The IFCA Slalom Foil World Championship 2024 will take place in St. Peter-Ording from 11 to 14 July. The foil slalom elite will be travelling to the North Sea to compete for the official IFCA Foil Slalom World Championship title. The event is endowed with total prize money of 20,000 euros. As part of the California Windsurf Cup, the event not only offers a challenging regatta, but also a great event with stands, a catering programme and parties in the evening.
"We are delighted to be hosting the 2024 IFCA Slalom Foil World Championship in St. Peter-Ording. SPO is a unique location for the most important IFCA Slalom Foil event of the year. We have had good experiences with this venue for a long time and can promise an unforgettable experience for everyone. We cordially invite all foil slalom racers to come to SPO," says Matthias Regber of Choppy Water GmbH in a statement from the IFCA.
Ruben Petrisie, President of the IFCA class, also has high hopes for the event on the North Sea: "I am looking forward to watching the Foil Championship under the direction of Choppy Water GmbH at a new venue in Germany. I think back to our past successes in Silvaplana Engadin Wind in Switzerland in 2019, where our class crowned its last Foil World Champion (Luuc van Opzeeland, NED). I'm really looking forward to the new edition - this time with a focus on foil slalom racing. The IFCA class is eagerly awaiting the competitions of this planned world championship!"
Fin World Championships in Hvide Sande, Foil World Championships in St. Peter-Ording
Two official world championships will be held in the IFCA class in 2024. The Finn Slalom World Championship will take place in Hvide Sande on Ringkøbing Fjord in September. The World Championship in St. Peter-Ording is entirely focussed on the Foil division. The winner of the event will be the official IFCA Slalom Foil World Champion 2024, but there will also be additional official IFCA class titles for women and the various age categories (Youth U21, Junior U17, Master 40, Grandmaster 50).
"The international IFCA Slalom Foil elite will challenge the German windsurfers in their home waters. But also some PWA pros will not miss the chance to fight for the official IFCA Foil Slalom World Title and win their share of the prize money", writes the IFCA.
Equal prize money for men and women
The IFCA Slalom Foil World Championship is endowed with a total prize money of 20,000 euros. The IFCA Class has recently adapted its championship rules to ensure relatively equal prize money for men and women. The number of male and female participants determines the division of the prize money between the two genders. The LVM-Versicherung Grand Prix offers additional prize money of €1,000 for the first race of the regatta. The winner of this race receives €500, second place €300 and third place €200 in prize money.
Changed IFCA class rules
The class rule changes of the International Funboard Class Association have come into force for 2024. The number of sails permitted at an IFCA event has been increased from one to two sails. The IFCA Slalom Foil World Championships in St Peter-Ording will apply these new revised IFCA class rules which will help to cater for the different conditions the North Sea can offer competitors in SPO. Equipment in the Foil division is limited to one registered IFCA series board, two sails and one foil system, which may consist of one foil mast, two fuselages, two front wings and two stabilisers.
The event will also be of interest to iQFOiL and iQFOiL Youth&Junior riders. Starboard has recently registered its Olympic and pre-Olympic equipment so that it is fully authorised to participate in official IFCA events and championships.
"St. Peter Ording offers a wide range of conditions," is how the IFCA describes the World Cup spot in its press release. "The North Sea can offer everything from flat water in a light easterly breeze to high waves in a westerly storm. So the riders have to be prepared for anything. But the riders can rest assured that safety is the top priority. If the conditions are too dangerous to send boats or riders out on the North Sea, the California Windsurf Cup offers the discipline of wave riding as an alternative competition format."
The official event website is now online and registration for the IFCA Foil Slalom Worlds is open. If you register by 13 June, you can still save some money with the early bird entry fee of 170 euros (only 160 euros for youth and juniors).