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Finn Flügel might only be 15 but has already proved his mettle at pro level competitions, recently coming third at the GKA Freestyle World Cup France. He has competed both in freestyle and hydrofoil events, and won the top spot at the GKA’s Youth events more than once. We thought we better find out more about him.
Hi Finn! You’re a multi-talented rider competing in different disciplines. Talk us through your achievements thus far.
Hello everyone! I took part in my first competition in 2021. My parents and I saw that there was a GKA Youth series in freestyle, and I really wanted to take part. We went to France and Spain, and I became the U14 World Champion straight away. I wanted to compete with the adults from the start, so I applied for a wildcard for the GKA kick-off in Colombia in January 2022, which I got. It was super cool to get a Lycra with my name and the German flag on it for the first time. I made it to the quarter-finals at this event and came third in the best trick contest, which was practically my first podium. From then on, I aimed to ride every men’s event on the tour. As I also love foiling, I rode in the Hydrofoil Big Air World Championships in Tarifa, where I placed fifth. At the same time as this event, the GKA Awards took place, and I was delighted to receive the Rookie of the Year Award. That’s my most important award to date because it is like a kite Oscar to me. I finished 2022 in 12th place in the overall ranking.
Of course, I had my sights set higher for the 2023 season, and above all, I wanted to become the U16 World Champion. What can I say – it worked out! Things went extremely well for me in the men’s events. My goal was to make it to at least one semi-final and I managed to reach this goal both at the first event in Colombia and the event in France. I made it to my first final in Brazil, which I could hardly believe! I ended up in fifth place in the overall rankings in 2023, which no young rider before me had ever done. Three weeks ago, I managed to get my first podium in the men’s event in Dunkerque, France. Although the conditions were difficult, I delivered my best performance. I am now looking forward to the next two contests and the hydrofoil final in Brazil. I came fifth in hydrofoil in Sylt, and I can’t wait to deliver another good performance.
Which has been your favorite event so far, and which has been the most challenging?
My favorite event had to be the one in Brazil last November. I was a bit nervous on the event days, however, it went well right from the start. I rode almost flawlessly in my heats and I was able to score well, especially with the new toeside tricks. I improved from heat to heat, and when I got to the semi-finals, I thought, why not? I wanted to make it to the final, so I went as big as possible. When I realized I had scored more points than Carlos Mario, I was overwhelmed with happiness. It was also my dad’s birthday so it couldn’t have gone any better.
My very first World Cup was a big challenge. On the one hand, I was so excited about it, but on the other hand, I didn’t know what to expect. Many people wanted interviews and pictures with me during the event, it felt weird. Of course, I was the little one with all the big guns. I couldn’t have done it without my parents and coach, Fabio Ingrosso, by my side. But afterward, I was immensely proud of my performance.
Have you found a big difference in what you need to do for the World Cups compared to the Youth events?
I take every competition I enter very seriously. I don’t think you should make the mistake of thinking that youth competitions are easy. I’m focused in every one of my heats, and I always want to do my best. It’s a bit easier for me because of my experience on the men’s tour; I’ve got my routine down, and I’m perhaps less nervous than some of the others. In general, I love competing and I think it’s cool to compete against the big names. But I keep telling myself that I’m only 15 years old, if it works out, great, and if not, there’s always next time.
You mentioned your coach Fabio Ingrosso. Is that how you learn your skills?
As you may have already realized, I’m all about kiting. I watch kite videos almost every day, but I’ve also been coaching since I was 10 years old. Nowadays, I alternate training with my two coaches for a few weeks a year. Fabio Ingrosso and Nico Delmas are simply incredible! They both push me in their own way. I think it’s incredibly important not to think you don’t need a coach. In all other sports, it’s normal to have a coach, but in kitesurfing, there are very few people who do. I’m always happy to see both of them.
You definitely started young, flying a trainer kite at the age of four then it wasn’t long before you got on the water. Were you always up for doing lots of sports or was kiting the one thing that you really wanted to do?
From a very young age, I have always been really keen on sports. When I was about two years old, my parents bought me my first snowboard, and then I went skiing straight away. My parents are both board sports enthusiasts, so I was able to try out everything right from the start. I was always involved in kiting and ‘helped’ roll out the bars when I was maybe three or so. Kiting has always fascinated me and I was so excited to get my first trainer kite. Everywhere we went, I unpacked it on the beach and practiced all by myself. I practiced launching and landing and also looping. When I could swim, I was allowed to ride on the board with my parents. When I was six years old, I was finally allowed to ride on my own. Because I could already wakeboard at that point, my parents first gave me a wakeboard handle and attached the rope to their harness. Then they pulled me along behind them. The funny thing was that I learned how to ride switch right away because I always had to make a turn. The rest went quickly. Within a few days, I was able to kite on my own.
I would say that I love the sea and water sports in general. When I was younger, we used to go snowboarding regularly and I played football and tennis almost every day. But as I got older, I knew that I wanted to be a professional kiter. That’s why I asked my parents to let me attend school in Egypt when I was 10. Fortunately, they gave me the opportunity and my mum moved to El Gouna with me. We’ve been there ever since and I haven’t regretted it for a second. Kitesurfing is simply ‘my life’!
How are you finding balancing school work with kiting and traveling for competitions? Do you ever get time to just chill?!
Puhhhh… Sometimes it’s not that easy! I went to school in El Gouna for the first three years. But because of the events and training, it just wasn’t possible anymore. I would have been absent too many times. Fortunately, my class teacher at the time wanted a change, so he quickly became my private teacher and still accompanies me on our trips today. That way, I don’t miss anything and he’s also better at kiting now…!
What is relaxing?! I relax on the water. I don’t train all the time. Most of the time I ride whatever is possible. When the wind is light, I go foiling, or when the wind is stronger, I go for old school airstyle or Big Air. To me, kiting means doing what the wind offers you. But of course, when I’m in comp mode, I go freestyling for two to three hours per day to practice all my tricks. There have been new trick families in freestyle since last year, and I have to say I love these toeside and blind tricks. This versatility and technique is what freestyling is all about for me. I never get bored!
You’re on the Airush team. Are you finding the gear suits your needs?
I’ve been riding for Airush since Spring 2023. I’d always seen some riders with Airush kites in El Gouna, and they were always the best freestylers. Back then, I had no idea I would one day be one of them myself. Over the years, I’ve tried all sorts of brands, and for me, the Razor was and still is simply the best freestyle kite. I find the slack and shoot super comfortable, and the kite suits my riding style. I also like the people on the team! It feels more like a kite family and one is always included, which is very important to me.
So, what does the future hold for you?! Can you see yourself favoring one kite discipline over another?
My ultimate goal is to become the Men’s Freestyle World Champion. I’ll give it my all! Apart from that, I would also like to compete in other disciplines such as hydrofoil or Big Air, which I already do to some extent anyway. I’m still very young, so I still have plenty of time to decide, and who knows, maybe other disciplines will be added. In any case, I’m ready for it. I’ll be traveling to Brazil soon and my goal is to be among the frontrunners in the various disciplines. Let’s see if that works out.
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