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Valentin Garat explores the best wingfoil spots from a catamaran. Los Roques, Porquerolles, New Caledonia: discover how he transforms every anchorage into a playground.
Wind as a language
At Excess, we believe adventure takes endless forms. Sometimes it unfolds on a river. Sometimes in the mountains. Sometimes it begins with a careful reading of the weather forecast.
That is exactly what led us to meet Valentin Garat, a wingfoil rider and international-level kitesurfer. Between the winds that shape his days and the archipelagos he explores from a catamaran, his world is very close to ours at Excess: reading the elements, respecting them, and drawing a form of absolute freedom from them.
From kite to wing: a natural evolution
Valentin discovered kitesurfing at the age of 10, introduced to it by his father, who had just taken up the sport. Nothing has changed since: the passion remains intact. He has built an impressive freestyle record: 3-time French champion, world top 10, and selected for the KOTA (King of the Air, the world's most prestigious big air competition).
"I knew right away that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life and turn pro. What hooked me the most was that feeling of freedom, being able to express myself through freestyle, push my limits, play with the elements, go higher and harder."
But when wingfoil and foiling emerged, something changed. Valentin threw himself into them with the same curiosity that had always guided him, but this time without the pressure of performance.
Flying above the water: a brand-new sensation
Wingfoil is not just an evolution, it is a revelation.
"Being able to fly above the water, and the possibilities foiling offers, are incredible. It's a totally different kind of glide, new and completely addictive."
That feeling of taking off, of leaving the surface to float, even briefly, changes everything about how you read the wind. Conditions once considered too light suddenly become rideable. Waves become endless playgrounds. This is exactly what appeals to Valentin: whether there is wind for the wing or swell for surf foiling, the boat becomes a true multi-discipline playground.
"Feeling the power of a swell or a wave while foiling is very powerful but very smooth at the same time. It lets me spend even more time on the water, and foiling has turned conditions that weren't ideal into incredible conditions for the foil."
Three magical wingfoil spots: Los Roques, Porquerolles, New Caledonia
Los Roques tops his memories: an archipelago off the coast of Venezuela where every island offers a different spot, with colours that seem to come from another world. "Being able to sail from spot to spot by boat, then enjoy them by kite or wing, makes this place a true paradise."
There was also that catamaran trip around Porquerolles, in the south of France, where Valentin and his crew found spots so magical that they have become personal references. And then New Caledonia, not only for the beauty of its landscapes and the quiet power of its lagoon, but for the feeling of being alone in the world. Completely untouched wing spots. Surf spots. The chance to catch your own fish and eat what you brought back. It is a playground in the literal sense of the word.
These discoveries are never guaranteed. "To find new spots, we look at a lot of maps, and depending on the wind direction, the layout of the spot and, inevitably, a bit of instinct, we try our luck. It doesn't work every time, but when you discover a new spot, it's always something special."
Planning a wingfoil cruise on a catamaran
The advantage of wingfoiling from a catamaran is that the equipment almost disappears. The wing deflates and rolls up into a backpack. The foil comes apart in a few minutes. The board slides into the bow or along the lifelines.
But organisation is key. Valentin first plans the different spots the crew wants to reach, based on multi-day weather forecasts. You don't chase the wind day by day; you anticipate it. Then the best spots are matched with the best days, a simple but crucial calculation that maximises every session.
"We usually use one or two bows to store gear, along with the front lockers. Once stowed, kite or wing equipment doesn't take up that much room, you just need to be well organised!"
This is where the Riders' Edition makes sense. A catamaran designed for exploration means exactly this: smart spaces, well-thought-out storage, and the ability to carry several disciplines on board without one encroaching on another.
Duotone: a benchmark in water sports
Partner of this encounter, Duotone makes the wings and foils Valentin uses. What also sets Duotone apart is its philosophy: wingfoil is not a discipline reserved for top-level athletes.
With their new Foil Assist, foiling becomes more accessible. A discreet electric assist mounted on the mast makes it possible to fly even when the wind is too light, removing the biggest barrier to entry in foiling: the initial difficulty. Learning to foil used to take weeks. With the Foil Assist, it is a matter of a few hours.
"Wingfoil is flying above the water, in silence, carried by the wind alone. Ten years ago it was science fiction; today it's within reach in a weekend. Duotone's real revolution is having made this dream possible for everyone: lighter, more intuitive wings, and the Foil Assist, which erases the learning barrier," says Adrien Charrier, Marketing Manager France.
The trace is the legacy you leave in your discipline
In wingfoil, the trace vanishes instantly. There is no visible wake, no lasting mark. That is what makes the experience beautiful, according to Valentin.
"To me, that's the beauty of our sports: being able to enjoy a place, ride, jump, fly thanks to the wind and the sea, then leave again with the place untouched. We leave no visible trace, but we take everything with us."
In freestyle kitesurfing, the discipline that took him to competitive level, the trace takes on a different meaning. It is no longer the absence of a mark, but the accumulation of mastery. It means pushing limits year after year, refining your style, landing tricks you have perfected over the years, then showing in competition what you are capable of, fighting to win every time. The trace is the legacy you leave in your discipline.
In both cases, there is a shared lesson: respect for the terrain.
Bring adventure on board with Excess
Like Valentin, if you enjoy reading the elements, following your instinct and turning every condition into an opportunity, the Riders' Edition was designed for you. Easily bring your gear on board your Excess catamaran and turn every anchorage into the starting point of a new adventure.
Valentin joins a series of encounters around the Riders' Edition. After Paul Aubertin and his wild rivers, and Lucas Frigout and his volcanic slopes, Valentin embodies the same philosophy: the catamaran is not a destination, it is a starting point.
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