The Starnberg native, who has lived on Lake Garda in Torbole since 2023, seemed to be heading for a classic sailing career. Starting in the Opti at the age of six, he then enjoyed his first successes in the 29er as a 14-year-old, winning the Kiel Week and becoming U17 European Champion. He then sailed another three years in an Olympic campaign in the 49er class. However, the talented sailor changed class and equipment and now wants to go to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles with the Olympic iQFOiL.
After Steinlein, Engelmann and now Stuhlemmer, three successful female sailors have already switched to iQFOiL. You are the only man to have taken this risk so far. What motivated you to make the switch?
I was looking for a new partner. I had already sympathised with the iQFOil beforehand, tried it out and decided after a few days that it was the right thing for me.
Have you ever stood on a windsurfing board before?
Occasionally, because my parents are windsurfers, so you sometimes get on a board on holiday.
You grew up sailing on Lake Starnberg at the Munich Yacht Club. Did your training there lead to your rapid success?
You could say that they have good support in the youth sector. Then the BSV supported me in the Opti and 29er, and I also joined the DSV's NK2 junior squad.
Then, suddenly, the changeover. Purchase of second-hand iQFOiL equipment and relocation to Lake Garda. Not quite the easy way, is it?
You won't find better training conditions anywhere else than at Lake Garda. That made the decision easier. In April 2023, I got some cheap equipment from a French woman and took the plunge at Lake Garda and did it myself. Fortunately, you can find help there straight away, such as from the German iQFOiLers Resi Steinlein, Jakob Ditzen, Sofia Meyer or the team from Circolo Surf Torbole. Dani Slijk, Resi's coach, also gave me lots of tips.
What are things or skills that you can transfer from sailing to windsurfing or that you benefit from?
iQFOiL is close to pure sailing, meaning aspects such as strategy and tactics are very similar. Logically, technical skills are completely different and it takes a lot of training to reach the high technical level of the IQ class. The purely physical demands are also different. It takes a while to get used to the high intensity of windsurfing. These were and are great challenges for me, even though 49er sailing is also very strenuous.
Just surfing, or are there other things that keep you busy?
Of course, I'm studying industrial engineering and want to complete my bachelor's degree this year. Online, that allows me more freedom and a better balance between training, competition and studying.
Due to the lack of national regattas in Germany, you competed internationally at major events such as the iQFOiL Games or the European and World Championships. Didn't you really get your knickers in a twist?
It's tough, you don't have to expect good results. I've been the last to go home before. But you have to get through it.
I have the feeling that the interaction between windsurfers and the sharing of information is more relaxed."
What is the difference in international regattas between iQFOiL and 49er sailing? Is sailing more professional? How can the scenes be compared?
There is a lot of professionalism in all Olympic classes, there are no differences. I have the feeling that the interaction between windsurfers and the sharing of information is more relaxed. As I mentioned, the other Germans helped me a lot. That wouldn't have happened to the same extent in sailing. The 49er and iQFOiL are both fast classes, which is why the regattas are similar. IQ is a bit more varied, as different formats are held depending on the wind - course races, sprints or the marathon.
How did you cope with the big 9.0 sail?
It was tough at the beginning, especially in strong winds, because I was also too light. But from 2025 the sail sizes were changed, we men now only sail 8.0 m2, which suits me. (Red.: the ladies only 7.3 m2).
Nevertheless, without strength training, a rig like this is almost impossible to hold at six Beaufort and more.
Nothing works in competitive Olympic sport without it. I do strength training all year round and I also ride my road bike a lot.
And how often are you on the water?
You should train four to five times a week, which is almost always possible here on Lake Garda.
You listed the foil tack as your favourite manoeuvre. Sounds unspectacular. What's so difficult about it?
The timing, the combination of speed and balance. There has to be pressure on the foil throughout the tack, i.e. weight on the back of the board, the front foot goes in front of the mast, the sail is placed fully on the board with the lower leech, then you take a quick step around the mast, switch hands and go backwards on the new side to get pressure on the foil again straight away. Sounds easy, but is much more difficult than a foil jibe.
There are two suppliers of iQFOiL material, Starboard and Patrik. You are travelling on Patrik. Is there a reason for that?
The material is identical and comes from the same producer, but I get slightly more favourable conditions through Patrik and the Windlounge shop.
How much material do you need per year?
With 200 days a year on the water plus regattas, you need quite a lot. Top surfers take a new sail for every regatta, I sail two competitions with it and then use it as a training sail. Boards last a relatively long time without accidents, but you always need a spare board. Foils are subject to little wear and tear, but you have to find a quick one first because there are production fluctuations. Just like with sail masts.
The topic of funding. How do you finance everything?
I still work together with the Munich Yacht Club and give coaching lessons for the junior 29ers when the team sails on Lake Garda. That brings something in. However, the sport is not possible without the support of parents and family.
You are competing for the Circolo Surf Torbole, is there any support from this side?
Not monetary, but I receive training all year round.
Bavarian or German Sailing Association (DSV), is something coming?
Unfortunately, I'm already too old for the BSV national squad. The DSV can nominate me for the squad, but only if I can score top placings in international regattas.
What is your plan for this year and the future until 2028 in order to be nominated by the German Sailing Federation? With Resi Steinlein, you have an example of how you can rise to the top of the Olympic world rankings within four years.
Continue to train hard and well and achieve the best results. That's it! I have a top coach in Diederik Bakker, which is worth a lot.
Like the current Kiel Week, for example: How did it go?
We had one day with little wind and three days full of Ballermann. With winds of up to 30 knots and strong gusts, the IQ is very exhausting. I coped quite well with the conditions and am very satisfied. I won my first race in the iQFOiL and was also in the Medal Race for the first time. In the end, I finished seventh. In general, we had a good week from a German perspective with Fabi Wolf's victory and Sophia Meyer's fourth place.
Thank you and good luck for the future!
Facts Max Körner
- Born: 3.5.2003
- Place of residence: Starnberg and Torbole
- Profession: Student
- Size/weight: 188 cm/86 kg
- Sail number: GER 917
- Sails/surfs since: 2009/2023
- Regatta debut: 2010 on the Opti, 2023 on the iQFOiL
- Sailing successes: 2019: Best U17 29er European Championship team on Lake Garda; 2nd place in the U17 Youth Championship on a 29er on Lake Ammersee; 2020: 1st place in the 29er Kieler Woche; 1st place in the 29er DM Flensburg; 2021: 2nd place in the 49er FX Youth World Championship in Poland/Gdansk
- Successes in windsurfing iQFOiL: 2023: 57th place iQFOiL U21 World Championships Lake Silvaplana; 28th place iQFOiL International Games Torbole; 2024: 47th place U23 World Championships Lake Silvaplana; 54th place iQFOiL European Championships Cagliari/Italy; 49th place iQFOiL International Games Lanzarote; 2025: 7th place iQFOiL Games Kieler Woche
- Favourite spot: Lake Garda
- Favourite discipline: iQFOiL-Racing
- Favourite move: Foil tack
- Association: Munich Yacht Club (MYC), Circolo Surf Torbole (CST)
- Hobbies: Windsurfing and racing bike
- Instagram: @max.koer
