Global Partner
F-ONE CEO Nicolas Ostermann met Chris MacDonald and his dad, Chris Sr. early this spring in the middle of the COVID19 lockdown at Crissy Beach in San Francisco, CA. The parking lots were closed, but not the beach. Making it a hike for most water athletes, the truly passionate made the trek down to the beach for kiters, windsurfers and wingers to get a daily dose of water time.
There was Chris a.k.a Christopher Graeme MacDonald, all of 14-years old and 5’ tall with bare feet, a lazy smile and a powerhouse of skills. The F-ONE team had the opportunity to view Chris in his natural environment and witness his rapid progression over a few short months. Today, Chris has joined the team to ride for the F-ONE & Manera National team program. Welcome, Chris!
What does pure bliss look like? Try Chris MacDonald’s version of hovering at 10 feet above the water with the F-ONE swing wing.
It is an exciting development to see a lot of young kids join the wing revolution. Chris is currently at the front of the line, unpacking skills that are wild to watch for his young age. This summer the MacDonald family moved to Hood River and we caught up with Chris after a post epic Hatchery day (+25kts) to ask him a few questions.
Chris winds up the wind into the wing before launch at the Hatchery in Hood River, OR.
F-ONE Wing Athlete: Chris MacDonald
Name: Christopher Graeme MacDonald
Age: 14
Height: 5′
Where do you live throughout the year: Fairfax, California USA
Favorite spot: Crissy Field
Hood River Favorite spot: The Hatchery
La Ventana Favorite spot: Rasta
Chis’ use of speed, power and flow on the F-ONE Swing Wing puts him in a class way above this athlete’s current age group. Photo by: Bob Stawicki
Where are you attending school and what grade are you currently in? I am enrolled in Hood River High School Options academy. It’s a study-at-your-own-pace program. I want to get the full high school experience but Zoom school from 8am to 3pm doesn’t sound fun….especially when there is a lot of wind at the beach!
When did you start wing foiling? Well it was pretty recently… I would say three months ago?
Let’s talk about your watersports background: Which watersports have you been involved with prior to wing foiling? Kiting? Surfing?
Wakeboarding. My dad used to tow me across the pool on a wakeboard with a pulley to the diving board when I was really young. We wakeboarded in the delta as well. I started kiting two years ago and fell in love with the twin tip and surfboard. Then, in December 2019 I started kite foiling. I learned behind the boat then moved to the kite. I love to surf anytime I can and can’t wait to prone foil.
Boosted! Chris MacDonald flies above the Hatchery for a bird’s eye view. Photo by: Bill Siwicki
What are your favorite wind conditions: 25 to 30 knots and huge swell for jumping!
Favorite size swing wing to fly: I like the F-ONE swing wing 2.8m for sure. That’s my magic wing I can do all my tricks on it.
Go to foil and board combination, what do you ride on a typical day and why?: That’s a good question. Things are changing so fast. Currently, I love my F-One Rocket Surf 4.2′ 28L with foot straps and 105 Carbon Mast with 530 Escape monobloc. It’s so fast and I can boost it really high. I also like the 800 Mirage with the 85cm mast. My mom rides the F-One Rocket 5’5 85L which is surprisingly fun in really light winds to just play around and practice tricks.
Idols and professional athletes: Do you have an idol you look up to in the wind sports industry? What makes this person stand out to you? There’s a guy here in Hood River named Chris Anderson. We have been riding the Hatch together all summer. He has been a professional wind athlete his whole life and has taught me so much about wind sports and life in general. Whenever I ride with him at the Hatch, he introduces me to everyone and is really cool. I also got the chance to ride with Chuck Patterson who is a legend also.
Chuck Patterson graces the cover of Standup Journal’s FALL 2020 issue showing his dominance and where he gets the status of “legend” attached to his name. Cover photo by: Trish Meyler
Favorite post wing meal: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! We make them every morning and take them to the beach. It’s crazy but after an epic wing session PB and J tastes amazing. And of course, who doesn’t love Chicken Wings! There’s a place on the top of Mt. Hood that has the best wings on the planet.
Is there a location you dream of wing foiling one day? Sprecks at Maui for sure. Anywhere where there’s good surf
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Instagram: That’s easy, @KookoftheDay!
Ride on, Chris!
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