Women Into Pump Foiling: Finding your Community

At ENSIS, we believe the future of foil sports should be shaped by more women getting involved, progressing and finding their place on the water.

That's why supporting female riders is an important part of our commitment to the sport. From organising girls' camps and working with female ambassadors to developing equipment that meets the needs of women we want to make foiling more accessible and welcoming.

But fostering women's participation goes beyond equipment and events. It's also about visibility, shared experiences and a community where women feel encouraged to give the sport a try.

For Cinthya Maeva Hayoz, that sense of community has become an important part of her own journey. At 25, she has gone from barely standing on a pump foil board to becoming Swiss Speed Champion in the women's category.

We spoke with her about discovering pump foiling, overcoming the challenges of learning and seeing more women find their place on the water.

Discovering the Feeling of Pump Foiling 

Cinthya grew up in Fribourg and later moved to Biel/Bienne for her studies. Water sports were already part of her life through her boyfriend, who had been passionate about them since childhood.

When pump foiling started gaining popularity, he was quick to give it a try. Eventually, he convinced Cinthya to join him. What kept her coming back wasn't the prospect of competition or the desire to win. It was the feeling itself.

What really kept me going was that incredible feeling of floating above the water. There's something so special about it, this sense of freedom that's hard to describe. Once I experienced that, I knew I didn't want to give up, even when things got frustrating".

For Cinthya, one of the great things about pump foiling is the freedom to get out on the water without relying on wind or waves. She usually rides at the Nidau-Büren Canal, where she can practise and work on her technique.

She's also beginning to explore other foiling disciplines, including wing foiling, SUP and perhaps even surf foiling one day. But for now, pump foiling remains the discipline that first captured her imagination.

From Beginner to Swiss Champion

At the Swiss Championships 2026 in Vingelz, on Lake Biel, Cinthya entered the women's pump foil speed competition — despite being far from certain that racing was for her.

Her boyfriend had competed the previous year, when she had come along to watch. This time, he wanted to compete again, and she decided to give it a go herself.

The decision didn't come easily: "I'm not naturally a competitive person, and I tend to get nervous quite easily”, explains. 

Still, she signed up and stepped onto the starting line. Once the race began, her doubts gave way to something else: enjoyment.

"I had so much fun! The atmosphere was amazing, and all the women were incredibly supportive. Looking back, I'm really happy I decided to go for it".

The result was a Swiss Championship title in the women's speed category — an achievement that began with a decision to try something outside her comfort zone.

Her experience is a reminder that taking part doesn't require feeling completely ready. Sometimes, the first step is simply deciding to give it a go.

More than a Competition

For Cinthya, one of the most memorable parts of the championship wasn't just the racing. It was the atmosphere around it.

"Every woman was cheering each other on, helping one another get in and out of the water, and we even had to kick the boys off the dock when they wanted to squeeze in some extra practice!", she says with a laugh.

The humour in that memory says something about how comfortable she felt among the other women. There was competition, but also encouragement, practical help and a shared enthusiasm for the sport.

The support continued after the event. When Cinthya shared her Swiss Champion result on Instagram, she received messages from female friends, including one who told her how much she admired what she'd done.

It made me realise that the support goes beyond the women who are actually out there on the water, and I think that's really special".

That sense of community can matter, especially in a sport that takes patience and persistence to learn. Seeing others try, struggle, improve and celebrate their progress can make the first steps feel less intimidating — and help more people imagine themselves out there, too.

Making Space for More Women

When Cinthya first started pump foiling, she was often the only woman on the dock. Now, she says, there's almost always at least one other woman around.

For her, that change is exciting to see.

I think social media plays a big role in this. More and more women are sharing their experiences, showing their progress, and inspiring others to give it a try. At least that's definitely something that inspires me personally".

Visibility can help make a difference. Seeing women at different stages of their journey — from their first attempts to competing at national level — gives others a chance to discover the sport and see that there's room for them in it.

Her advice? Just go for It.

Pump foiling takes practice. Learning how to push off, stand on the board and maintain momentum can involve plenty of failed attempts. Cinthya knows that first-hand.

Her advice is to be patient, keep experimenting and avoid expecting everything to click straight away.

When I first started, there were other beginners around too, which made a big difference. We were all struggling and learning together".

Trying different starts and techniques helped her understand what worked for her. Progress came through repetition, curiosity and not giving up when a session didn't go to plan.

Keep trying, enjoy the little improvements, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. That first moment when you finally manage to glide above the water makes all the effort worth it!"

The Future of Women in Pump Foiling

Pump foiling is still a young sport, and its future remains open. Cinthya is excited to see how it develops — especially as more women discover it and become part of the community.

For now, her own journey is proof of what can happen when curiosity turns into commitment — and when a sport offers not only a challenge, but also a community in which people feel welcome.

Whether you're already pump foiling or still wondering if you should give it a try, Cinthya's message is straightforward: start where you are, be patient with yourself and enjoy the process. You never know where your first attempt might take you.

Ready to give it a try? Discover our ENSIS Pumpfoil Package.