Holy Moly League: Building Something Bigger Than the Sport
- Team OTC
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
When Rafferty Read first stepped into wingfoiling, he wasn’t just learning a new sport — he was noticing what was missing from it.
Rafferty said: “When I first started wingfoiling, there wasn’t really a platform where people could come together to get on the water, learn, progress, and most importantly enjoy the sport with like-minded people in a relaxed, pressure-free environment.”From that gap came the seed of an idea.
“I wanted to create something that made it easier for people to connect, have fun, and spend more time on the water together.”
What began as a loose gathering of UK racers quickly became something more structured — and more meaningful.
The Holy Moly League was born!
By Emma Maguire
“When I first started wingfoiling, there wasn’t really a platform where people could come together to get on the water, learn, progress, and most importantly enjoy the sport with like-minded people in a relaxed, pressure-free environment.”
From that gap came the seed of an idea.
“I wanted to create something that made it easier for people to connect, have fun, and spend more time on the water together.”
What began as a loose gathering of UK racers quickly became something more structured — and more meaningful.
“The idea first really materialised within a small group of racers in the UK who wanted to do a wingfoil day together…”
That first session took shape at The Official Test Centre.
“…and I thought to organise a course with marks at The Official Test Centre.”
What followed was bigger than anyone expected.
“Without the support of that small group of racers and the OTC in helping make that first day happen — which then surprisingly turned into a much bigger event — none of this would have been possible.”
And even now, as the Holy Moly League grows, the sense of gratitude remains central.
“The same goes for everyone who has helped build the events since then, and I honestly can’t thank them enough.”
For Rafferty, the league is deeply tied to his own journey in the sport — one built through persistence, travel, and competition.
“It’s taken me a huge amount of work to reach the level where I’m now racing nationally and internationally…”
That experience didn’t just shape him — it shaped the purpose behind what he wanted to build next.
“…and part of the inspiration behind Holy Moly League was to help make that journey easier for the next generation coming through.”
But from the beginning, the vision was never narrow.
“The beauty of it is that it can be whatever people want it to be — whether that’s serious training for a World Cup or simply having a great day on the water with friends.”
At its heart, though, it comes back to something simpler.
“For me, wingfoiling is all about the fun and freedom it brings, and even more about sharing that feeling with others.”
And that idea of shared experience is what defines the league.
“Holy Moly League is a platform for people to come together, enjoy the sport, and build a community around it.”
That community even extends beyond wind conditions.
“We’re also expanding that idea beyond wingfoiling, bringing foiling into no-wind days as well through pump foiling so people can still get out on the water and keep the fun going whatever the conditions.”
So far, that idea has taken shape through three events — each one building on the last.
“So far we’ve held three Holy Moly League events — the first one was in October last year, followed by two more at the start and end of March this year.”
The first of those events set the tone for everything that followed.
“The very first event saw 25 people turn up, with a really wide mix of riders and backgrounds.”
It also brought immediate reality.
“I hadn’t planned for that kind of turnout, so it definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone…”
But that pressure quickly turned into pride.
“…but seeing everyone leave so happy made it one of my proudest moments.”
More importantly, it proved the concept worked.
“It also confirmed that there was real interest and that the idea genuinely worked.”
From there, things began to scale.
“Since then, we’ve worked hard to build on that momentum, and the first two events of 2026 have been incredible, with getting almost 40 riders.”
But growth hasn’t just been numerical — it’s been cultural.
“It’s been amazing to see new people coming along to enjoy the sport together, more volunteers getting involved to help bring the atmosphere to life, and prize sponsors coming on board for the fun awards.”
The experience itself has evolved too.
“We even introduced an afterparty at the most recent event, which added another great social side to it.”
And yet, through all of it, something has stayed consistent.
“What’s been most special is that the core feeling has stayed exactly the same — everyone is genuinely stoked to be there, enjoying the sport together and sharing the fun.”
That openness is intentional — and fundamental to what the league stands for.
“Absolutely — that’s the beauty of it. The Holy Moly League is open to everyone.”
And “everyone” is not just a slogan.
“We’ve had people on the water from all levels, from beginners right through to advanced riders and even World Cup racers.”
It creates a rare mix on the water.
“It’s a real mix of ages, genders, backgrounds, and riding styles, from summer cruisers to serious competitors.”
There is only one real requirement for participation on the water.
“The only requirement for getting out on the water with your own kit is that you’re confident and able to ride upwind.”
But even that isn’t a barrier to being part of the experience.
“If you’re not quite there yet, you can still absolutely be part of it by jumping on a RIB, watching and be around everything on the beach…”
“…or coming along to the afterparty to be part of the atmosphere and community.”
And for those wanting to follow or get involved, updates are shared here:
Looking ahead, Rafferty’s ambition is both simple and expansive.
“My vision for Holy Moly League is to keep bringing more joy into people’s lives through the sport and the sense of community that comes with it.”
Growth remains part of that vision.
“I’d love to see the events continue to grow, with more riders joining each time — reaching 100 riders at an event would be a dream.”
But so does deepening what already exists.
“I also want to keep building the social side of it, making the evening celebrations and afterparty bigger and bigger so even more people can come together beyond the water.”
And then there is the long-term dream — the biggest expression of what this could become.
“Long term, one of my biggest ambitions is to combine my love of wingfoiling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and music into one huge watersports and music festival.”
Not just a competition. Not just a gathering. Something far more immersive.
“The goal would be to create something really special that allows more people to experience the joy, energy, and fun that these sports — and life itself — can bring, and to share that together.”
While The Official Test Centre remains the home base of the Holy Moly League, the future is already expanding outward.
“Yes — we already have plans for a couple of events at other venues in 2026 to help increase accessibility and visibility in different parts of the UK.”
The intention behind that expansion is clear.
“One of the big goals of the Holy Moly League is to make the sport as accessible as possible and bring the community to more people around the country.”
But not everything is changing.
“That said, there will definitely still be more events at The Official Test Centre as well…”
Because of what it represents.
“…as it’s one of the best locations in the world and a fantastic home for the Holy Moly League.”
In the end, the Holy Moly League is not defined by format, scale, or discipline.
It’s defined by feeling — something that can’t be measured, only experienced.
Or as Rafferty Read puts it:
“It can be whatever people want it to be.”
Comments