watching? These questions can paralyze you.

Here’s the thing: fear disappears when you realize the worst that can happen is survivable. Yes, you might break a wing, but that’s fixable—it happens. Once you understand that crashes are just part of the process, fear gives way to confidence. Every fall makes you more resilient, and soon you’ll know deep down that you’re capable of handling whatever comes your way.

With no fear, no doubts, and full commitment, you’ll start to realize that nothing is impossible. Tricks that once seemed out of reach suddenly feel achievable. It’s all about shifting your mindset from worrying about “what ifs” to focusing on what’s next. And maybe write it down so nothing can distract you anymore.

Trust Your Gear (Even When It’s Old)

Nope, you don’t need the newest gear unless you’re aiming for the Olympics. My (backflip) wing? It’s been eaten by ants—yes, really—and it still works. My board? I’ve fixed it more times than I can count, including a recent hole – that’s still leaking – caused by none other than the force of my big toe (don’t blame the airline for that one!). A little bit of glue, tape and baking powder go a long way. (Promise, it can still win worldcup races 😉 ).

Using older, patched-up gear can actually be freeing. It removes the pressure of keeping everything pristine and allows you to experiment without fear of ruining expensive equipment. And when you know your gear, even when it’s less than perfect, you trust it, you get used to it riding the same over and over agian—and that trust makes trying new tricks so much easier. You can always buy a new wing.

Set a Goal and Commit

Once you’re mentally ready, set clear goals on the water, before you go in (depending on the conditions). It doesn’t have to be huge. For me, it was as simple as saying, “I’m going to jump, I take this wave.” Count down—3, 2, 1, go—and commit.The trick to overcoming fear isn’t avoiding crashes; it’s crashing a lot until it feels normal. Fall, get back up, and try again right away.

Crashing isn’t failure; it’s part of the process. The more you crash, the less intimidating it becomes. Soon, you stop dreading the fall and start focusing on landing the trick.

Not Every Session Needs to Be About Progress

Some days, you’ll feel stuck—frustrated and fixated on landing that one trick. I’ve been there. I’d dedicate an entire session to trying, failing, and then pushing myself harder, thinking, I have to land this, or it’s all wasted. When it didn’t work, I’d get mad at myself, convinced I’d wasted my time.

But here’s the truth: not every session needs to be about progress or pushing your limits. It’s okay to take a step back, switch things up, or just enjoy being on the water. Giving yourself permission to let go of that pressure can make all the difference. Sometimes, the best progress comes when you stop forcing it and allow yourself to reset. Remember, this is supposed to be fun, not a punishment.

If It Doesn’t Work, Try Something Else

Not every day will be great, and that’s okay. Sometimes, you’ll try a trick for hours and it just won’t work. Instead of getting stuck, switch things up. That’s exactly what I did—after crashing one particular trick endlessly, I decided to try something else. To my surprise, I landed multiple new tricks that same day, opening up a whole new world of possibilities.

The lesson? Progress isn’t always linear. Skipping a trick or trying something different isn’t giving up—it’s smart. It allows you to reset and find new opportunities for growth.

..Tomorrow is a new day!

When Conditions Don’t Cooperate

Sometimes, the wind doesn’t play along. It might be too strong, too light, or disappear entirely when rain comes through. Other times, life gets in the way—you’re busy, or the waves you need for specific tricks just aren’t there.

These moments can feel frustrating, but remember: every session isn’t just about physical progress. Use those times to refocus your mindset. When the conditions aren’t perfect, take a step back and visualize your goals, review videos, or even just rest. Progress doesn’t only happen on the water—it’s in your patience, your preparation, and your ability to adapt. (-or get stronger in the gym 🙂 ).

The wind will return, the waves will come, and so will your chance to try again. Progress isn’t about how fast you get there—it’s about staying motivated and being ready when the moment comes.

Giving Up Isn’t Failure

Giving up for a moment isn’t the same as failing. It’s part of learning. Stepping back, rethinking, and returning with fresh energy are all key to improvement. Failure is only when you stop trying altogether. But as long as you’re out there, experimenting, and challenging yourself, you’re moving forward. This is one of the hardest things I had to learn and still learn.

From Doubt to Determination

Who would’ve thought that in just a year, I’d go from almost giving up to crashing backflips and just not landing 360s on waves? Not me. But that’s the beauty of sticking with something, even when it feels impossible at first.

The greatest takeaway from this journey isn’t just about the tricks I’ve learned. It’s about understanding the power of persistence, embracing failure, and trusting myself and my gear—even when it’s patched up and far from perfect. Progress isn’t always about physical ability; it’s about mindset.

If you’re wondering how to start learning tricks in wingfoiling—or any sport—the key is simple: don’t wait for perfect conditions, perfect gear, or perfect confidence. Just start. If something doesn’t work, try something else. Laugh at the crashes, celebrate the small wins, and keep going. You might just surprise yourself with how far you can go when you refuse to give up.

Have Fun! See you out there,