Some of the world’s best young kite foilers started racing today in southern Italy aiming to become Youth European champions. Excellent conditions of 10-14 knots of thermal breeze saw racing kick-off on the shimmering Mediterranean waters of Hang Loose Beach club in Gizzeria, Calabria.

Hot competition in Men’s Fleet 

The IKA Youth European Championships is an Open competition meaning there are also 13 riders competing from outside the continent: 4 women and 9 men. The Men’s fleet saw 43 athletes start their qualifying races in two fleets, with each fleet racing four times today.

Back to defend his European title is Riccardo Pianosi who won all four races here today. The Italian is under intense pressure from the 2024 silver medallist Gian Stragiotti. The Swiss rider won the Youth Worlds at this same venue last year and is looking in good form in early qualifying.

Adding a new dimension to the fleet is Stepan Benes of the Czech Republic. Fresh off his triumph as the U17 Formula Wing European Champion, Benes is turning his attention to kitefoil racing. His transition between disciplines almost ended before it began, “Being a Wingfoiler I have no Kite equipment and was asking to borrow some. But nobody had any I could use,” he explained. “My Dad told me we had 15 minutes to register or we’d be out of time and have to go home. Then coach Tomek Janiak asked around and found some from the Poland team. I was very lucky at the last minute”.