Yannick Mittas has two photos featured in the 2026 Wingpassion calendar. Based in Kiel, he is a true all-rounder on the water, not only riding with foils but also with fins of all shapes and sizes. We met up with this multi-talented athlete for an interview.
(Cover photo: Bulgenslag)
So, like so many others (myself included), you chose where to study based on the water sports conditions?
Yes, absolutely. When I realized that I wanted to study biology, I knew I had to be near the sea. Fortunately, Kiel University accepted my application. So here I am, and I would like to stay.
What makes Kiel so special for water sports enthusiasts?
I feel so at home in this city because all my social contacts are interested in the same thing—a love of water, or better still, a love of water sports. Everyone has a van, everyone has boards in their basement, everyone is looking for the best conditions. I share this enthusiasm, and that’s what keeps me in the city. I also think Kiel is the perfect size, and its proximity to Denmark and the North Sea is unbeatable (except for Flensburg).
How and when did you get into wingfoiling?
I used to go windsurfing in the waves a lot with Steffi (Wahl), Dominik, Friedel, and Lina. Suddenly, Friedel unpacked a wing and showed us how foiling works. That was at the beginning of April 2021 at Schönberger Strand, and I told him that I wanted to try it. Lo and behold, it worked right away, and I was hooked. The feeling of flying over the water and hearing nothing but the wind touched me deeply, and I wanted to add it to my water sports repertoire.
HERE you will find an article about Steffi Wahl.
What is special about wingfoiling for you?
Wingfoiling requires little wind, and it’s still really fun. So you get a lot of time on the water throughout the year. Even without waves, you can jump high, and if a wave is very round, you can still rip it with the foil. This opens up a huge field of new possibilities—it’s very special. I also think it’s cool to be so close to the action with developments happening so quickly.
Do you think it’s easier to learn wingfoiling if you have a background in windsurfing?
Absolutely! I think windsurfers are familiar with the wobbling at the beginning and therefore cope better with the rocking. But of course, the understanding of the wind that you gain from this also helps immensely.
For some time now, you have been part of the 1001grad event team, which organizes the Winger of the Sea series, among other things. What exactly are your responsibilities there?
1001 Grad is simply fantastic. The guys noticed something was missing and said, “Then we’ll just do it ourselves” – very brave. The events are incredibly fun. I worked with the guys a lot in the beginning and regularly took on tasks as a teacher and active helper at events. Unfortunately, this has become less frequent lately as I am busy with other things. Nevertheless, I helped with the organization of the Foil Festival 2025, for example. I still remember the first wing event in Gröhwold, where I somehow managed to take first place in freestyle. It was a great experience, and I am very grateful that I was able to experience it thanks to Oli and Leon.
Are you a certified wingfoil/windsurfing coach?
Yes, right after graduating from high school, I enjoyed a fantastic training program at the company “Bluesoul” in southern Italy. They trained me to be a catamaran sailing instructor, windsurfing instructor, and diving instructor, and taught me an incredible number of skills. I also had to complete lifeguard and first aid courses there. I led marine biology project days, taught school classes how to dive, collected seaweed samples, and examined them under a microscope with the students. It was fun and laid the foundation for my future.
We usually ask this question at the end of an interview: What is your ultimate tip for learning how to jibe while wing foiling?
There are lots of tips and tricks – it’s different for everyone. My motto was: keep the jibe tight. That was good, because if you get onto the new half-wind course quickly, you quickly regain course stability. Downwind, everything is shaky and you often fall in. So keep your turns tight and get onto the half-wind course quickly. That helped me a lot, anyway.
Isn’t it sometimes terribly difficult to be a coach when conditions are really good and you really just want to get out on the water yourself?
Of course it’s difficult. But the perfect conditions for coaching are usually not the perfect conditions for surfing the waves. I like it when it’s very windy and there are big waves. Students usually don’t like that so much, and of course, lessons are better at a steady 16 knots than 30 knots with 2-meter waves. But teaching a student something that puts a smile on their face is incredibly rewarding. And you’re still in the water, so you can always go shredding afterwards.
Is it difficult to balance water sports, studying, and coaching?
I see it more as motivation. Water sports are a great reward for successful work. When you’re studying, your mind needs a break sometimes, and there’s nothing healthier than using that break to go wing surfing, kite surfing, surfing, or windsurfing. It clears your head, and your body thanks you for it after all that sitting. Coaching also goes well with water sports. I still have my favorite sport around me and can also go out myself before and after the course. Overall, I think everything fits together well.
You were at the Master of the Ocean event in the Dominican Republic in September. The contest consists of five disciplines: surfing, SUP, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and wing foiling. How did you end up participating?
Christopher from the surf school “Südkap Surfing” on Sylt is a very good friend of mine and had established contact with Marcus, the manager of the competition. That was three years ago, and I competed as part of the German team with Lina Erpenstein, Linus Erdmann, and Tim Elter. It was an incredibly cool experience. I felt like a top athlete and realized that competitions work well for me. This year, Marcus asked me to put together a German team again. So I ended up competing with three good friends – both as a team and as individual competitors.
What was your best discipline?
I made it to the finals in wing foiling and, surprisingly, in surfing as well. I am more than satisfied with my performance and finished in 5th place. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind in the end, and windsurfing and kiting were canceled after the semifinals. In the end, the wing foiling finals could not be held either. But I think I showed my strengths in windsurfing and wingfoiling.
One of the photos from the Wingpassion Calendar 2026 was also taken there. Do you remember the situation?
Yes, of course. It was a great day at La Boca lagoon near Cabarete. Lots of locals were barbecuing, dancing, and drinking. There was a friendly, family atmosphere on the beach, and the locals treated us as if we were their closest friends. Friedel took pictures of the water and then learned from the locals that the crocodiles are further upstream and the sharks rarely swim into the lagoon during high tide. It’s a good thing he didn’t know that beforehand—otherwise, there would be no pictures of the water that day.
Another photo was taken here on the Baltic Sea. What was the setting like there?
I spontaneously went out there with Friedel in Heidkate. We felt like having a session. On the one hand, it was about sharing an experience on the water, and on the other hand, it was about developing material for my sponsor, Vayu. Friedel wanted to take pictures of the new wing. So everything came together, and we had a great day surfing on the Baltic Sea, as we so often do.
Both photos were taken by Frithjof Blaasch, better known as Bulgenslag. Are you friends?
I have known Friedel for six years now, and he has become a very good friend who is dear to my heart. Apart from his passion for water sports and photography, I greatly appreciate him for his social nature. He is simply a good person who you can’t help but like, and he is always motivated to find the best wave in the area. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today—and for that I am very grateful.
Click HERE for the interview with Frithjof Blaasch, aka Bulgenslag.
The photo of the Baltic Sea also clearly shows how the seaweed is flying around. What do you do when the seaweed really gets on your nerves in summer?
Yes, that can really spoil your session. But unfortunately, we can’t change it. What I often do is simply ride further out, where there is usually less seaweed. And when it’s really bad and there’s not enough wind for windsurfing, I have no choice but to go kitesurfing. Which is also a lot of fun, of course.
Do you sometimes find it difficult to decide which water sport to do? How do you decide which toy to take with you on the water?
Yes, I do that quite often. But the great thing about versatility is that you can adapt your water sport to the conditions. One thing is clear: when there’s little wind, I go wing foiling. When it’s windy, my windsurf waveboard sticks to my feet. But I also decide based on the friends I’m with on the water. I have some university friends who go kiteboarding a lot, so I grab my kite too. And there are always phases: sometimes I want to work on my push loop, sometimes I want to try new tricks on the foil. But it doesn’t really matter what I choose, the main thing is to get out on the water and enjoy the feeling of boundless freedom.
Are you at the Baltic Sea all year round, or do you sometimes feel drawn to other places? What does a typical year look like for you?
In recent years, I have accompanied Lina on many of her travels. In the summer, we often went to the Canary Islands, took road trips to Galicia and Portugal, and in the winter we liked to visit Tarifa in our van. This spring, I got to test my limits in the waves of Chile, and I have to say: the Pacific is something else entirely.
But I also love Denmark and the North Sea in general. You don’t have to fly halfway around the world to find premium conditions. Often, a two-hour drive or a weekend trip to Denmark with your closest friends is enough. In the end, the trips are always the best part.
Last year, I worked for Chris at Südkap Surfing on Sylt for three months, and I think Sylt is the best surfing spot in Germany. I was more than surprised at how many good days we had during those three summer months. Teaching at a school on Sylt would be right up my alley.
What are your favorite conditions for wing foiling?
Shoulder-high waves are naturally a lot of fun, and the consequences aren’t so bad if you fall. The wave doesn’t have to be steep; it’s enough if it breaks slowly and keeps its shape over a long distance. If the wind is coming in exactly sideshore and pushing at around 20 knots, I’m completely happy. But the beauty of the sport is that you can’t always choose the conditions yourself—that’s what makes it special. You never know what the skate park you’re going to rip up today will look like.
Where is your favorite spot?
That’s definitely Weißenhaus at the Baltic Sea. A strong westerly storm, preferably lasting two days – that’s all I need. I learned and experienced so much there. The spot has a special meaning for me.
You are connected to Vayu in a certain way. Are you also involved in material development there?
Yes, exactly, I’ve been a team rider at Vayu since day one and love the team, the equipment, and the whole vibe of the brand. Philip and Loris are at the forefront, doing a fantastic job and always supporting me. Just today, I wrote a test report for Lutz Graichen, the shaper of Vayu boards, and gave him feedback on the latest 70L Fly from Vayu (freestyle/freeride board). I always try to contribute. There’s often not much to improve, the equipment is simply top notch!
What does your personal future look like? What are your plans?
After completing my biology degree, I decided to study sports as well. I want to become a teacher and teach biology and sports at high schools. It’s a big step. Starting a new degree at the age of 29 requires commitment and a lot of confidence in your own decision. But I have no doubt that it’s the right path for me.
Next year in the Dominican Republic, I want to show that even a German “potato” can make it onto the podium.
There is still so much to discover. I would love to experience every wave in the world. But one step at a time. As long as I have my friends and water sports around me, I’m happy, and that’s the most important thing.
Yannick, thank you very much for the interview and all the best!
Click HERE to visit Yannick Mittas’ Instagram account.
If you want to have Yannick’s action and that of many others hanging on your wall, you can order the Wingpassion Calendar 2026 HERE.
