Ambassador Portrait – Julien, passionate about surfing in the Mediterranean

Julien is one of those riders for whom foiling is much more than a sport: it's a way of life, a place of exploration, and an endless source of pleasure. Today, he shares with us his journey, his Takoon setup, and his infectious passion for wingfoiling.

Beginnings inspired by Laird Hamilton

Julien, 42, lives in the south of France, on the Mediterranean coast. An ideal environment, swept by the tramontane wind, which naturally led him to sailing.

“I remember a video of Laird Hamilton, in the 2000s, riding waves on a towed foil. Fascinating. As soon as the first wings arrived, I knew this sport was for me.”

So he started wingfoiling just before the lockdowns, and like many enthusiasts... he didn't always wait for the restrictions to end to go on the water!

A versatile quiver to try everything

Julien doesn't do things by halves. His garage accommodates:

• 4 boards: Pump 80, Escape 7'2, ProSurf 4'6 and Slate ML 5'6

• 2 wings: VX Pro 3m and 4m

• 3 front wings Flare: 750, 1050 and 1400

This equipment allows him to practice five different disciplines : wingfoil, pump foil, surf foil, SUP foil and prone wing.

“I want to be able to get on the water as soon as there's a weather window. My gear allows me to cover all conditions.”

But his heart remains with wingfoil, his favorite discipline.

St Cyprien, his playground

His favorite spot is St Cyprien, on the Mediterranean coast.

“I like to have my bearings. Knowing my spot by heart gives me great freedom on the water.”

His sessions are often short and intense, and he's known on his street for running with his gear in hand. Always eager to go sliding.

From struggle to addiction

His best memory? His very first flight.

“Only a few meters… but I was hooked.”

The biggest scare: a SUP foil session ending up against a seawall, stuck by the leash in the rocks, with the waves hitting. A true lesson in humility.

His advice to beginners:

“Never give up. The beginnings are hard, but the rewards are enormous.”

Current goal: master the 360 air by the end of summer.

A united, inspired, passionate community

Julien closely follows riders like Cash Berzolla , Adam Bennetts and Noé Cantaloube . He also appreciates content creators who share his passion, like Kookfoil, Hadou and Erwan.

He sees the foil community as mature and caring:

"It's still a fairly new practice, but it attracts experienced people from other board sports. The atmosphere is friendly."

Takoon: accessibility and performance

Julien joined Takoon to share more about his passion and get involved in the development of board sports in France. What he loves about the brand: its accessibility, its high-performance products, and above all, the human aspect.

“I met other enthusiasts and discovered new spots. It’s much more than a brand, it’s a family of riders.”

Out of water

When he's not on the water, Julien stays very active. He juggles work, family, and multiple passions, and tries to make the most of every moment. After a good session? He doesn't say no to a well-deserved plate of pasta.

Follow Julien

Find his adventures, advice and tutorials on his YouTube channel:
👉 Land of Wind