Kiel Week 2024 is in the starting blocks, with the largest public festival in Northern Europe kicking off on 22 June and attracting tens of thousands of visitors until 30 June. Unfortunately, the sailing competitions at Kieler Woche in Schilksee will have to do without windsurfing this year. There were too few entries for the iQFoilers, the class is focussing entirely on the Olympic premiere at the end of July.
Fiona Wylde presents the X-15 class
Wingfoiling will be presented for the first time at Kiel Week. The X-15 class will give U19 youngsters the opportunity to try out the equipment at a demo and coaching event from 27 to 30 June on the north beach of Schilksee. Starboard has developed the standardised equipment with the aim of bringing wingfoiling to the Olympics.
Up to 30 youngsters can be shown the standardised equipment by top athlete and class manager Fiona Wylde. The US-American is considered a multi-talent and has also won titles in windsurfing and stand-up paddling up to world championships. "Kiel Week offers us an ideal spot on the north beach of Schilksee to familiarise the athletes with the equipment and sailing technique," enthuses Wylde. At the end on Sunday, there will be short up and down races and slaloms for the public to watch in Strander Bucht.
The goal: Wingfoiling at the Olympics
The interest in the wingfoil event at Kieler Woche is extremely international. "The first 15 entries come from Norway, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and Germany," reports Lena Erdil, not without pride. The former iQFoil surfer and Kieler Woche winner now works for the event and marketing agency of the Kiel Yacht Club, Point of Sailing, and acquired the class at the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf. "As regatta organisers, such forward-looking appearances are important to us, as they show the scene and the expert watersports public that Kieler Woche is always moving with the times," says Head of Organisation Dirk Ramhorst, welcoming the new development.
Such appearances are important to us, as they show the scene and the expert audience that Kieler Woche is always moving with the times." Dirk Ramhorst, Head of Organisation Kiel Week
In the medium term, international wingfoil fans have their sights set on Olympic status. Starboard is pushing its X-15 boards in competition with various suppliers and expects to be recognised as an international class by the World Sailing Association this year. The latter expressly welcomes the invitation to tender for the "Wingfoil Racing Exhibition" at Kieler Woche, as it has to present its particularly telegenic, currently ten disciplines to the IOC every four years and modernise them if necessary in order to maintain the overall Olympic status of sailing. There is still a long way to go before the Games in Atlanta 2028, and it remains to be seen which sports the IOC will give a chance.
Technical data Starboard X-15 Wingfoil Class
- Wing: 6.5 square metres (men)/6.0 square metres (women)
- Board: 95 litres (men)/82 litres (women)
- Frontwings: 560, 820 and 1200
- Stabiliser: 200
- Mast: 100 cm
- Fuselage: 69 cm
Pump-oil contest at the boat harbour
The pump spoiler contest organised by 1001 Grad Events is once again taking place in Kiel city centre during Kieler Woche. On 23 June, the first Sunday, the best pump-boilers will compete in the boat harbour, right next to the pedestrian zone. It starts at 18:30 and there will be action on the water until 21:00. The participants will compete against each other in various categories and showcase their skills. At the end, the winners will be crowned on the main stage as part of a grand award ceremony and can look forward to the title of "Pumpfoil Champion 2024" can look forward to. Afterwards, we will watch the European Championships together at the public viewing!
