Singapore’s kitefoiling set to soar after Olympic medal win on wave of interest

Kitefoiling, a more advanced form of kitesurfing, uses wind energy from a kite to pull the rider along. Kitesurfing is believed to have been invented in the 1970s but only gained popularity in the 1990s.

The sport featured at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and in 2021, it was announced that kiteboarding would make its Olympic debut in Paris 2024 with the Formula Kite class that utilises hydrofoils.

Since Maximilian won Singapore’s sole medal in the Olympics, interest in the sport has surged in the city state.

Ong Rong Quan, the president of the Kitesurfing Association of Singapore, told This Week in Asia that one kitefoil clinic scheduled for this weekend received 150 sign-ups, compared with fewer than 20 registrations for clinics held before the Olympics.

Edmund Tang, the founder of the association, said: “For the previous roadshows, there were parents who were interested to do an introduction but the return rates tapered due to varying wind conditions and accessibility.”

The Kitesurfing Association of Singapore and the Singapore Sailing Federation are looking into how they can start a programme for beginners in Singapore, according to Tang and Ong.

“In Singapore, we call ourselves storm chasers. If there’s wind we chiong,” said Tang, using the local colloquialism for rushing.

Foiling would be possible even in light winds of seven to eight knots as some of the Olympic races were held in under 10-knot conditions, Ong said.

“When you’re proficient enough, then anything up from seven knots is sufficient. More wind makes it easier to pick it up but it’s not impossible to learn in Singapore. We just have to make do with the conditions we have.”

The other challenge Singapore kitefoilers face is space constraints so the association is