U19 Wingfoil Racing #1: who is Ernesto De Amicis ?

At just 16 years old, Ernesto De Amicis has already carved out an impressive career in wingfoil racing. Hailing from Naples, Italy, Ernesto’s passion for watersports started with windsurfing at the age of 5, a discipline he still cherishes today. Over the past few years, he’s transitioned into wingfoiling, where his talent has truly shone: European U19 Champion (2024), Vice European U19 Champion (2023), and ranked #1 in the U19 World Rankings for two consecutive seasons. This year, Ernesto added yet another accolade to his name with a podium finish at our TotalWing Awards, cementing his place as one of the rising stars in the sport. Backed by top-tier sponsors like North, and Mystic, Ernesto is not only dominating the U19 division but also making waves in the overall rankings, finishing 13th globally in 2024. In this interview, Ernesto shares his journey, training secrets, insights into his cutting-edge North gear, and his big ambitions for 2025.

Photo : Robert Hajduk – Wingfoil Racing

Hi Erny! Congratulations on your podium finish at the TotalWing Awards! First of all, let’s start with a little introduction for those of you who don’t know you…

Hi everyone, I’m Ernesto De Amicis, I’m 16 years old and I’m a wingfoil athlete. I started wingfoiling about 3 years and a half ago and before I was (and actually I still am and I’ll be forever) a windsurfer which I have been practicing since the age of 5. I’ve been overall Italian champion of season 2023, Vice European U19 champion of season 2023, European U19 champion of season 2024 and ranked 1° in the U19 division in the World Ranking in both 2023 and 2024 seasons. I come from Naples, an important Italian city, and it’s amazing to see all the city from the water: the sensation is so good that it’s impossible to describe in an interview, it’s just unique.

Photo : Robert Hajduk – Wingfoil Racing

You’re a regular at our Awards, so tell us all about it. How do you manage to get so many people to vote for you every year? What are your tactics and your main supporters?

I’m so stoked to be again on the TotalWing Awards podium and I want to thanks first of all my family, my friends and all the sailing community who believed in me. Lots of people voted for me and a kind of chain was created in which my relatives voted and made their friends vote, my friends also made their friends vote, and so I reached almost 900 votes!

Photo : Robert Hajduk – Wingfoil Racing

At U19 level, you’re unbeatable: you finished top of the Wingfoil Racing circuit for the second year running, as well as European U19 champion. How did you prepare to achieve these prestigious titles?

The thing that I love the most about wingfoiling is that you can always have fun: from 5 knots to 50 knots, from flat water to 3 meters waves… when I’m in the water I’m happy and I think that this is the most important thing. I’m chasing the feelings, living my passion and loving the little things and this is possible mainly thanks to my sponsors: North, Mystic, Offgrid and Italiapower. Without them, nothing of this could be possible.

Photo : Robert Hajduk – Wingfoil Racing

You also finished 13ᵉ in the overall world rankings. What were the main challenges in competing with more experienced competitors? Do you see yourself climbing the rankings in the coming years?

This year had been really intense in terms of battles and equipment improvements. My goal this year was to be the Top of the U19 and I managed to do that, so I’m happy.

Photo : Robert Hajduk – Wingfoil Racing

How do you reconcile your studies, training and international competitions?

Obviously reconciling studies with wingfoil is extremely difficult but I study a lot in every free moment of the day and luckily my school (Salesian scientific high school) supports my activity. During racing week I often wake up at 6 also if the races start at 12, because I need to study and then after races I go back in the hotel to study a bit more just before dinner.

Photo : Robert Hajduk – Wingfoil Racing

You’re now part of the North team, can you give us a little tour of your wingfoil quiver, and give us your opinion on your gear?

I’m part of the North International Team since one year, and I’m glad to be part of such an important brand. It’s amazing to develop the equipment that will then go on sale. With North, I’m also learning to work in the development of materials and the study of equipment by an extremely technical point of view, and almost no brand offers you these things, so it’s amazing to be in the North Team. In the last two races I used the brand-new North racing board that will go in stock during spring and I used for all the year North series foil because we are still developing the new race foil and then lastly I used all the year the wings Mode Ultras. Our intention is to make in the next years a race setup that is able to be on the top and so to fight for the overall world title.

Photo : Robert Hajduk – Wingfoil Racing

What are your objectives for the 2025 season and how do you plan to achieve them?

My goal for 2025 is to win the Youth Wingfoil Racing World Championships and U19 Europan Championships and maybe to stay in the Top 10 of the overall world ranking! I’m training hard everyday to reach my goals, and I know that my efforts will sooner or later be well paid.

Thank you, Erny, for your answers!

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