Windsurfing Worlds Coming to Florida

The 2016 Kona World Windsurfing Championships will be held October 28-November 1 in Islamorada, Florida Keys. Champions and competitors will be competing from 12 different countries including China, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, Denmark, Holland, United States and Germany.

“Kona offers one of the most evenly-balanced forms of windsurfing competition, so a Kona Worlds naturally attracts the top competitors,” said event organizer Michael Fox. “With over 100 competitors in this premier world-wide racing event, this is the largest one-design windsurfing regatta in the world.”

The Kona concept was born from the memories of the early years when fun, fair racing provided friendships amongst windsurfers of all ages and skills. With the Kona One-Design sail-size-to-weight program, windsurfers of any weight and/or age can have an equal chance to win. The playing field is more level than ever before. Tactics, board skills and endurance shall be the defining difference.

Last held in the United States in 2010 in Miami Beach, the field will feature Bjorn Holm (Sweden), 2013 and 2008 Kona World Champion; Adam Holm (Sweden), 2012 Kona World Champion; Tom Aageson, 2011 Kona World Champion; Bruce Matlack (Florida), former National and World Champion and #2 ranked U.S. Kona sailor; Andrea Holm, 2013 and 2012 Woman’s Champion; Kajsa Larsson (Sweden) 2012 and 2008 Women’s Champion; Nevin Sayre (Martha’s Vineyard), 5 time U.S. National Windsurfing Champion; Dominique Vallee (Quebec), top women windsurfer and 3rd Place overall at 2010 Kona Worlds (Miami); and Rob Evans (Minneapolis), 1997 Ice and Snow Surfing World Champion, 1992 Barcelona Pre-Olympic team and 9-time Inland Lake Yachting Association Champion.

From its conception in 2006, the class has grown quickly, recognized as an official sailing class by ISAF in 2009 and now, well over 3,000 boards worldwide.

Event details – Class history