Coming of age for wingfoiling

Wingfoiling, which combines a handheld, wind-powered wing with a foiling board, is coming of age as the X-15 Class prepares to host its inaugural World Championship on November 5-8 in Ibiza, Spain.

Given the affordability and accessibility of wingfoiling, international growth has been significant, and the possibility of wingfoiling replacing one of the existing Olympic events is very much on the radar.

“Wingfoiling’s popularity has exploded, and this championship will be a defining moment for its next chapter,” noted manufacturer Svein Rasmussen, Founder of Starboard.

“What excites me is who will be on that start line. We have athletes who know what it takes to compete at the Olympic Games and young riders discovering how far they can go. Bringing them together is a powerful statement about the discipline we are building.”

The USA is among the largest contingent with 13 entrants which includes Anna Weis and Dominique Stater. Weis competed at Tokyo 2020 and became SailGP’s first full-time female grinder, while Stater represented the USA in Olympic windsurfing at Paris 2024.

The entry list includes 26 nations with 112 riders -79 men and 33 women – with 53 competitors across the under-13, under-15, under-17, and under-19 divisions.