Tom Hartmann

Questions & Answers

What other water sports do you do and how long?

Windsurfing since 1995, Kitesurfing since 2005, Surfing, SUP, Foiling and Wakeboarding.

What do you like about wing foiling?

The feeling of flying on a foil is very addictive and there is no easier way to learn that than with wingfoiling. It turns average conditions for any other water sport into super fun sessions winging. You can do wingfoiling in any deep enough water area with a bit of wind.

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

I started in Mauritius together with a group of other water sport enthusiasts and we borrowed gear from friends that gave us a few tips and there we practiced every day. Got flying on the foil in the first session and was hooked by the feeling straight away. Progress went quick and soon later tried riding some waves.

What is your favorite gear combination and why?

KT Drifter is a prone surf board that feels very compact and responsive when riding waves and doing jumps. MFC Hydros surffoils are allowing butter smooth turns and control on the wave. Duotone Unit wing is very light and powerful.

What was your favorite wing surfing session?

First time riding proper waves on the outside reef of Manawa in Mauritius got me totally hooked to the surf feeling of riding endless waves on a foil.

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

I think the use of new materials will play an important role in the improvement of wingfoiling gear in the future.

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

Start with a big board that makes it easy to get up and going. If you don’t have any water sports experience, do your first session with a wing on a SUP to get used to it before adding a foil. You will be amazed how quickly you progress in this sport, it’s much easier than it looks.

What is your biggest water sport achievement?

Regular Top10 on the European Freestyle Pro Tour and developing several water sport projects.