Wingfoil Now Portugal

Wingfoil Now Portugal is a wingfoil school founded by Florian, who has sailed since childhood and has taught kitesurfing for about ten years. He designed the school's teaching method, a progression broken into small steps, and trains the other instructors in it. Youri, a ski instructor in the French Alps in winter, and Nico complete the team. The business is registered with Portugal's RNAAT.

Lessons take place on the Óbidos lagoon, roughly an hour north of Lisbon, one of the largest sheltered stretches of water in the country. The water is very flat, with wide areas where you can stand, and enough room further out to ride even in peak summer. The prevailing wind is the nortada, a steady north-westerly from May to September, boosted by the thermal breeze on sunny days and by the funnel effect between the Foz do Arelho hills.

The method runs in six steps: assessing the spot, wind and gear; handling the wing on land without a board; safety skills (self-rescue and body dragging downwind); moving the board and wing; sailing without the foil to find the right body position; then balance and first flights on the foil, kneeling first and then standing, towed behind a boat. Lessons are offered in wingfoil (shared or private equipment), e-foil, parawing and kitesurfing, and wingfoil gear can also be rented by the session.

Insurance, a rescue boat, equipment and wetsuit are included in the lesson price. Students must weigh over 40 kg, be at least 7 years old, be comfortable in the water and able to swim a little. The day before, the instructors contact students to set a meeting time based on the latest wind forecast.

Lessons from April to October, mostly in the early afternoon. The exact time is set the day before according to the wind forecast.