This issue’s waterwoman is 3 times world kitesurfing champion Moona Whyte. This Hawaiian legend has recently added wing & prone foiling to her repertoire, and makes it look way too easy! Jack Galloway chats to Moona to find out about her foiling progression and life in Hawai’i.

We’re excited to have you here Moona, a true waterwoman! When did you first start surfing & kitesurfing?

Thank you for having me! I learned to surf when I was very young, probably caught my first wave at around 5 years old, but I didn’t really get into it until after I learned how to kite, when I was 14. Once I learned to go out in the waves, it made me want to learn how to ride a shortboard, and that’s when I got really into surfing and wave riding in general.

We’re fascinated with the Hawaiian lifestyle, what was it like growing up there? Does everyone get on the water as much as you do?

I feel super lucky and privileged to have grown up in Hawaii. It’s such a beautiful place with amazing conditions and weather all year. On the North Shore, where I grew up, all the kids learn to surf from a really young age, go to surf camp and do the Menehune surf competition. So I was introduced to the ocean very early on, and when I got into kiting, I was able to go to the beach everyday after school, which I continued all through college too! A lot of people here get out on the water everyday too, sometimes you wonder when everyone works!

Could you tell our readers about where you live in Oahu? Are the conditions always as idyllic as they look in the videos?

The North Shore is a dream location for waves in the winter time, and in the summer it turns into a foiling playground. The wind is on the lighter side, compared to Maui, which keeps the waves clean, but we definitely have less windy days in general. I think it’s a perfect place if you enjoy both surfing and wind sports.

You’ve been kite foiling for a long time now, when did you start wing & surf foiling? What was the transition like?

I never spent too much time kite foiling since you can’t really ride waves on it and that’s what I always wanted to do. When wing foiling came around it really interested me since you have so much freedom of movement so it felt more like surf foiling, and also you can still go out in "junk" or light wind. I definitely had a huge learning curve with winging since it’s so different from kiting, but it was fun to learn something completely new again.

Being 3-time world champion, I imagine surf kiting is still your favourite discipline? Or is that changing over time as these new sports arrive?

I still choose kiting over foiling because it feels closer to surfing to me. But the great thing is that it’s usually only good for one or the other, so I can pick the sport that’s right for that day and always have a good time!

What are your goals within foiling right now? Any competitions or big trips coming up?

I feel like I’m very much still learning the sport, so I have a lot to work on, but my goals are to get more comfortable in waves, try bigger waves, and also work on some jumps. I don’t think I’ll compete on a foil just yet but I should be starting to travel again soon and hopefully can find some good conditions to practice in.

We love your ‘Sessions with Moona’ VLOG. Is it a lot of work to get the footage together and edit it?

Thanks! I pretty much just film when I know I’m gonna have a decent session, and I’m so used to filming with a GoPro that it doesn’t really feel like work. Like I would be documenting the session either way. I don’t really know any fancy editing techniques either so I just keep it simple!

We’ve been testing the new Cabrinha gear, it’s epic, particularly the H-Series foils. What setup are you using for wing & surf foiling right now?

I’m also loving the new H series foils. The team did a great job with the design and execution of those. I’m currently riding either the H800 or H1000, the H180 tail wing, and the 4’6 autopilot. It’s been a great all around setup for prone and wing foiling. I also love the Mantis wings! They feel amazing in waves and are also very well designed. 

You’re without a doubt a brilliant role model for young women and girls getting into watersports. Who do you look to for inspiration?

I’ve always looked up to Carissa Moore. She is at the top of the competitive surf world, is pushing female surfing, and has always been a kind, positive, and strong person who also helps the younger generation get into the sport!

Finally, what do you get up to when you’re not on the water?

I do yoga everyday, I cook a lot of healthy, mostly vegetarian meals, and I also do some graphic design work. But a lot of my time out of the water is spent recovering from the last session and planning the next one!

Bonus question: Have you got your dog flying on the foil yet? 😉

Haha I haven’t figured that one out yet but I’m sure he’d love it. I tried to motor him along on the e-foil but he was super confused what was moving him!

Videos

'Sessions' with Moona - Ep. 41
Sessions with Moona - Ep.38 Wingovers
By Jack Galloway

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