Trip Report
Words and photos by Harvey Thompson
Sometimes the best sessions are the ones you don't plan.
Three days, two lakes, and just about every kind of wind Northern Italy could offer. Here's how a strike mission to Lake Garda came together — from a mirror-flat warm-up to chasing ferry wakes in 20+ knots.
Day One — Lake Iseo
Before we'd even reached Lake Garda, we found a quiet dock on Lake Iseo through Google Maps and squeezed in the first foil of the trip. Mirror-flat water and the Evolution 155 paired with the Quantum 16" tail (+1 shim, Short fuselage) proved to be the perfect combination — smooth, efficient glide and the ideal start to an unforgettable week in Italy.
Day Two — Lake Garda, Campione
After arriving in Campione, our first full day on Lake Garda couldn't have started much better. We were welcomed by the Pelèr — the lake's reliable northerly thermal wind — before heading back out later for a classic southerly Ora session. Walking down to the water's edge with the Quest 135 in hand, there was plenty of excitement knowing another afternoon of consistent thermal wind was on its way.
The Quest 135 paired with the Quantum 16" tail (+1 shim, Short fuselage) felt perfectly balanced for the conditions — an easy get-up, plenty of surf-ability, and loads of glide once the wing was stashed. Linking smooth downwind runs against the dramatic backdrop of Lake Garda made for a memorable first day on the lake.
Day Three — Where the Lake Narrows
The morning thermals didn't deliver like the day before, so we drove 20 minutes north to where the lake narrows. The wind was blowing a steady 10+ knots, so we found the nearest suitable dock for some dock-start parawinging. I went back to the Evolution 155 and Quantum 16" tail — its low end made dock starting off that unstable floating dock much easier. There's something incredibly addictive about flying around on what is essentially a tray-like board. The direct input and instant feedback from the foil create such a connected feeling, and the added risk of a crash and a swim back only adds to the fun.
After lunch and a beer, the Ora southerly kicked in with full force for a solid three-plus hours of 20+ knots. This session quickly became the highlight of the entire trip. There was little to no bump from the wind, but there was an endless supply of wakes to surf from the constant flow of ferry boats. The whole spot was buzzing — wings, parawings, kites, windsurfing, wind foiling, even moth foil boats.
I spent the afternoon chasing down every northbound ferry I could find, dropping onto the wakes and carving along them for as long as my legs could keep going.
I switched to the Quest 135, which was the perfect tool for chasing and connecting the endless ferry wakes. Its balance of glide, speed, and responsiveness made it effortless to accelerate onto each wake while still allowing tight, controlled carving once on the face.
Two lakes. Three days. Every wind Northern Italy could throw down.
That's a strike mission.
Harvey's setup: