July 14, 2025

Cabarete Wing Fest 2025

Wingfoiling Festival in a Tropical Paradise!

Vinni Martins shares his experience at the 2025 Cabarete Wing Fest – where strong trade winds, perfect waves, and a passionate foiling community come together:

“Last December, during the NeilPryde and JP Dealer Meeting in Brazil, I met Audrey and Jens from the Vela Center in Cabarete. I had heard about this iconic Dominican town for years, known for its deep roots in windsurfing and kiteboarding. Now, wing foiling is taking over – and Audrey has been organizing the Cabarete Wing Fest to celebrate just that.

This year, I was invited to join the event, and together with Philip Mackenbrock, we traveled to Cabarete to present our 2025 JP-Australia gear. It was my first time there, and I was blown away by the consistent wind, perfect foil conditions, and the super welcoming international and local community. Even before the first session, I could tell this would be something special.

Find out more about: Vela Cabarete

Day 1 // started with some tech talks, brands presented their foils, parawings, and we’ve shared a bit about our Firefly, my favorite wing at the moment and one that seems to be becoming very popular amongst the riders of this spot as well.
Once the wind kicked in around noon, participants were free to test the equipment they’ve found interesting and we’ve finished off the day with a short but super fun downwind from Vela until Playa Encuentro, looking from the beach I would have never imagined how perfect the swell was on this stretch. We’ve arrived in Encuentro at the most tropical scenery you can imagine where dinner was waiting for us! Not a bad way at all to start the weekend.

Day 2 // was a very special one, the main downwind course took place in the most dreamy set up, our 15km ride from Cabarete main beach until the neighbour town of Sosúa was escorted by a beautiful catamaran captained by George, one of Cabarete’s windsurfing pioneers.

Photographers, friends, family and some of the participants joined on the boat and could follow the action from very close while riders enjoyed the perfect conditions of ridiculously blue waters, 15 to 20 knots of wind and shoulder high swell rolling parallel to the breathtaking shores of Hispaniola Island. It looked like something out of a movie. The pictures Philip took with Gearoge’s catamaran in the foreground and us riding in that scenery are some of my all time favorite wing shots !

The downwind finished at a fancy beach club in Sosua where aperitivo was waiting.
I could get used to this life…

Day 3 // On day 3 I went for a solo morning session out at the reef with light wind and glassy waves riding JP’s new M-Winger, it was one of the most fun sessions of the trip and I had the whole reef to myself. Once the wind kicked in we started the races, the course was set in the flat part pretty close to shore so spectators could see all the action. After a rabbit start riders would have to do two laps in an upwind – downwind course along the beach and make their way to the finals through elimination rounds.
In the womens the race was won by Nicole Laiben from the USA, Followed by Ambre Florens (France) and Martina Alonso (Argentina).
In the men division I won (Brasil), followed by local rider Edwin Rodrigues (Rep.Dom.) and Jose Rother (Argentina)

After the prize giving we closed the event with a great dinner by the main beach, while I was mentally planning my next trip to Cabarete for the Wing Fest 2026 ! ” – Vinni Martins

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