Wingfoil Racing World Cup: Sand, Sea, No Wind

Wingfoil

Dakhla, squeezed between the desert and the ocean in Morrocco’s south, is famous for its strong and consistent winds. Sometimes things don’t go to plan. There was no racing on Day 2 of the WingFoil Racing World Cup Morocco – the wind never came. Thermal zephyrs kicked in mid-afternoon but never developed into consistent enough breeze for racing.

The down time was a perfect opportunity to catch up with some of the rookie athletes making their debuts at the WingFoil Racing World Cup Series and find out what they make of life on the circuit.

“Racing here against riders that I used to see on Instagram and now to see them in person is so exciting” says Aabir Ouabou who became the first woman wingfoiler to represent Morocco when she raced on Day 1. The 24 year old moved from Agadir to Dakhla after discovering her passion for wingfoiling and is now an instructor at a local hotel. “I didn’t find wingfoiling, it was wingfoiling that found me. It makes you feel free, connecting with nature, the wind on your face this is what I love ” she says with a huge smile.

One of three riders representing the host nation in the Men’s competition is Karim Chioua, “It’s a great honour for us to host an international event like this in Dakhla so we can show off our nature and beauty but it’s also amazing to race against the best wingfoilers in the world.” Karim is the event’s poster-boy, literally. He uses the event venue New Dakhla Spirit for regular training so the owner decided to use a photo of him for the event advertising.

At 27 years old, Kasia Trautman can claim to be amongst the older competitors in the women’s competition. Originally from Warsaw she travels the globe as a ski and watersports instructor. When the World Cup Series came to Sardinia where she was working, she entered the event to see how she would do. “I was at the back of the pack but when I did manage to engage the leaders it was very satisfying for me” So satisfying, in fact, that she’s given up her job to become a regular on the World Cup circuit but this time she means business, “I want to get better with every competition so this season I hope to be in that leading pack and I want to really challenge the girls.”

The rookies may have been frustrated by today’s lack of wind but they’ll need all their courage for what’s to come. The forecast for the final three days of action gets more and more awesome. Friday sees 20 knots of breeze growing to over 30 for Sunday. Dakhla’s natural order will be restored.

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