Foil Life Travel Show Episode #12 - Toronto Windsurfing Club on Lake Ontario

On this episode of the Foil Life Podcast, Luc Moore sits down with Ian and Brendan of the Toronto Windsurfing Club (TWC) to explore one of Canada’s longest-running and most vibrant watersports communities. Located at the eastern end of Cherry Beach in downtown Toronto’s Outer Harbour, TWC has grown from a handful of members in the mid-1980s into a thriving hub with around 550–600 members, gear storage, lessons, camps, racing, and a rapidly expanding wing and wind foiling scene.

Ian and Brendan share the club’s origins as part of the Outer Harbor Sailing Federation, its evolution through the windsurfing boom of the 1980s, and how it has adapted to stay relevant by embracing foiling. They dive into the practical advantages of the protected location (sheltered by Tommy Thompson Park), the unique community vibe that draws people on zero-wind days for barbecues, and the Wednesday night races open to everyone. The conversation highlights the club’s strong focus on the next generation through summer camps, a new Learn to Wing Foil program led by Eric O’Brien, private coaching with Max Robinson (who grew up at the club and raced professionally), and a grassroots youth high-performance development team that coaches kids on windy days via WhatsApp “bat signals.”

They also discuss becoming a WeCANFoil hub, the family-friendly nature of wing foiling (Brendan’s wife and daughters all ride), the quality of Great Lakes wave and downwind spots, and why foiling is extending the sporting life for riders well into their later decades.

Episode Highlights:

- History of TWC from the mid-80s Outer Harbor roots through name changes and steady growth into Canada’s largest windsurfing club
- Location advantages at Cherry Beach: protected flat water in east winds, rolling conditions in southwest, and challenging offshore days that build skill
- Gear storage in 11 sea cans, membership benefits, webcam, WhatsApp groups, and real-time community coordination
- Summer camp program (WeCANFoil-based levels 1–4) now integrating wing handling, longboard practice, and low-speed boat-assist foiling
- New Learn to Wing Foil program and Max Robinson’s private lessons (dinghy follow + video feedback)
- Youth high-performance development team: volunteer pro coaches (Max Robinson, Sam Ireland, Anna Sagulenko, Simon Rickard) coaching kids on windy evenings
- Weekend Foil partnership bringing X-15 boards and wind foil kits to Toronto
- Family progression stories and why wing foiling is more accessible for partners and kids than previous wind sports
- Great Lakes riding opportunities (Lake Ontario waves at Bluffers, Georgian Bay, Sauble Beach, Lake Huron) and the joy of maximizing days with foiling
- The inclusive, multi-generational spirit that keeps 80-year-olds racing and kids developing into the next coaches and competitors

A warm, community-focused conversation packed with history, practical program insights, coaching wisdom, and genuine enthusiasm for keeping foiling and wind sports accessible, fun, and multi-generational right in the heart of a major city.

Stay tuned for more great episodes, including the return of additional guests and continued adventures with host Luc Moore!

Visit: https://www.torontowindsurfingclub.com/