Viganj is currently teeming with a vibrant mix of young people from all around the world. They have gathered here for the IFCA 2025 “Junior, Youth and Master Slalom European Championship, Croatia.”

The renowned Ponta is a lively spectacle, adorned with the latest in windsurfing gear: a dazzling array of colorful sails, sleek boards, cutting-edge foils, and streamlined fins. The weather is perfect, with the sun casting a warm, golden glow over the scene and the sky a pristine, azure blue. The gentle breeze, blowing at a pleasant 9-12 knots, creates ideal conditions for the art of foiling.

From my vantage point on the pebbled beach, I watch the competitors with a mixture of awe and anticipation. The atmosphere is electric, charged with the collective nervous energy of athletes who have trained for months, perhaps years, for this moment. Some pace along the shoreline, eyes fixed on the water, mentally rehearsing their routines. Others sit cross-legged on colorful towels, mentally preparing, finding their center before the challenge ahead.

I watch these young people go through round after round, truly admiring their skills. I wish I could windsurf like them, but that’s likely not in the cards for me; I’m more drawn to the serene, zen-like experience of gliding over the water rather than competing. Still, it’s a joy to watch them in action. However, I noticed sail numbers from Italy, France, Turkey, Denmark, Slovenia, Germany, and even the Caribbean Netherlands Islands. Yet, I only spotted one sail from Croatia. I hope there are more out there that I just didn’t notice.

The wind is getting stronger. The afternoon is likely to be better for using fins instead of foils. And then, there will be three more days of similar conditions. Well, business as usual in Viganj.