Singaporean windsurfers hope to raise awareness about the sport ahead of the 2028 Olympics

SINGAPORE – When Angyal Chew’s older sister first broached the subject of her switch from lasing to windsurfing two years ago, she was apprehensive.

Making a change would mean moving from her training base in Changi to East Coast Park, leaving behind a situation she had become accustomed to.

But she eventually decided to give it a try — her sister Angel, 20, made a similar move in 2021 — and hasn’t looked back since. The 16-year-old said: “Trying something new always makes me a little nervous, but it’s always good when people push me.

“As I was thrust into windsurfing, I discovered that I really enjoyed the speed and excitement. Once I got past the stage where the sail fell in and had to pick it up, it started to be really fun.”

The teenager, who started competing in the iQFoil class in 2023, was once hesitant to leave her training base in Changi but has since traveled to countries such as the Philippines and Italy to further her windsurfing career.

The iQFoil made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, replacing the RS:X as the windsurfing class for the Games.

Compared to the RS:X, the iQFoil has a foil at the base of the board that reduces water resistance, allowing the athlete to travel at higher speeds.

With iQFoil now in the Olympic spotlight, the sisters and fellow windsurfer Marsha Shahrin launched an initiative, Project: Empowered Excellence, in June 2024 to generate more support for women and girls competing in the category.

The fundraising campaign aims to raise awareness about iQFoil and raise financial support for Singapore’s windsurfers to compete abroad, as well as cover expenses such as coaching and equipment.