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On this episode Steve Tobis joins us from his home in Maui to talk about:
- The downwind race season in Hawaii - Including the Voyager race, Paddle Amoa, the Maui to Molokai and Molokai to Oahu races.
- The key to success in these races
- The physical conditioning and mental tenacity are crucial for endurance and focus during the races.
- Safety equipment such as PFDs, VHF radios, and EPIRBs are essential for emergencies.
- Self-sufficiency and preparedness are important in case of equipment failure or unexpected situations.
- Downwind foiling requires skill, experience, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. Learning to foil is challenging but rewarding, with incremental success driving motivation.
- Dry land training, including biking and weight training, is important for building physical strength and stamina in foiling.
- Recovery strategies, such as stretching and using ice baths, can enhance performance and reduce strain on the body.
- His favourite foods --- like chicken nuggets and french fries.
- The advancements in wing design and materials, particularly with the new flash wings from ON Kiteboarding.
- The new foiling disciplines like prone downwinding and his goals of riding bigger waves in the future.
Creators & Guests
Host
Luc Moore
I started windsurfing in 2012, a year after my brother and I visited Kauai, Hawaii. In 2009 I was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident that required two intensive surgeries to stabilize my pelvis. Three years later, I was still heavily engaged in rehab, but I had been cleared to walk by my orthopedic surgeon, so we finally decided to visit the islands. My brother had just started windsurfing, so we started looking online for gear for him, and we came across a woman selling late her husband's equipment. She recounted to us that his life had been spent on the ocean. As a pro windsurfer, his love and passion for the sport were undeniable. At that point, I thought I could try this sport and carry on his legacy of love for the water and wind if I worked hard enough. Initially, I couldn't ride with my harness on without experiencing terrible low back pain. I was terrified of the water, knew nothing about wind, and if I got moving at any speed, scenes of my accidents would replay in my mind, which lasted for years. It took a lot of work to differentiate fact from fiction. To add to this mess of emotions, numerous specialists and acquaintances had repeatedly told me that I was now broken. I could never jog pain-free again, let alone enjoy pain-free sports. They told me to accept that as my truth and to move on. My mom and brother helped me keep going as our shared passions, and family support helped me overcome obstacles. The pure joy I felt with my continued progress on the water helped those wounds begin to heal. In time, windsurfing felt so good physically and psychologically that it would bring me to tears on the water. I would spend hours practicing the basics and quickly improve. This sport was one of the catalysts that helped accelerate my healing process. When my skills had reached the great lake level, I started sailing with my neighbour Danny. He is one of the best windsurfers in eastern Ontario and travels worldwide, pursuing his passion in his spare time. In 2018 when Wing Foiling first came out, I quickly felt like this sport would take my love for wind and water to the next level. Our Co-Host Tom helped me find gear and gave me my first intro lesson! I quickly picked up the sport and learnt the basics. I then contacted some kite schools on Vancouver Island (Elevation Kiteboarding & Windrider Kiteboarding) and started teaching for them! Shortly after, Tom and I created the Wing Life podcast to help share our stoke and knowledge of wind sports with others.
What is The Wing Life Podcast?
Our podcast is dedicated to the sport of Wing Foiling. Tune in as we interview top athletes, equipment designers, brand managers and every day enthusiasts from around the globe. Hosted by Luc Moore