When Nadja Bianchet was 19, she left her life in the Austrian mountains and became an Au Pair in Los Angeles. This daring move would be life-changing, as Nadja discovered new passions such as kiteboarding on the rugged Malibu beaches, park riding, and wingfoiling in Hood River. In an exclusive interview with Jen Tyler for Tonic Mag Waterwomen, this Austrian aerial acrobat shares her exciting story!

Welcome, Nadja; it's exciting to have you here! We have lots to talk about, but let's begin at the beginning. What inspired you to trade in the mountains for the ocean and journey to Los Angeles?

I moved to LA at 19 to work as an Au Pair. After high school, I needed to escape the small town I grew up in, and this opportunity allowed me to afford to live in the US and experience a new country. Moving across the world alone was a big challenge; I felt homesick, and the cultural differences were shocking! In hindsight, it was the best decision I ever made; it opened many personal growth opportunities and introduced me to the beautiful world of wind and water sports.

Oh wow, that must have been such an adventure! Where do you call home at the moment?

I still move around quite a bit and don’t have a place to stay year-round. I spend most of my time in Hood River, Oregon, and Baja, Mexico; that’s where I feel most at home. In between, I spend considerable time in Brazil and Southern California; I also try to visit one or two new places every year. I love my nomadic lifestyle and get restless when I stay in one place for too long!

Yes, I completely understand what you mean! Were you always into watersports, or is this an interest that started later on?

I grew up in the mountains, so there weren't many opportunities to get into watersports. Once I moved to the US and lived close to the beach, I spent every day in the water trying to figure out this kiteboarding thing! I didn't know anything about wind and water sports. Learning in Malibu with light winds, rocks, and shorebreak didn't make it an easy journey, but it certainly taught me patience and persistence!

Growing up in the mountains, how did you spend your weekends?

Austria is absolutely breathtaking, and it's essentially a massive playground! You'll find mountains and lakes wherever you look. During the winter, I would spend most of my time snowboarding; it was a routine for me to head straight to the mountains after school almost every day. In the summer, I managed to do some wakeboarding behind a boat. Additionally, I worked at a gym, instructed several classes, and even taught pole dancing. Keeping physically active and exploring various ways to move my body is something I really enjoy.

Your progression at wingfoiling and airtime is impressive. Do you believe your previous experience in dance and aerial arts influenced your riding style?

Yes, absolutely! My previous aerial acrobatics helped me with my body awareness in the air. However, what helped me the most was working on my mindset, constantly trying new things, being okay with taking some hard crashes, and pushing against the boundaries of my comfort zone.

When did you first get interested in wingfoiling? Do you share the same passion for it as you do for park riding?

I learned to wing in 2021 in Hood River. I borrowed my friend's gear on days that were too strong and gusty to enjoy park riding. I enjoyed the progress and challenge of learning something new. Currently, I feel equally passionate about wingfoiling and park riding, with the only difference being that I prefer to wingfoil in all conditions, whereas I’ve become quite selective about the conditions for park riding. This season, I definitely dedicated more time to wingfoiling than anything else.

You’re an outstanding example for women who aspire to get into watersports; who do you look to for inspiration?

There are so many inspiring women in watersports. One woman who has always inspired me is Hannah Whiteley. I loved her videos when I first started learning to kiteboard; I admired her strength and powerful riding style. Above all, she was incredibly friendly and welcoming, with no ego, making it easy and enjoyable to be around her. When it comes to wingfoiling, I'm a big fan of Orane and Nia for pushing the boundaries for female riders!

How long have you been riding for Naish, and how have they supported your career as a professional athlete?

I have been riding Naish gear ever since I got into wind sports, which is eight years now. However, in the past two years, Naish has put me on contract and has provided me with all the gear I could ask for. They have also invited me on some trips and paid for some shoots. I truly appreciate their support!

We’d love to hear about your go-to Naish set-up - What’s your quiver or choice and why?

At the moment, I am obsessed with the new 42l hover wing foil ascend carbon ultra-board and the ADX wing. For foils, I ride the 2024 Jet HA foil front wings; 840 and 640 are my go-to sizes with a 220 stabiliser. I am particularly stoked about the new ADX wing; its rigid handles allow for super direct steering, and the stiff canopy makes it a super-efficient wing even in light winds.

Now, let’s talk about your seriously impressive dockstarts! Can you share with us the struggles you’ve faced while learning and what your success rate is at the moment?!

Dock starts are tricky to learn, but I can do them consistently now! A large front foil wing makes things easier when getting started, but there is no way around the awkward crashes, especially during your first attempts. I tried over and over again. I just saw it as a workout and a challenge on windless days, a way to get on the foil, even if it's just for a short time. Eventually, everything fell into place!

Your Instagram page showcases a plethora of activities: kiteboarding, wingfoiling, yoga, aerial arts and more. How do you manage to prioritise them all? What do you do in your downtime?

I spend most of my time in the water, kiteboarding and wingfoiling. I wish I had more opportunities to practice my aerial arts, but finding a place to hang my silks and Lyra is often challenging. I take good care of my body every day. Yoga and stretching are part of my daily self-care routine, which I truly enjoy and appreciate for how it makes me feel. In my free time, I study a lot. I am currently back in school for integrative health, and learning about the biochemistry of our bodies is another thing I am incredibly passionate about.

Do you have plans to participate in any future foiling competitions?

I would love to take part in the GWA Wingfoil Tour. Let's see what the future brings. For now, I am still working on a few things to get there!

Good luck; we’re looking forward to seeing you there! To finish things off, could you share with our readers the best advice you’ve ever received?

Don't stress over what others do, say, or might think of you. One of my favourite quotes is, “Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter!” I wasted too much time seeking validation from people who weren't worth it in the end. Allowing myself to do things my way and finding confidence in who I am made life so much better!

Thanks, Nadja; it’s been great catching up with you!

Thanks, Jen! See you soon!

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.

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