The representatives of the iQFoil class had already decided in April to reduce the sail sizes in most age groups. Now World Sailing, the governing body, has also waved the change through. The women will receive a newly developed 7.3 sail, while the men will switch to the 8.0 sail previously used by the women and juniors. Both new rigs will retain the existing 490 mast. The change is intended to make it easier to get started and the transition from the youth to the adult classifications smoother.
Smaller sails for more equal opportunities
"The new equipment ensures more equal opportunities and offers a competitive platform for racers of different constitutions from different nations and continents," says World Sailing. Until now, heavier riders had a clear advantage. The ideal rider weight for men was previously around 95kg and could be reduced to 85kg in the future.
Many lighter athletes previously had to significantly increase their weight in order to be competitive. "I believe it would be better and healthier for all young people and women. I don't understand why it's accepted that we have to be unnaturally heavy, preferably 85 kilos, it just can't be," said Germany's Olympic starter Theresa Steinlein in a surf interview after the Games. "I find it unbelievable to explain to a 16 or 17-year-old that she has to weigh 74 kilos now."
Premiere of the new iQFoil sails on Lanzarote
The new material has already been tested by the iQFOiL athletes and approved by World Sailing, with a focus on meeting performance and reliability standards. The first major regatta with the new material will be the international iQFOiL Games in Lanzarote, which will take place from 27 January to 2 February 2025.
All iQFoil components are still permitted in the DWC: "Both with the current and future equipment, you can take part in all regattas of the German top series and also in all ProAm Windsurf Cups in the foiling discipline. The California Windsurf Cup therefore remains the ideal platform for racing at national level with Olympic or pre-Olympic equipment," reads a press release from April.
Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, iQFOiL Class Manager, said of the new sails: "These changes represent a thoughtful and deliberate evolution of the iQFOiL Class as a sport that has just completed its first Olympic cycle. This new chapter emphasises inclusivity, fairness and global accessibility. By creating a smoother transition from youth to senior categories and ensuring equal competition for all genders and body types, we are taking an important step towards making iQFOiL an even more global and sustainable class."
Jaime Navarro, World Sailing Director of Technical and Offshore, added: "The decision is aimed at further aligning the equipment with the intended weight targets that have guided the selection of the iQFOiL for the Olympic Games to meet the needs of a diverse, global athlete base. These changes come at a crucial time, after the first Olympic cycle, where we have gathered extensive data on athlete performance and development, while providing continuity and clarity to athletes for the next cycle."
- All information and details can be found at iqfoilclassofficial.org/general-meetings
