In this issue's "Waterwomen" feature, we are spotlighting the talented Viola Lippitsch! From her first glide across the water to balancing a busy school schedule, training, and competition, Viola has quickly made a name for herself in the world of wingfoiling. Join us as we chat with Viola about her journey, inspirations, and future in wingfoiling.

Viola, it’s great to have you here! Please tell us what or who first sparked your interest in wingfoiling.

My first interest in wingfoiling was sparked by my parents. My family loves watersports, and when we first saw people wingfoiling, they decided to book training for all of us at Lake Neusiedl so we could learn it too. 

Did you experience any challenges when you first started, or did it come naturally to you?

When I started wingfoiling in early April 2022, I was initially given a big SUP board without a foil to start with. After about an hour, they allowed me to try an actual wingfoil board (160 litres!) with a huge front foil. To my surprise, I managed to "fly on the foil" on the same day and could go in both directions. I instantly fell in love with this sport, and my dad decided to buy some wingfoil equipment.

How can you balance studying, spending time with friends and family, and managing training and competition schedules?

It is challenging to fit everything in because I get off from school only four weeks a year. However, my parents’ support—driving me to training spots near Vienna or Lake Garda if time allows and to competition as often as possible—works fine. My best friend and I currently mainly communicate via mobile, as she is a professional handball player and quite busy.

When did you realise you wanted to become a professional athlete? Or do you plan to study something else alongside your wingfoiling career?

I started my wingfoiling journey in 2023 by participating in my first Leucate competition, which was a lot of fun. I aimed to take part in as many competitions as I could. In 2024, I set my sights on participating in the whole tour, including Freestyle, Freefly-Slalom, and Big Air events. I still have two more years of school ahead of me, and I'm considering studying while continuing to compete in wingfoiling. However, I haven't decided which path to pursue. 

Which achievement in your wingfoiling career are you most proud of so far?

It's not easy to answer, but in 2023, during my rookie season in Fuerteventura, I achieved fourth place in the Freestyle competition. It was a very emotional experience for me. Additionally, in that same season, I secured fourth place in the Big Air World Championship, which is another achievement I am extremely proud of.

How do you stay motivated on days when training gets tough?

My main motto is ‘have fun’ – even on training days. It's not so bad if the training days are tough or you can't reach your goal. There's always tomorrow or the day after. While training at my home spot can be tough, especially in winter, I never give up!

Who are your biggest inspirations in the world of water sports?

There is no specific person, but I admire all the talented riders who are living their dreams and enjoying every single session on the water. 

How have FLYSURFER, SABFOIL and Flikka Boards supported you in your career so far? 

I am incredibly pleased to have these three brands as my sponsors. Their top-quality equipment offers a wide range of products. FLYSURFER is a strong brand with extensive knowledge of watersports and paragliding, and its expertise in understanding airflow is impressive. SABFOIL is highly experienced in underwater activities, and I am delighted with the wide range of foils they offer for every foiling discipline. Based on my vision, Flikka Boards is crafting the perfect custom board for me. Whenever I have a question or encounter a problem, it is promptly addressed or resolved by all three sponsors.

We recently concluded the Big Air competition in Salinas de Pozo Izquierdo, one of the most challenging spots. I want to express my gratitude to the entire FLYSURFER team, especially for their support during these days. I truly appreciate the unity and team spirit displayed by all the FLYSURFER riders and supporters—there is no better team than ours.

What is your go-to set-up?

Depending on the wind conditions, I choose the FLYSURFER TAO in the rigid or soft-handle version, paired with my SABFOIL Medusa Pro in size 669/769/869. I also use my custom-made full-carbon FLIKKA board in various sizes, making it my favourite setup. 

If you had to choose one discipline, which would it be?

Freestyle is my favourite discipline, but I want to enhance my wave-riding skills and compete in the future. 

What’s your favourite trick to perform, and why? Are there any other tricks you are currently working on?

Of course, my favourite trick is the backflip, as it looks impressive to me, and I keep improving. I'm also working on the frontflip and some others, but we are not really friends yet. 

How do you manage the training challenges in Austria compared to more ideal locations like Tarifa or Lake Garda?

As you mentioned, this poses a real challenge for me. Most of my training sessions take place at my home spot on a sidearm of the Danube River, which is only 100m wide. If there is wind—mainly during the cold season—it is pretty gusty, and the water is flat. But I won’t complain; it could be worse.

Whenever time allows, such as during long weekends and holidays, my parents drive with me to Lake Garda or Tarifa to give me a better chance for training.

Can you share a memorable experience or funny story from your travel?

It was the GWA Youth World Cup in Santa Cruz de la Palma two weeks ago. My wingfoil equipment and personal belongings didn't arrive when I did, which caused a lot of trouble. My mom spent several hours on the phone trying to track down my missing items and arrange for them to be delivered to La Palma as soon as possible. In the meantime, my friends lent me some of their equipment so I could practice before the competition started. I had to use the borrowed equipment for the first race heats, so I was grateful to my friends for helping me. Finally, my own equipment arrived the next day, just 20 minutes before the freestyle competition began. 

What do you love most about competing in the GWA Wingfoil World Tour?

I absolutely love spending time on the water with my new friends. After our session, I loved chatting with them about the tricks we attempted, what went wrong, and what already worked.

What are your plans for the summer?

July is already booked for the competitions in the Canaries, which are currently taking place. In August, we are planning to travel to a windy destination with some friends for training, but we haven't decided on the location yet. 

Awesome, thank you, Viola! We wish you the best of luck!

Thanks, Jen!

 

Videos

VIOLA LIPPITSCH joins FLYSURFER!
By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.

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