Year in review part 2: Epic days in Pozo and on Sylt, major expeditions in the Baltic Sea and Atlantic Ocean
Tobias Frauen
· 21.12.2025
July
Pozo time! One of the highlights of the PWA calendar started in 2025 with a epic 50-knot day and plenty of drama: the images of how Philip Köster jogged over the Pozo scree in the first final of the double eliminationThe many times that the PWA had to make it back onto the water in time have long since gone down in PWA history. In the end, it was enough for a happy ending and victory at the home spot. However, the pro field was one of the few categories in which no Gobisch competed. The windsurfing-crazy family from Kiel told us afterwards how they experienced the World Cup!
July also saw the start of our surf shop series: we presented several surf shops from all over Germany in loose succession. From one of the oldest shops in Germany to a relatively new shop.
Before the World Cup on Fuerteventura, there was bad news for defending world champion Pierre Mortefon: his sponsor Phantom was kicked out of the PWA for non-payment of contributions. The Frenchman suddenly found himself without equipment, but was allowed to use his old sails at Slalom X as a gesture of goodwill. Phantom reacted with a rather strange announcement that they were withdrawing from the World Cup out of spite, whereupon the PWA made it clear once again that this was by no means a voluntary expulsion. Very entertaining for all observers, but a slap in the face for Mortefon: although he received support from NeilPryde and his other sponsor FMX, he had to change his equipment in the middle of the season.
August
After Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, Tenerife was the third stop on the Canary Islands tour, this year finally with full five-star status again. It was to be the turning point in the race for the wave title: Marc Paré won for the second time in a row and gained momentum for a highly exciting second half of the season.
For surf editor Stephan Gölnitz, an unusual search for test material began in August: instead of ordering the latest boards and sails from the manufacturers' warehouses as usual, he rummaged through classified adverts, surf shops and cellars for old boards. How have freeride shapes changed over the last 30 years? was the question, and the test turned into an exciting journey through time: The test ranged from the 30-year-old no nose toothpick from F2 called "Horst" to classics such as the F2 Ride and the various forms of short, wide shapes.
September
Two other major projects started in September: Maciek Rutkowski crossed the Baltic Sea in around eight and a half hours, surfing from southern Sweden to his home country of Poland. Accompanied by a livestream and several cameras, Maciek had to endure the first two hours bobbing around, but when the wind finally kicked in, it was all go. The 2022 world champion was rewarded with a fantastic reception in Poland and a huge media response!
Michael Walther was also hugely disappointed when he tried to paddle across the Atlantic alone on an ocean SUP. After meticulous preparation and a successful start, he collided with flotsam off Fuerteventura and had to abandon the expedition.
october
The World Cup on Sylt has been around for over 40 years, and the 2025 event will go down in history just like some other years: During a somewhat slow week with some light wind foil races, everyone was looking intently at the forecast for the second weekend. Something was brewing! The more storm "Detlef" picked up speed, the more spectacular it became: first freestyle, then wave - unfortunately without Sunday, which was no longer scheduled as a competition day. But when darkness fell on Saturday, the spontaneous decision was made to hold the last three heats on Sunday after all. What the riders and spectators then saw was epic: the North Sea was raging, the beach was completely covered in water and the shore break was brutal. Some were grateful to be eliminated in the semi-final and not have to go out again, but Marc Paré took the win in ice-cold style!
Two weeks later, Marc was crowned world champion at the Aloha Classic. After his elimination in the semi-final, he had to tremble a little, but in the end it was enough to end Marcilio Browne's reign. Incidentally, the Aloha Classic was sponsored by Windsurf AI - an AI company that was inspired by the WWT when naming the event, as Simeon Glasson told us!
And if the world's best are happy about good conditions, then the surf test team is even happier: In autumn, we traditionally started with the waveboards for the coming season, which were tested extensively on the North and Baltic Seas. Shortly afterwards, the wave sails followed - this time focussing on different materials!
November
November once again belonged to the speed surfers and everyone was looking forward to Lüderitz, where almost all the world's top riders competed to set new world records and finally break the 100 km/h mark over 500 metres. The artificial channel was perfectly prepared, as organiser Raffaello Gardelli explained to us, and there was great interest and support from a number of brands. The only thing missing was the right wind. 40 knots is what it takes to set new records, and they have to come from exactly the right angle - the conditions simply didn't play ball in 2025. Nevertheless, Antoine Albeau and Jenna Gibson were once again the fastest. Now everyone is looking forward to next year!
Drama and triumph, tears and joy at the foil final in Japan. While Johan Søe was once again unbeatable and Matteo Iachino only won the World Championship title due to a missing stroke, a drama unfolded in the women's event: Justine Lemeteyer was comfortably leading the rankings before the final day and would normally have easily brought home the title defence. But the Frenchwoman had a pitch-black day: first a crash, then a supposed false start and a misunderstanding with the race organisers: instead of starting again, Justine drove back to the beach, where she was blindsided. In the decisive race, another crash and event victory for Lina Erzen. It was only after a lot of arithmetic that the frustrated Lemeteyer found out on the beach that she had narrowly won her second World Championship title.
December
Alongside the Advent calendar, the wrapped year in review of a major streaming service is now almost as important. We thought about what a "Wrapped" could look like for windsurfers...
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The surf team wishes you a relaxing holiday and a windy 2026!
Tobias Frauen
Editor