Kieler Woche: Freestyle in the boat harbour, iQFoil and wings in stone
SURF
· 20.06.2025
Windsurfing takes place at Kiel Week primarily in the iQFOiL class, which is celebrating a comeback in 2025 after the regattas had to be cancelled last year due to too few registrations. In 2025, Kiel Week will have the status of the iQFOiL Games and the iQFOiL Youth & Junior Games. The contest acts as a "last chance regatta" for the upcoming World Championship in Aarhus (04 - 11 July 2025), i.e. as one of the last opportunities to qualify for the World Championship.
With Noah Vinther from Denmark and foil world champion Justine Lemeteyer, two top riders are using Kiel Week as their last training session before the World Championships, as are Fabian Wolf and Sophia Meyer. Apart from that, Kiel Week is more of a junior event and the sporting value is manageable despite the upgrade. However, the starting field is international, with some of the more than 60 athletes coming to Stein from South Korea, Mexico, Thailand, India and Hong Kong. In the second half of the week, the juniors will take over the regatta site directly at the Hawaii venue, where the U17 and U17 fleets will take to the water.
"Winch Windsurf World Championship" in the boat harbour and wingfoil coaching
On Thursday and Friday (26 and 27 June), it's the freestylers' turn at the Sun Express Ocean Fun Park in the boat harbour in the heart of the city centre. Two tow-in sessions are on the programme from 7 p.m. on each day: first the "Winch Windsurf World Championships" on Thursday and then a "Best Trick" contest on Friday. As expected, many of northern Germany's top riders such as Niclas and Lucas Nebelung, Foivos Tsoupras and Arne Jörn will be there to fire up the many spectators right by the pool.
Wingfoiling will also be back: the X-15 class, which already presented itself with a demo contest in 2024, is offering a coaching programme for young wingfoilers this year. Equipment and professional coaches will be provided, and after targeted training in technique and tactics, participants can compete directly in the German Open Wingfoil Racing. The aim of the programme is to promote young talent and give them the opportunity to present themselves at an international level.
