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Downwind foiling
Downwind foiling means riding a longer stretch from A to B with the wind behind you, gliding over wind swell, bumps and chop. You ride with a large board and a paddle, or with a compact parawing (parafoil). Unlike pump foiling on a lake, it is not about starting from a dock. It is about open water, reliable wind, enough fetch and lines where the water builds into rideable bumps.
On lakes, inland seas and big stretches of open water in central Europe, downwind foiling has become more and more interesting. Wherever the wind blows steadily, the water stays open long enough and you have safe entry and exit points, you find venues that suit paddle downwind, parawing and long foil runs. For the Netherlands there is a community map with concrete runs.
Map · Netherlands
The map “DW NL” by Jonathan Mann (Google My Maps) collects downwind runs in the Netherlands. According to the map description, runs marked in orange are beginner runs.
The map is hosted by Google and is not an official SessionSpot map. No guarantee for accuracy. Check wind, weather, local rules and your own experience before you ride any run.
Basics
In downwind foiling the wind is your engine and the swell is your glide surface. Instead of pumping on the spot, you link bump to bump and often cover many kilometres. You ride with a paddle (SUP or prone), with a parawing, sometimes with a wing or with electric assist such as FoilDrive. Because start and finish are usually far apart, you need a way back: a shuttle, a second car or public transport.
Gear
Typical setups use high-volume boards and long, slim high aspect front wings that glide a long way and lose little speed between bumps. If you are new to downwind, a stable, high-volume setup usually works better than a small, twitchy board. You can find more about the wings in our (German) foil magazine.
Safety
Downwind is a distance sport and the way back is often hard. Check wind strength, wind direction and exit options beforehand, do not ride alone and share your route and timetable with someone. A buoyancy or impact vest, a helmet, thermal protection and a phone secured in a waterproof case make sense. With offshore wind the wind pushes you away from the shore, so be especially careful. Stay clear of shipping traffic, nature reserves and shallow areas.
Netherlands · IJsselmeer
The IJsselmeer is probably the most obvious large area on this list for downwind foiling. Plenty of open water, long wind fetch and several established watersports towns make it very attractive. Workum, Hindeloopen and Lemmer are typical names when it comes to wind, wing, SUP and foil on the IJsselmeer. That mix makes the area especially interesting for parawing and paddle downwind. You can find concrete runs on the Netherlands map at the top of this page.
Netherlands · Zeeland
Zeeland is not purely a downwind area, but wind, open water and the mix of inland and coastal venues make it very interesting. Many watersports meet around Brouwersdam, and on good wind days the region can offer longer foil lines and bump sessions.
Germany
Fehmarn remains the strongest reference point in Germany. The island has many surf spots with different orientations and an established foil and wing scene. SUP downwind foiling and parawing are already talked about and taught there. For long runs and bumpy conditions, Fehmarn is therefore much closer to the actual idea of downwind than many smaller inland lakes.
Austria · Tyrol
Achensee is one of the windiest and most sporty lakes in Austria. The combination of thermal wind, a long stretch of water and clear watersports infrastructure makes it very interesting for downwind ideas. If you are looking for a lake where foiling, wing, wind and longer runs fit together, you quickly end up at Achensee.
Austria · Burgenland
Neusiedler See is extremely shallow, wide and exposed to wind, and has long been a hotspot for windsurfing and foiling. That is why it fits well into a downwind overview. It is less about big ocean swell and more about a lake where wind, choppy water and long lines come together very well.
Switzerland
Two venues stand out in Switzerland. Silvaplana is one of the most reliable wind spots in the Alps and combines strong wind with open water. Urnersee is known for its thermal wind and strong windsports scene. Neither is a gentle beginner pond, which is exactly why they are so appealing for advanced foilers with an interest in downwind.
Overview
Links
FAQ
Downwind means riding with the wind. In downwind foiling you ride from a start point to a finish point with the wind behind you and glide over wind swell. The opposite is upwind, riding against the wind.
The community map “DW NL” shows runs on the IJsselmeer (for example Stavoren–Urk, Stavoren–Hindeloopen, Stavoren–Workum), on the Markermeer (for example Almere/Lelystad, Volendam–Oosterleek, Wijdenes–Enkhuizen) and on the North Sea coast from Wijk. It also marks start and finish points, parking, flatwater meeting points and areas you should avoid. You can find the link to the map at the top of this page.
Yes. You should be able to foil confidently before you ride long distances, because the way back and help are not always easy to reach on open water. If you are still learning, start on a calm lake and work your way towards downwind via pump foil or prone foil.
What matters is open water, enough wind fetch, clean wind directions, safe starts and the chance to link rideable bumps or chop lines over longer distances.
Yes. Thanks to its size, its many wind-exposed areas and established watersports towns such as Workum, Hindeloopen and Lemmer, the IJsselmeer is one of the most exciting spots in this region.
In Germany, Fehmarn is the clearest name: foiling, wing and downwind topics already come together there, and there are several suitable venues.
Yes. Lakes with reliable thermal wind and enough length, such as Achensee, Silvaplana or Urnersee, can be very exciting for advanced downwind foilers.
SessionSpot
If you are looking for a downwind foil venue, you rarely need a pure trick spot. You need water, wind and a line. When this kind of orientation turns into real plans or shared wind windows, SessionSpot can take over the scheduling and group planning. The app itself is currently available in German only.