Growing up between the North Sea and the Alps, Ranja Schlotte’s love for nature led her from slopestyle skiing to kitesurfing and now, wingsurfing. Passionate, honest, and always up for a challenge, Ranja shares her journey, her favourite Ride Engine gear, and how staying grounded in fun helps her rise above it all. Jen Tyler dives in for a chat with one of wingsurfing’s most inspiring women!

Ranja! We’re excited to feature you as our Waterwoman in this issue! Tell us a little about yourself: where are you from, and what was it like growing up there? 

Hi Jen! I am honoured to be featured in this issue! I am from Germany and grew up in the western part, close to the Dutch border, with some time spent in southern Germany. As a result, I’m situated not too far from the North Sea on one side and the Alps on the other.

It’s no secret that you’re passionate about the outdoors—what draws you to adventure sports like skiing, kitesurfing and winging?

My passion for adventure sports such as skiing, kitesurfing, and winging comes from my deep connection to nature, the thrill of mastering various conditions, and the freedom these activities provide. I began my journey into adventure sports with skiing, where I competed at a high level in Slopestyle before transitioning to freeride skiing. This change allowed me to explore the mountains in a more adventurous manner. I initially focused on freestyle, big air, and some wakestyle in kitesurfing, but I later embraced a more versatile approach. I now truly enjoy wave riding, whether with the kite or wing, as each session can offer a unique experience.

How has your background in skiing and kiteboarding influenced your style and approach in wingfoiling? Did you find learning it easy, or was it a struggle?

Sports or doing lots of different sports generally helps you learn new sports, giving you a basic set of coordination skills. It’s difficult to say how much skiing and kitesurfing have helped with learning to wing. I think what really makes things a lot easier is if you are already practising other foil sports, such as prone foiling, pump foiling or kite foiling. For me, it was kite foiling, so I could no longer focus on the board when learning, but only on the wing.

How do you find the time for such a wide range of activities?!

In our community, everyone lives for a form of sports! Growing up in those sports from a very young age, I trained myself to take a strategic approach to time management and live a flexible lifestyle with a deep passion for these activities. My commitment to my sports is also reflected in my disciplined training schedules and efficient use of time. 

You often mentioned strength, cardio, and yoga—how do those help your water performance?

This training is essential to me and takes up a significant amount of my time all year round, usually several days a week. It helps me avoid injuries and gives me the strength to ride at this level. Plus, it keeps me flexible, which enhances my range of motion.

What’s a typical “day off” look like for you? Or do you ever really take one?!

Haha! Probably a chilled run in the park or a ride on the bike, a little chilled yoga session, hanging out with friends, or reading a book for the rest of the day.

What first got you hooked on wingsurfing?

I saw the developer of a company trying the first wings in waves. That made me very curious.

I had watched the developers at Ozone using it. Wingfoiling didn’t even exist then. Riding back and forth on the flat seemed dull, but wingfoiling in the waves was interesting and made me curious. I liked going into the waves with the kite foil when the conditions weren’t excellent. But it’s always uncomfortable to steer the kite all the time (compared to winging).

What’s your current go-to wing setup—and why?

I love the Slingshot One Lock system. The setup is super quick. Also, the new Flow Craft is a game-changer board.

Do you prefer high-aspect foils for longer glides or mid-aspect foils for tighter turns? What’s your current foil setup?

It’s hard to say; it depends on the spot and the conditions. I tend to favour high-aspect foils. But I don’t even have one setup, as new front wings and stabilisers are constantly coming onto the market, and you’re constantly trying out and testing the perfect setup. Every time you think you’ve got it, there are new advances in development. I think we will see many exciting things in the next few years.

How has Ride Engine gear supported your progress in wingsurfing?

I am glad to be protected with the wetsuits and their selection of helmets and impact vests.

When choosing impact protection, what features do you look for?

Definitely mobility and paddling. But it also fits well from top to bottom, which means that it’s not too long or too short, the holes in the shoulders aren’t too wide or too small, and the vest doesn’t move or push up in your face while you’re swimming.

Do you have a favourite piece of Ride Engine equipment that you always bring with you?

 I love the women’s spring suits, and the World Tour Surf Coffin always travels with me.

What conditions challenge you the most when wingfoiling, and how do you adapt?

I can list a whole range!

On the beach break, it’s the shore break and the challenge of getting over it into deeper water and getting off quickly. I’ve lost a lot of nerve there and been washed back onto the beach countless times. I prefer a slightly shorter mast (82 instead of 92) and a smaller board (max 55 litres) that is more elongated and not too wide. This doubles the chances of making it out.

Then, if the wind suddenly stops when you’re far out, you have to swim/paddle a long way back. I’ve had a few borderline experiences because if the current is strong, you can run out of time to paddle back to the beach in the right place. I almost drifted into the biggest harbour in Europe once. So now I always leave a lot of space in those places to ensure I can paddle back to the beach in time.

And then there are the currents in general, especially at point breaks: sometimes they pull the foil down so hard (usually the bigger the waves, the stronger the current) that you have trouble starting again because the foil has hardly had a chance to come up.

Oh, and then I remember something else: Being washed with all the wing stuff in waves that push forward! You have to hold your breath for quite a while… and of course, hope not to get hit by the foil! 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to women starting in wingsurfing?

Continue to practice until you keep on flying for the first 100m for the first time. Don’t give up. You will be hooked as soon as you get this feeling of flow.

Do you ever feel pressure in male-dominated sports, or has that changed over time?

Oh yes, 100 %. Women need to perform a lot better to be recognised. Similar or only a bit better is not enough. Also, if a woman makes a little mistake when she arrives, e.g., for the first time at a new spot, she will not be taken seriously anymore, and it might happen that guys drop into her waves.

Can you share a specific moment or experience where you felt that kind of pressure or judgment most strongly?

If you’re not acknowledged or greeted on the beach, if people take the right of way from the start, or if they ignore your analysis of the conditions, it’s frustrating. When someone tells you directly, “It’s not for beginners today,” it feels polite to say they think a woman should stay in the sun instead.

How do you personally handle those situations? Do you speak up, push harder, or let your riding do the talking?!

In the past, things like this would get me down, and I would push myself harder, as if I were competing in the GKA final, hoping that these critics would finally quiet down. However, I’ve realised that I can’t change the world, and it’s exhausting to feel like I’m riding my own GKA final every day. Now, I take it easy and focus on having fun on the water, which is usually enough to satisfy the critics. It’s probably just a normal reaction—people often have their prejudices!

What’s always in your gear bag—on land or water?

My sunglasses and my suncream.

Thanks Ranja!

Thanks, Jen!

By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.