ENSIS Girl’s Wingfoil Camp:
Two action-packed, intense training days with lots of fun and laughter
Wingfoiling on Lago Bianco near the Bernina Pass was just one of the many highlights at the first ENSIS Girl’s Wingfoil Camp in Silvaplana. Foiling on glacial waters at 2,200 metres above sea level surrounded by snow covered mountains was certainly a memorable experience.
The motto of the camp was ‘Reaching new heights’ – not just in terms of altitude. Three women met three coaches – Sarah Missiaen, Laura Rudolph, and Michi Näf – in the Engadin region of Switzerland to hone their wingfoiling skills. Two action-packed days of intensive coaching and fun awaited them on Lake Silvaplana and Lago Bianco.
ENSIS is a brand committed to supporting and empowering women on and off the water, and the camp was the perfect opportunity to experience that spirit. On the first day, the participants defined their learning goals for the next two days and had the opportunity to test the latest ENSIS wings, foils, and boards. Women are often smaller and lighter than men and ride differently. “That’s why ENSIS equipment is tested by women and developed with their input”, says Karin Pfister, (position) at ENSIS.
Coach Sarah Missiaen, the owner of Windsurfing Silvaplana, is passionate about encouraging girls and women in wind- and watersports. She seized every opportunity to explain wingfoiling concepts and demonstrate energy-saving techniques that make foiling easier and more stylish. Throughout the weekend, her experience and passion for coaching shone through.
Water-sessions with headsets and video analysis
Next came the first session on the water. The light wind provided an opportunity to work on technical finesse. Manoeuvres in light wind must be executed correctly, so each participant focused on their wing and hand position, as well as the precise timing of the move.
Sarah and Laura provided instructions and encouragement to the riders on the water via headset, ensuring they received immediate feedback. The coaches also filmed and photographed the foilers.
Although the program was designed to make the most of the two days, there was still time for conversation, laughter and mutual encouragement.”It felt like being on a training and adventure trip with good friends”, says one of the participants. Building a community of like-minded women in watersports is not always easy since the majority of wingfoilers are still male, but events like this are perfect for networking and sharing experiences and laughter.
As evening fell, the coaches and participants gathered in a co-working space with a large screen for video analysis. Coach Sarah’s analysis of the moves in slow motion revealed how slight variations in head and hand positions can make or break a foil maneuver.
Glacial waters and mental training
Day two started with a trip to Lago Bianco near Bernina pass to make the most of the northerly winds. The stunning views made the trip even more special. Although the wind was light, it didn’t detract from the experience. Each participant put the suggestions from the video analysis into practice, visibly improving their technique. “It felt like I had three different riders in front of me,” Sarah commented, impressed by the refined foiling skills.
Next on the schedule was another highlight: mental coaching. Sarah, who also owns the mental coaching business FreeMind (https://freemind-coaching.me/) supported the female foilers with mental strategies to direct their attention, get over mental hurdles, improve their skills and get greater joy out of the process.
As the ENSIS Girls’ Wingfoil Camp came to an end, the female wingfoilers said they were already looking forward to the next camp for girls and women of all ages. The welcoming spirit, fun times on the water, good vibes and tangible improvements in wing foiling technique, as well as the beautiful surroundings, all made a lasting impression. The camp showed: Women, wind- and watersports are a perfect match.
Interested in anything wing or foil?
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