Wing Foil Fest Under the Golden Gate Bridge

clayisland.com/learn-to-foil/
Learn to foil surf video course.
Wing Foilers:
Johnny, Jean, Ben, Steve, Kai,
Here is a Facebook post where I tagged some of the foilers to see more about them:
/ 10159656145644668
Here is a Instagram post where I tagged some of the foilers to see more about them:
/ co5iudfazar

[@heartsky]

Quite possibly the coolest ad for wing foiling.

[@royyoung3033]

The way in which you describe the vibe, progression, community, the sense of abundance, sharing, lifestyle, and all of the pros vs surfing is spot on. Wing foiling is something that is truly special and I hope this video brings more people into this awesome lifestyle.

[@matthewkramer8613]

I have found that the wind sports community to be open and friendly, maybe stemming from kiting where often you need assistance to launch safely. But I guess when the playground is limitless and with wind and waves everywhere the comradery is inherent. I gotta learn this sport. The fun factor looks epic.

[@radarriau]

Nice video and I recognize most of my buddies out there. Should be noted the sport is for people who are very comfortable in cold water and fit enough to self rescue in a compromised situation.

[@mikewang3821]

Beautiful monologue. Wonderful to hear. Aloha all day. I'm a kiter who surfs here and there. The localism in surfing is extremely odd to me. It happens in kiting too. It's hilarious. The thing is that it isn't the sport, it's the person that's grumpy. ;)

[@JamesBurrow]

Everyone is ripping so hard - the scene in SFO is on fire! inspired...

[@anthonyrutten4018]

I’ve been winging for a few months and looking forward to getting a foil. I’ve surfed for many years and this video drove it home how cool the winging community really is!! I’m stoked to be part of the crew!!! 🤙🏼

[@seanpowell1567]

This is the best video of wingsurfing I've seen. It captures the spirit of this sport and makes gold out of junk waves. As much as I like the videos of perfect tropical conditions, this shows the real potential of wingsurfing. Bravo!

[@clayisland]

Thanks! Appreciate your observation, accurately sums up the appeal for me.

[@bradphelan8869]

I love the commentary and philosophy in this video. So true. I've been learning by hanging around a crew of good wingers. There is never a problem with crowding and everyone is super enthusiastic and motivating. You can have the advanced guys and girls hard carving or doing huge jumps and flips in strong winds and alongside are kooks who are just learning or trying to level up. Its all cool. It would never work like that on a tight point break with everyone super nervous to get on the peak.

[@darkthehunterable]

Great spot to be! Thx for your speech, at first I was surprised not to hear any music, "what? He is speaking!" But what I hear is very wise and also what I feel too. This sport is so good, the very mix of all the watersports I have been practising for more than 40 years. We have such a great area to have fun in the ocean, on endless waves... So happy to be a part of it. Congrats to all the wing foilers on this video, and special one for you, filming it, and sharing it. Keep it on !

[@forjahlove]

Enjoying your voiceovers and videos, can really relate to what you are talking about

[@dchiffy]

Love your vids and love your narration. And I’m in love with winging. I windsurfed, kited. No longer. Now its all about the wing

[@jakemirbegian]

Surfed for 17 years at OB and all over the world. Got into kiting 4 years ago and haven’t looked back. You hit the nail on the head. I always tell my surfing friends that an average kiting days blows away an average surf day ever time. None of them listen.

[@clayisland]

I hear ya

[@alfonindatube]

and you don't surf anymore? living in the bay area, I think getting into wing foiling or kite makes a lot of sense for all the very long out of season months

[@jakemirbegian]

Barely. I live farther from the beach (but close to kite spots) so just makes sense to kite

[@Streetsailing]

Wow! I watched and listened to every second of this amazing video. Thanks so much for filming, editing and taking the time to capture these moments. Can't wait to see you out there with us soon. Now, I'll go watch it again.

[@clayisland]

Thanks and you're most welcome.

[@alancook9448]

I was going to send this to you, but see you are on top of it :-),

[@waltonstev]

hey man, just love your sentiment so much. Thanks for sharing. Good vibes dude !!

[@clayisland]

Right on!

[@InstinctDefenseAcademy]

Amazing video. Loved every thing I both saw and heard. Your perspective is right on! Thanks for filming and sharing your thoughts

[@Stanton_High]

Just got my first foil board today and this video just put my stoke level off the planet. Wow

[@SteveBodner]

Thanks for being part of this Clay. It wouldn't be the same without you. 🙏🙏

[@clayisland]

Thank you Steve, appreciate the good words.

[@madsbloch9505]

What a great video. Great vibe and I can only agree to the comradery and positive attitude in the wingfoiling community. We are experiencing the same stoke here in Denmark. Young, old and from all kinds of sports together in what seems like an endless playground.

[@clayisland]

Thank you and very sweet to hear this is a world wide stoke phenomenon.

[@yiucycle]

Man i didn't think i want to get into wing foiling until watching your commentary video. Excellent narration.

[@clayisland]

Thanks, glad to hear the stoke is contagious 😊

[@BruceHarms]

Nice words, Ive come back to this video many times... When I started SUP surfing I got alot of hate but I decided I am doing it for me and me alone. Nos I am wingsurfing and I am excited and cant wait to get in the water EVERYDAY!

[@chrestb8862]

At my local spot, all wind sports enthusiasts are totally on board to help each other out, it's a great community and almost all of the wing foilers will help us kiters launch/land without being asked. The only guys who are a bit stand-offish are the older windsurfers but I talk to them whenever I can and they are always super nice too if you just go and say hello

[@haydnjerram5146]

Hi I’m in my 60s and I love the Fact you don’t have to paddle😀and it’s amazingly gracefull. Thanks

[@TheJimmyhawk]

Thank you so much brother for your words.I could go on and on about my recent experience just in the last year.I'll cut to the chase,iam born and raised in SF and never really surfed FP till i was much older and actually living in humboldt co.Know lots of old timers and crew but FP is heavy duty and i got stuck in the rocks once and knocked out and thought it was lights out.So you live with that fear.Came back from a surf trip to mexicio in mid april and saw a group of 30=50 kite foilers killin it,and they were waiting for a cointainer ship to come in and then like 50 of em rode that sucker all the way into the bay!!!!Covid made the numbers of surfers and wanabees out of control.I got my ribs fractured on labor day and after a 2 months of healing almost got my eye knocked out w concussion by kooks with no experience and no ediquitte and that is what its comming down too.Even today i had to pull myself together to go out and surfed solo with a best buddy and realized no fK way am i giving up.So i have two friends that are the shit watermen and foilers and will give it a try and join you in my city by the bay.Aloha jimihawk, by the way iam 64 and a rockstar,haha

[@clayisland]

🤙🙌🙏

[@geogabara]

DUDE so appreciate your enthusiasm--I am just starting --everything is new --I used to windsurf 30yrs ago -in my teens/ early twenties --now at 53 I am getting into wing foiling and board sports and feel that same stoke even just 5 days in ...I've been on foil on bigger 7'7 board and a little on a 5'4 103L board --I can so see the potential and just a 5 second ride is amazing.... re-fueling my stoke and excitement for being out on the water. cheers keep that alive. I feel the same camaraderie and community as well. barely a dozen wingfoilers in my area--so there is a buzz that is contageous.

[@jennasea91]

I am a foiier on Oahu and wow what a gift to find this quality footage with your commentary and excellent wing foiling. What you said rings true for us over here too. There’s lots of aloha in foiling and especially in wing foiling.

[@pzorner1]

Awesome commentary, totally my vibes. Kiter here, I'm in SD, day was pretty dead today and was supposed to rip. Just hanging out was awesome.

[@jacobstr]

Clay! I keep coming back to this video. It is my windsports sermon. Your narrative is spot on.

[@PeterCacioppi]

I used to kiteboard a bunch, sometimes in overhead or higher. This looks cooler. Well done.

[@lexbotkin3729]

That's the difference between wind sports and surfing. After a wind sport session everyone's all smiles and hanging out and friendly to each other. After surfing and during surfing it's heads down and alpha intimidation tactics. Never made a friend from surfing except those I was already friends with, 20 + years surfing. Made some of the best friends of my life in the 25 + years of windsurfing. And yet surfing is seen as the Aloha vibe...go figure.

[@direwolff5960]

This is home :). Today, was another monster day even bigger than this one. Such a good vibe with everyone perma-smiling the whole session :). In all fairness to surfers though, spots are more space limited and rides are fewer and far in between. Wind and water is limitless when winging and rides are non-stop. If Ft. Point is flat, then ferries and cargo ships make insane wakes to chase :)

[@JOVO1971]

so coool, thanks for posting! My first 3 (wonderful) years of windfoiling was only the start to this new sport with so much more options and a better windrange.

[@jenniferswan7238]

Coming from windsurfing/kiting background and now learning to foil in Colorado. Love it, I'm hooked and love seeing the skill set of your crew in the video. I would love to share a wave with you someday...your commentary is on point after having seen the wind and surf scenes all over the world since the 90's. Let's keep foiling "village" minded!

[@markpicketts]

Where can you wing in CO.?

[@clayisland]

Yes and yes, love to share a wave with as well. Appreciate hearing your words.

[@jenniferswan7238]

@@markpicketts I live smack dab in the middle of the state in Salida. Blue Mesa reservoir 60 miles away and is pretty consistent. Pueble res a couple hours east for the warm, clear water. Colorado can actually be pretty good and it makes you adept at sailing gusty, shifty winds!

[@boardmeetingusa9405]

Smile fest. What's crazy about foiling is that time flies so much faster. Before you know it 3-4 hours go by. Great video Clay. Yewww!

[@clayisland]

Thanks Roy!

[@seanj-ski1352]

Man you’re a waterman therapist. Love it. So inspirational. 🙏

[@clayisland]

Thanks!

[@capicella]

Great video Clay. I've been windsurfing at Crissy for 25 years and just bought a wing foil board. So much stoke at the beach these days. A lot of the tribalism at the beach from years ago is gone. Look forward to meeting you and sharing a beer and some stoke.

[@clayisland]

Thanks Chris, sounds great!

[@nathanjmansfield9969]

I love you sharing your thoughts, feelings and reflections. It's truly inspiring to hear. I've been trying to get into surfing for 25 years. It was once a friend started inviting me paddleboarding did i discover the joy of being on the water, in the ocean and exploring with friends. Catching waves on them is so much easier and fun for me. My friend loves surfing and tells me often about the tension is feels waiting for waves with guys he does not click with. I'm so not into that, i worked offshore with arseholes just to make good money. It really was not worth it and not going back. I purchased a 5m and pre-ordered an Axis 1150. My life is about to get so much more amazing. I concur on so many points you make. Thank you for sharing. All the very best from Scotland

[@nickmary1234]

I’ve followed you for a couple of years, great content. This one was excellent.

[@StephaneFitch]

Thank you so much for your soulful and mind-blowing words, my brother. I’ve never met you, but I’m sure we’re brothers.

[@clayisland]

Thanks and you are welcome

[@richardkeiser2337]

Love your commentary and the cool vibes Clay. Thank you!

[@clayisland]

Thanks

[@dylangrieveable]

This is really cool; great footage, and interesting commentary. Thanks for spreading the good vibes

[@michaeldose2041]

@2:08 the exact reason I quit surfing. When it becomes confrontational it ceases to be fun.

[@bryanhall9996]

I keep saying that I'm only learning to wing foil so I can learn to sup foil... The more wing foiling I've done and the more footage I see though, the more I think I'll like it. Wing, kites, SUP, and foils in the quiver now. Feels good to always be able to get a solid session in despite the conditions!

[@caseymurray2959]

You are a beauty! Thank you for sharing your perspective and your footage with us. That was a cathartic watch for me, it put me in a good place 🙏

[@speedintraffic]

I love the narrater's voice.. it reminds me of Oddball (Donald Sutherland) in Kelly's Heroes. "Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here?". So cool

[@clayisland]

Love that character!

[@grahamreed8443]

Great video and editing Clay! My recommendation is to watch it once, then restart the vid and enable the slow motion setting so you can really catch the subtleties of JH’s ripping. Great wing management when wave riding. That heel side tack to back wind...never seen that!

[@clayisland]

Thanks!

[@jumpleadsx2]

This unbridled positivity is sometimes like oxygen. Its very American.. In the UK, our first instinct is to deal out the sarcasm and rip you a new one. Mocking other people is our way of deflecting. I blame it on the perpetual bad weather but it might just be a baked in cultural trait.

[@robertco7]

Awesome video man so much of what you say about surfing VS wind sports attitudes rings true... Some amazing riding here hope to join you all one day in this location winging.. I've windsurfed it but haven't winged there yet!!! It looks incredible for it

[@jobjob9857]

Thank you for that positive vibe we need more🙏🤙

[@clayisland]

I agree 🤙

[@wildhogget69]

What a nice narrated piece of work, as a beginner wing foiler, one thing I have noticed from every rider out there, is the back foot is right on top of the mast, I think this could be one of my major hiccups. Thanks for the excellent vlog and taking me back to memories of SF.

[@bradphelan8869]

Fantastic. I'm just getting in to Wingfoiling and I'm hooked already!

[@arthousefilms]

Love this video and mentality. Thanks for sharing!!

[@youhavequasp]

Thank you. Love your attitude!

[@victoriage]

18 minutes of pure stoke. amazing

[@tettok8431]

You have said it all…the mind set of surfing 🏄‍♀️ is domination of hierarchy…which is stressful to be out there..Wing foil mind-set will be like Windsurfing community, everyone is most welcome but kiteboarding has similar attitudes as shortboard surfing..domination..I also come from all of these former water-sports and getting into this new wind sport of wing foiling…fair wind!

[@aaronjohnson311]

Great vibes, my friend. 🤙🏽 Loving the inclusive attitude you guys have together.

[@clayisland]

Thanks, me too.

[@bohdanschatschneider9962]

Another goodie. Thanks for makin it.

[@sliekerstar]

I never got in to surfing because of the pressure of the line up to get on a wave and that’s why I’m loving winging cause I can catch any wave I want to and there’s no competition

[@aborsic]

Beautiful way to look at a sport !

[@hugokenyon2961]

Great session , so fun to watch!

[@koLLac]

Kickass content boss! Trying to learn wingfoiling too. Figured that being proficient at kite foiling it would be easy...well, I was wrong, hahaha. Watching these guys is inspiring!

[@seancrosby4392]

Such a great video. Thanks for sharing this and your thoughts! There's only one thing I want to disagree with here, and that's about kitemares. Kiting can be incredibly dangerous and we should all stay safe and avoid serious kitemares. Besides personal injury. kitemares also shed a bad light on the sport and can end in reducing access to those who do take safety seriously. So flail yes, everyone is always learning, but please everyone do take your personal safety seriously. Get a lesson if you're learning to kite, take a radio if your someone where winds or currents can sweep you out to shore, always have a plan for what happens if gear breaks or something goes wrong, and don't go out in conditions far beyond your abilities! And Clay, keep sharing these amazing videos!

[@buenacloud]

Amazing. I fell asleep three times during this video 🙂 I could feel the wind, waves any the moves 🤙

[@zenfoil]

We have a big group of windsurfers (with me as a wing foiler) in Fred Howard Park near Tampa, FL. W are just like you and your pals. We shared wind/tide info with one another on Groupme. Your narrations are just what I feel when I am on the water.

[@markpihema]

Man, that dude with the blue wasp... ripping!!

[@jackmcandle6955]

I don’t know if that was Johnny on the blue wing near the ship but earlier he was taking the wind on top of the wing leaning down wind pretty impressive as is your video. Sir

[@eeck62]

Great video, nice message, thank you!

[@louisleprince5573]

Trust me as a Santa Cruz native: A sailor's worst nightmare is a wing surfers dream.

[@craigobikes123]

Hear ya! Same, same. (The dude with the blue wasp wing is ripping!!!!)

[@rumtum99]

I like that wing with the windows.. was wondering the make. Thanks

[@91317kite]

Wonderful wonderful video and I completely agree with everything you said about the community. Still kitefoiling but friends are bringing me gear to try next month. I feel like I just attended a great guided meditation 😉🙏!

[@winterroadspokenword4681]

Man, you’re amazing, and a man after my heart! :)

[@friedbergje]

Well said. There’s so many aspects of life this can apply too.

[@robinvydeo]

Great video....Greatest commentary ever!!!!

[@clayisland]

Thank you

[@rumtum99]

Those jumps were insane 🤙🏼

[@rumtum99]

It is certainly nice to meet people that take the ego out of surfing and just keep the stoke.

[@skullcrusherwillpay]

As someone who loves all kinds of ocean activities, but is not that great at them, it sure is.

[@ericjhoppe1]

@clayisland Great video and commentary! Nice moment(s) of Zen. Look forward to the next vid. Winging has really increased the fun and enjoyment factor of my water time. Super convenient, fun, good vibes, tons of great spot especially in the Bay Area, and good training for prone foiling which is a whole other bunch of fun. What foil is Johnny riding? Looks like it has the glide of a high aspect and carves really well. Guessing MFC? What about Jean?

[@clayisland]

Thanks Eric. Johnny is riding a Mike's Lab, and Jean is on the new F4 foil. Their websites usually aren't up to date with the latest gear, so best to contact Mike or Chris.

[@joemiller8029]

Great job Clay! Real stoker!

[@clayisland]

Stoked!

[@rumtum99]

The final shot said it all. ONE

[@freddy82]

Great video, I was thinking the same thing. True wisdom!

[@clayisland]

Thanks, glad we are on the same page.

[@OhNoNotAgain42]

I used to windsurf at Chrissy Field when I was at university at CAL in late 80s. Moved to Maui the day after graduation. It never bothered me back then... but that water looks COLD🥶🥶🥶

[@bry8636]

The gate keeping in surfing sucks- I’ve had my windows waxed-seen guys get much worse- tires slashed or windows broken That vibe doesn’t exist in the kiting community or foil community Every is always happy to share knowledge, encourage, or help each other out But I’d point out that the resources are relatively limited in surfing versus with wind being virtually unlimited (when it blows) So one is inherently competitive, the other not Just an observation

[@inknpaintCW]

Very cool video. I want to try this soooo bad. Soon.

[@nataldiego]

Excelent video... nice message... totally after🤙🏽

[@clayisland]

Thanks! 🤙

[@dithperlay3292]

That’s what I call a new wave!!

[@aabe4327]

That guy at the end going so close to the tanker made me nervous.

[@jibester1]

Excellent videography and editing. Any chance you could share what camera you shot this with?

[@dangross7948]

Brother so stoked! inspiring video!! The foils have been catching my attention for a while now. Can you recommend a complete setup for me? Im in. SantaCruz and Oregon N.Coast is home. Experienced 50yr old surfer 185pounds thanks man.....

[@clayisland]

Thank you. I get my gear from Mavericks PaddleSports, Live2kite, and Covewater, also Bay area kite surf is an f-one distributor and can direct you to shops that have gear in stock.

[@Lanceisoutside]

Sooo inspiring!

[@concreteninja]

Awesome words bro enjoy watching not a lot just listen to your speech was good🙏👊

[@PricemoSC]

killer video! How hard is it to get back up when you fall, and how do you get back up?? Working on getting a setup ATM. Cant wait...

[@clayisland]

Depends on the wind, water smoothness, board size, and foil size. Smaller boards usually take more work to get up on.

[@moviedemocom]

52 just got into it. I am trying to learn on a lake. I'll never need a neti pot again ;)

[@eddiejones1418]

Great video. I am coming to San Francisco in October is there a place to watch and video you guys out in the water. Is there a name of the location you guys are at? I just started wing foiling.

[@clayisland]

October can be hit or miss, best bet is show up at Crissy field and see what's happening.

[@eddiejones1418]

@@clayisland thank you. One more thing what kiteboarding /wing foil shop do you recommend going to?

[@greyhnd001]

Awsome bud

[@conormcelroy1898]

I dig ur philosophy man...I learned to surf as an adult on the sunshine coast Australia - not the most socialistic place but bad enough......I felt at the time that if it wasn't for my background playing competitive Gaelic football - a reasonably physically violent sport - I probably wudve ben out off surfing by the hypermacho dickheads in the water who had no time or space for people like me to learn. Community and attitude is so important man

[@koLLac]

I keep coming back to this video for inspiration and at this point I'm wondering...what kits are these guys on? The "blue guy" and "guy in yellow"? What size board and what mast/foil/stab combo?

[@clayisland]

Hi, I updated the video description with a couple links to see more about the foilers.

[@koLLac]

Thanks boss! I had ready googled Johnny Heineken and realized that his resume makes my beer can J/29 career look pretty insignificant. There's a reason the dude rips! And it ain't the equipment:D

[@SilverFoilSurfer]

Great video and story telling mate! Lived in Bay Area for 10 years, kited Crissy quite a few times, crazy sensations when passing under the bridge for the first time. How did you shoot the video, what equipment did you use? It's got to be some crazy lens zoomed all the way in. Can't believe the stabilization you pulled off at that zoom.

[@clayisland]

Thanks, the new sony cameras are really good

[@julioballesta]

Why the water have two different colors? ...is it fresh and sea water???

[@yanndabadie2855]

wow, what an awesome video. really really cool. thanks for making these hope you continue to do them. do you know what foil the guy with the blue ozone wing is riding? its a mikeslab, right? whats the surface area? thanks

[@clayisland]

Thanks! And good questions, I don't know: www.mikeslab.com/wing-and-windfoils/

[@antoinenhn3874]

The Blue ozone Guy is Johnny Heineken (racekite world champ), he’s riding the Mikeslab wing-foil . Tuttle, 90cm mast, 990cm2 foil.

[@yanndabadie2855]

@@clayisland thanks

[@yanndabadie2855]

@@antoinenhn3874 thanks. Nice to know. Do you have any info on the board? It looks sick.

[@antoinenhn3874]

@@yanndabadie2855 It's a new Mikeslab Wingfoil board. Proudly hand shaped in SF, California. Looks like a 145cm 60/65 liters board approx. Tuttle box, No pad, peel ply anti-slip (board short not advised). I've got the same ML foil, it's a fantastic gliding machine , really. it needs a board with quite lot rocker to works fine.

[@StandUpMagazin]

Epic fun!

[@richardleparmentier8708]

Thanks!