No Wind, No Waves, No Problem

This feature first appeared in Foiling Magazine issue 23 (February 2025) in the magazine's Red Letter Day series, unforgettable sessions, as "No Wind, No Waves, No Problem". Rider & words Lukas Schuler, photos Benjamin Boerez. Location El Médano, Tenerife, Thursday December 12th, 2024. Republished with the magazine's kind permission.

Never let it be said that foilers are not practical people when in dire need of a froth-fix. When the wingfoil conditions in Tenerife refused to play ball, Lukas Schuler put on his tool belt…

The day began unusually quiet for El Médano. As I sipped my morning coffee on the terrace, I gazed at the normally bustling bay, which lay eerily calm and mirror-like. No waves, no wind, no action – a far cry from the typical high-wind playground buzzing with windsurfers, kiters, and wingfoilers. Yet, in that stillness, an idea sparked.

In my neighbor Oliver’s driveway lay a few old wooden pallets. Oliver, my best friend here in Tenerife, had planned to use them for his terrace construction. But what if we turned them into a dock? A platform to pump foil straight from the bay on windless days? Well, it didn’t take much to convince Oliver to lend me the pallets. He even threw in some square timber and a piece of artificial turf for extra grip. With my four-year-old son Karl eagerly helping, we got to work, sawing, drilling, and building. And in just a few hours, the dock was ready.

By the afternoon, the moment of truth had arrived. Together with Oliver, we hauled our 1.8m dock to the beach. Photographer Benjamin Boerez and Simona from Hotel Playa Surf were on hand to document the action. As we dragged the dock into the water, a hint of nervousness crept in: Would this contraption even work?

Conditions had slightly improved – still no wind, but a gentle swell brought small, rolling waves. It was the perfect setup to test our new creation. My setup for the session: an AXIS Dock 999 board, a 72cm UHM PRO mast, and the brand-new Fireball 1350 foil. The first attempt? The dock tipped backward. The fix? Oliver added ballast by sitting on the dock. After a few tries, I nailed the technique: just before takeoff, a slight forward push on the board to build momentum. The Fireball 1350 demands more speed than a PNG foil, but it rewards you with exceptional efficiency and precision.

Oliver, less experienced with dock starts, took a bit longer to find his rhythm. But once we both got the hang of it, the fun truly began, pumping out to catch the tiny waves, carving on the swell, and enjoying the responsive feedback of the compact board. The direct connection between this lightweight board and foil makes every movement palpable. Things got particularly exciting in the shallow water – thanks to the ground effect, the foil gains lift and efficiency in low depths. Small pumping movements near the shore felt smoother and more fluid than ever. El Médano’s bay is perfect for sessions like this – sandy bottoms, no rocks, and gentle mini-waves. The day felt like a mix of training and pure childhood joy, shared with Oliver, Benji, and Simona. Pumpfoiling isn’t just a physical challenge; it’s also incredibly social and creative.

As the sun set and our legs grew weary, we dragged the dock back to Oliver’s driveway. Over burgers and beers at “Flashpoint,” we reflected on the day – accompanied by a first look at the videos and photos we couldn’t wait to review. No wind, no waves, but with creativity, camaraderie, and a new playground on the water, the day was a resounding success.

Lukas's setup

• AXIS Dock foilboards, including the Dock 999
• PRO Ultra High Modulus carbon mast 720
• AXIS Fireball 1350, from the Fireball range

Read more from Foiling Magazine, and find issue 23 online.