Riding the Unexpected: Discovering Wingfoiling in Zanzibar

📍Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania
 🪁 Vibe: Humbling, transforming, quietly powerful

Intro: When Plans Change

There are trips that go exactly how you planned—and then there are the ones that change you in ways you never saw coming.

Zanzibar was supposed to be all about kite surfing. I arrived with my usual excitement: chasing the wind, the rhythm of daily sessions, salt on my skin and sun in my hair. But the wind had other plans. Day after day, it barely stirred. The ocean stretched out like glass—beautiful, but still. And in that stillness, I found something entirely new.

When the Wind Doesn’t Blow

At first, I was frustrated. The low wind days started stacking up, and I felt a growing restlessness in my chest. I’d come all this way for something that wasn’t showing up. But sometimes, that’s exactly when life nudges you in a different direction.

That nudge came in the form of a wingfoil.

To be honest, I never gave wingfoiling much thought. It seemed awkward, even clunky. Definitely not my vibe. But in Zanzibar, with time to spare and a desire to move, I gave it a try.

The Humble Beginning

It was hard. Like, really hard.

Every attempt left me drained—physically, mentally, emotionally. My muscles ached. My ego took hit after hit. I wanted to give up more times than I can count. There’s nothing quite like being brought back to the beginning. It was humbling.

But something inside me kept whispering, keep going.

So I did.

I fell, and I got up. I cursed the foil and then craved it. And somewhere in that mess of trial and error, I felt it—that brief, weightless moment of flying above the water. The silence. The glide. The magic.

A New Kind of Freedom

Wingfoiling snuck up on me. What started as a backup plan slowly stole my heart. It’s different from kiting—more fluid, more intuitive, almost dance-like. There’s a softness to it, a purity. Just you, the wing, the foil, and the ocean below, rising up to meet you.

Now, it’s my second love. I honestly can’t imagine my life without it.

It taught me patience, persistence, and how beautiful it is to be a beginner again. How growth often hides inside the moments we want to walk away from. And how sometimes, when the wind doesn’t show up, the real journey begins.

Zanzibar: A Turning Point

Zanzibar gave me more than I expected. Not in the way I planned, but in the way I needed.

It reminded me that movement doesn’t always look how we think it will. That the wind can guide us, even when it’s still. That being open—to discomfort, to curiosity, to starting over—is what keeps us growing.

And for that, I’ll always be grateful.

💬 Final Thoughts or Call to Action

Ever tried something you never expected to love? Or been pushed by stillness into motion? I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment below, or let’s connect on Instagram.

🪁 Chasing wind, and now gliding with it—
 Until next time.