The iQFOiL World Championship 2025 in Aarhus experienced an unexpected forced break on the fifth day of competition. Despite patient waiting, the hoped-for wind failed to materialise. In the late afternoon, Chief Race Officer Ewa Jodlowska officially ended the day by hoisting the AP over A flags - closing time! For the majority of participants, this signalled the end of the regatta.
Exciting finale ahead
While the World Championships are now over for most athletes, the decisive phase begins for the top eight finishers in both the men's and women's competitions. The eagerly awaited Medal Series is on the programme for the final day. This showdown promises maximum excitement for the spectators, but a war of nerves for the surfers.
The iQFOiL class experimented with new formats for the Medal Series this year. The aim was to find a system that is both fair and exciting for spectators and participants. The format used in Aarhus is as follows: The four finalists from the top 8 start in the quarter-finals. The top two from these will go through to the semi-finals, where they will meet the third and fourth-placed players from the Opening Series. In the grand final, the two winners of the semi-final will then compete against the top two in the overall standings. The world champion will be the first to achieve two victories in the final.
Reward for consistency
In order to honour the performances of the 13 preliminary races appropriately, the qualifying winner starts the grand final with a victory. The runner-up takes half a win with them. This regulation is intended to emphasise the importance of consistent performances throughout the entire regatta.
With this innovative format, the final day of competition in Aarhus promises high tension right up to the last race. Spectators can look forward to thrilling duels between the world's best iQFOiL sailors. At the same time, the new system offers the athletes the chance to fight for the title at the decisive moment, even after a mixed preliminary round.
Theresa Steinlein already in the semi-finals
While no German participant in the men's event made it into the Medal Series, Theresa Steinlein from Wörthsee, who finished sixth at the 2024 Olympics, has the best chance of a podium finish or even victory at the World Championships. After the 13 heats, she is in third place and is therefore seeded for the semi-finals. Unfortunately, she dropped back from second to third place in the last race before the final. As second in the preliminary round, she would have been seeded directly for the grand final. As at the 2024 Olympics, Great Britain's Emma Wilson goes into the final as the leader after a commanding preliminary round. Wilson then slipped back to bronze in Marseille and was bitterly disappointed. She will do everything in her power to ensure that this does not happen to her again at this major event.
Sophia Meier finished the World Championships in 45th place, Alicia Stuhlemmer came 72nd, the two young German men's surfers Lenny Friemel and Max Körner came 59th and 63rd, Kiel Week winner Fabian Wolf finished 67th.
These are the Medal Series qualifiers
Ladies:
- GBR 7 - Emma Wilson - 28 pts
- ISR 216 - Tamar Steinberg - 33 pts
- GER 799 - Theresa Steinlein - 36 pts
- ISR 390 - Sharon Kantor - 53 pts
- ISR 3 - Shahar Tibi - 55 pts
- NOR 21 - Maya Gysler - 56 pts
- ISR 2 - Daniela Peleg - 64 pts
- CRO 9 - Palma Čargo - 65 pts
Gents
- GBR 360 - Andy Brown - 44 pts
- ITA 150 - Nicolò Renna - 45 pts
- FRA 465 - Nicolas Goyard - 45 pts
- NED 9 - Kiran Badloe - 48 pts
- BRA 7 - Mateus Isaac - 51 pts
- NED 55 - Luuc van Opzeeland - 51.3 pts
- FRA 152 - Tom Arnoux - 54 pts
- ISR 30 - Tomer Vardimon - 60 pts
Good wind and livestream of the final
Very good conditions off Aarhus are forecast for the last day of the World Championship. Bright sunshine and winds between 14 and 21 knots in the afternoon. This promises exciting races for the medals. The races will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel of World Sailing transferred.
Further reports on the iQFOiL World Championship 2025 in Aarhus
