Michael Giblin

Questions & Answers

What other water sports do you do and how long?

My father got me into paddling at a young age, so ever since I could hold a paddle I was doing downwind with my dad. Other than that, I always love to go down the beach and play with the waves. Two summers ago, I got into winging and it has quickly became my favorite sport.

What do you like about wing foiling?

Winging gives me a free feeling, gliding across the ocean, powered by nothing but the wind. It reminds me of my dreams of becoming a bird. Winging is like an albatross, a bird that flies over the ocean for miles and miles with nothing but the cool ocean breeze under its wings.

How did you learn and how long did it take you to wing foil?

My uncle, Alex Aguera, wanted to get me into the sport. Every weekend, he took me down to the beach and taught me everything he knew. It took me a couple of weeks practicing the mechanics of the wing, but later on, I started doing it freely and tried experimenting new tricks and skills.

What is your favorite gear combination and why?

Aguera Board, Gofoil Foils, and Ozone Wings. I have tried other brands such as Naish and Duotone, but this was the best combination. Since I've been using that combination myself, that would probably be my favorite.

What was your favorite wing surfing session?

My favorite session ever was definitely the New Year's Gofoil event as everyone was super nice. They gave me a lot of tips on my jumps and such. Foiling with the group was a surreal experience.

What do you want or believe will significantly improve the wing foiling gear?

This would apply to a small group of people or a community same as Hawaii. An ultra small wing that you can let go would do and a wing without like those super windy downwinder days.

What tips or recommendations do you have for anyone who wants to start?

Don't rush and don't get frustrated easily. There is a learning curve in Wind Foiling but once you get over that curve, it becomes fun. You will get a feeling of freedom and the time spent learning is all worth it.

What is your biggest water sport achievement?

Winning states with my crew on Oahu was a pretty big achievement as all of my friends and family were there to watch.