Our favourite dockstarting spots in Switzerland

Switzerland, a country renowned for its mountainous landscapes, crystal-clear lakes and ski resorts, also offers an idyllic setting for dockstarting and pumping at foil. Whether you’re into wingfoil, surfing foil or wakefoil, this country is full of spots that will meet all your expectations. In this article, we present the best spots in Switzerland for dockstarting, as well as our tips for preparing your sessions.

Here’s our selection of spots in Switzerland where you can learn or improve your dockstarting and pumping skills. We’ve chosen spots that are accessible, fun and suitable for all foil practices:

The dockstart is a technique foil that requires a little preparation and equipment. Here are a few tips for a successful session.

→ Find our guide to starting dockstarting at foil: which equipment to choose, getting started step by step, learning pumping…

Equipment required for Dockstart

All you need is a board and a foil. But you still need to choose the right products!

• For the board: You need a lightweight, compact board to facilitate pontoon starts and pumping, like the Pocket Foilboard.
• For foil: S-Foil High Aspect models such as the 2000 and 1350 Lift offer an efficient, effortless glide for long glides and efficient pumping – a real pleasure on the water!

See Dockstart equipment

Ideal weather conditions

The advantage of dockstarting and pumping is that you don’t need to meet any specific conditions to get the most out of your sessions, so we recommend the following:

1. Flat water or water with regular, non-breaking waves or bumps.
2. Little or no wind, or wind in the direction of pumping (tailwind).
3. A pleasant temperature: pumping is a physical activity that makes you feel hot, but in which you often fall overboard.

Safety and precautions

Here are a few precautions to take if you want to dockstart safely:

• Choose a suitable spot : you need sufficient water depth to avoid hitting the bottom with foil, and avoid areas frequented by bathers or boats. This is all the more important if you’re just starting out and haven’t quite mastered your trajectories yet.
• Wear a wetsuit and helmet: dockstarting is not a dangerous sport, but it is one where you often fall into the water, sometimes very close to the starting pontoon, which can hurt. What’s more, foil can cause injuries, so it’s advisable to wear a wetsuit for protection. A helmet can also be useful in case of head impact on the pontoon or board when you fall.