Jen Tyler catches up with Alby Rondina to talk about his journey as a pro kiteboarder and wingsurfer. He shares what hooked him on winging, how it complements his love for kiting and surfing, and the amazing flat-water lagoons of Sicily! Plus, he gives us a sneak peek into the future of winging and the exciting new gear coming up. Read on!

Hi Alby, it’s great to catch up with you! Let’s start from the very beginning. You’ve been a pro kiteboarder for years. Who convinced you to give winging a go? Was it love at first sight, or did you struggle initially? 

Ciao, guys! I’m super stoked to chat with you! I’ve been surfing since I was a kid whenever I wasn’t kiting. So, when foiling came along, and Cabrinha started making surf foils, I was all in—I fell in love instantly! In Maui, the dream conditions were just unreal, but even in the smaller waves we often get in Italy, it was perfect for squeezing in way more water time! I actually started out windsurfing as a kid, way before I got into kiting, so when winging came around, it felt natural to give it a shot. Combining my experience from kiting, windsurfing, and surf foiling, winging just clicked—it’s that perfect bridge for those days when the other sports wouldn’t quite hit the spot!

Do you still prefer kitesurfing over wingsurfing, or has your passion shifted?

I’d say it’s been a great addition to my quiver and passions, but it hasn’t really replaced anything. What I choose totally depends on the conditions—some days I’ll go kiting, others winging. I love mixing it up, so I never get tired of just one thing!

What’s your go-to Cabrinha winging setup?

For light wind, I’m using the Vision wing in 5m and 6m—it’s super light and powerful, and the compact shape makes it easy to handle and spin, even in bigger sizes. For smaller sizes, I’m all about the Mantis—it’s stiff, powerful, and has amazing lift for tricks and jumps. Plus, its flat design keeps it super stable for wave riding; it just sits there, letting me focus on the ride. My go-to board is the Link 50L; it’s an awesome all-rounder for any condition. For foils, I switch from the H1000 for light wind, surf foiling, and pumping to the 800H for maximum efficiency. When the waves are rolling in, I’m all about the medium aspect wings—the 930X and 700X are incredible for stability and control in bigger surf, and they turn so smoothly on a solid wave!

What’s it like running your own school? Do you still teach, or do you mainly manage day-to-day operations? 

I really love connecting with newcomers to the sport, sharing the stoke, and watching their excitement as they progress and get hooked. I mainly focus on overseeing and organising all operations to make sure every work and teaching day flows smoothly.

How does the spot at Prokite Alby Rondina compare to other places you’ve ridden?

The reason I’m here is because of this incredible flat-water lagoon—it’s perfect for teaching almost any watersport. No matter the wind, the water stays flat, and it’s mostly shallow, so you can easily walk back in any situation. It’s ideal for learning and practising tricks, allowing people to make huge progress even during a one-week vacation!

What are the conditions like at Lo Stagnone Lagoon? Does the tide affect when you can go wingsurfing?

Wind conditions here are incredibly consistent throughout the season. We get strong wind days in spring and autumn, while summer brings this super reliable thermal wind that blows from the north almost every day. The lagoon is relatively sheltered, so we don’t really see much tidal change; it’s mainly the strong wind pushing water in and out. With over 13 km of lagoon to play in, there are spots where you typically need a short mast to wing any day. We teach using a 40 cm mast, and it’s usually rideable with a 60/65 cm mast right in front of our school! Other areas can easily accommodate 80/90/100 cm masts, all while enjoying flat water conditions inside the lagoon.

How do you balance your time between kitesurfing, wingsurfing, and running your school?

I like to keep a nice balance between different sports, but it depends on the conditions when I make my choice. I try to go out every day, even if it’s just for a short session, to hang out with my instructors and team, shoot a few videos with my good friend Kobulsky, and stay healthy and fit. It keeps things exciting and helps me avoid any boring routines! 

What new wingsurfing tricks are you currently working on?

I’ve been into freestyle (kiteboarding) for over 20 years, so my focus in winging has been less on learning new tricks and more on accessing waves that would otherwise go unridden. I do enjoy jumping on flat water days, but just like in kiting, I love hitting kickers and big ramps. Right now, throwing big backflips off those ramps is one of my favourite feelings, right up there with riding waves!

What’s Sicily like for waves and winging? Do you have some good spots?

Summer can be hit or miss in the Mediterranean, but it’s great to hear that spring and autumn bring consistent wind and waves. It is actually one of the main reasons I chose Sicily as my new home! The year-round flat water and those dreamy winter wave conditions for winging and kiting are hard to beat. Just keep that secret under wraps!

Is it hard to keep up with the young kids? They seem to be on another level at the moment.

It’s amazing to see where the freestyle level is right now and how effortlessly they’re bringing it to new heights. That’s the beauty of being young and a bit carefree! It reminds me of the early days of kiteboarding. I’ve been following all the World Cup events, and whenever I get to spend time with my good mates Ancor and Benji on Cabrinha trips, it’s just incredible. Watching them ride live is on another level—they go huge while still being pretty skinny teenagers!

Have you tried downwind foiling yet? Is it something that appeals to you? 

I haven’t quite got the right conditions or setup here in Sicily yet, but Cabrinha is about to launch a super light wing that’s easy to pack! I can’t wait to ride it upwind, pack it up, and then cruise downwind—it sounds like so much fun!

New mid-length style boards like the Swift have been really popular this year. What other breakthrough designs do you think there will be in the sport? Is there still room for development? 

Winging gear is evolving and improving every year, and it’s incredible to witness the progression of the sport across various disciplines. The mid-length concept was a fantastic breakthrough, and the designs keep getting refined and updated each season with input from around the globe—it’s so exciting to see! I also believe there’s a lot of potential with materials; as brands gain access to new materials from different board and wind sports, I can’t wait to see stiffer and even lighter wings hit the market soon!

How do you think wing surfing will evolve over the next few years?

I see it really getting specialised across the different disciplines with better materials and shapes. Crazy wings for racing, lightweight wings for surfing and downwinding, easier handling, and a wider wing range for everyday conditions—I can’t wait to get my 2025 Cabrinha wings! There are some insane new products in the pipeline!

You have a pretty unique role at Cabrinha: distributor in Italy, pro rider and the main guy on most of the shoots; what would you say to young riders looking for a career in the sport? 

I feel grateful to have been part of the Cabrinha family for so long, and I’m still going strong! I value loyalty and commitment, which I think are qualities that brands also admire. From a physical standpoint, staying injury-free is crucial for any athlete, and my gymnastics background, along with a solid stretching routine, has really helped with that. I always push the kids to prioritise stretching! I know it’s not super fun after a long day on the water, but it’s key to keeping your body flexible and ready to go day after day!

You’re going on a trip but can only take one set of equipment; what do you pack?

If I had to choose, I’d definitely go for the Mantis 4m wing, paired with the Link 4’8 board and the 84 Carbon Mast. And if I could only pick one foil, it would have to be the 930X—it’s such a super all-rounder! It makes planning easy and is so much fun in the waves. Plus, it’s great for boosting!

Awesome, thanks Alby! It’s been great to catch up with you.

Thanks, Jen, for giving me this opportunity. I hope to see you in Sicily next season!

 

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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