When a kiteboarder becomes a wingfoiler
by Sensi Graves 17 Apr 2021 22:38 PDT
Paula Novotna © Robby Kiaulehn
What is it that makes someone so ingrained in one wind sport, equally excited to pick up another? Is there a point when you have too many sports? Why winging?
There's no doubt that wingfoiling has taken the wind world by storm. Windsurfers, surfers, kiteboarders and watermen and women everywhere have been spotted diving into our new favorite sport.
We sat down with professional kiteboarder Paula Novotna for a look at her drive and passion for wingfoiling. What is it that makes someone so ingrained in one wind sport, equally excited to pick up another? Is there a point when you have too many sports? Why winging?
Read on to hear about Paula's inspirations and where she hopes to take wingfoiling in 2021 and beyond!
GWA: You've recently become obsessed with wingfoiling. What do you love about it?
Paula: That is true. I really do love it. I have the same feeling of excitement as when I started kiteboarding. I just want to wingfoil all the time. I started wingfoiling during the first quarantine back in May 2020 in Union Island. Jeremie Tronet taught me on a SUP foil. Then over summer I was kiteboarding mostly and got back to it in autumn in Brazil and I was hooked.
What I like most about it is the feeling of flying. It is my new passion. Riding endless waves is just the best. I also like to fly high with the wing and try freestyle tricks, which some of them I still don't understand... It is all just coming so fast and I feel like I am becoming a professional wingfoiler next to my kiteboarding career.
How does it differ from freestyle kiteboarding?
It is different. Completely. And that's what I like the most about it. I love to do both and it actually depends on conditions, what I end up doing that day.
Are you doing anything, in particular, to train for wingfoiling?
So far, I was taking it easy and I am just getting to know the sport and enjoying it as much as I can. I just enjoy doing it and that's the most important part of progression. What I miss for my training sessions is company sometimes as there are not so many people wingfoiling yet. So if you see me somewhere wingfoiling, come join me!
What are your 2021 wingfoiling goals?
Wow, I don't like to make long-term plans in this crazy world. I am currently trying to get better and better to be able to compete on the world tour. I would like to go places where I can ride waves and yet train freestyle wing foiling as well as kiteboarding. I have some cool projects with wing foiling on my mind as well. I am getting busier and busier with these two sports. I might need to hire a manager for wing foiling as sometimes I can't handle all the work connected to social media, sponsors and still being a professional athlete and train as I want to. But for now, I am doing the most I can.
Why should people try this exciting new discipline?
Because it is awesome! I see the stoke on people's faces when they try it for the first time. I think it's addictive, especially when you get over the first few difficult days. But believe me, it is fun and it is worth it!
What's one tip for a beginner looking to try wingfoiling?
Get a big board, maybe twice volume as your weight. And keep trying. When you will learn, you will love it!
What's your current favorite wingfoil trick?
I don't do many tricks yet. So my favorite now is doing a massive raley. I was mostly riding waves the past few weeks in Fuerteventura and now I am trying 360' s and other tricks I watch from my wing foil friends. I wish I had a coach, things would be easier, as I know how important it is from kiteboarding.