iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games in Torbole, Italy - Day 4
by iQFOiL Communications 9 May 19:04 BST
6-10 May 2025
Sprint Slalom takes center stage in Torbole
Medal Series set for tomorrow, with the top 8 in each category qualifying
The penultimate day of the iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games was all about Sprint Slalom. Despite a light southerly breeze, the wind remained steady throughout the afternoon, allowing all fleets to efficiently complete a full round of Sprint Racing heats. The U19 and U17 Men's fleets were divided into gold and silver groups, based on the updated overall standings from the first three days. Most categories completed four races, with the exception of the U17 Girls who finished two.
The primary goal for the top-ranked athletes was to secure a place in the top 8 and qualify for Saturday's Medal Series - a knockout-style final that is being tested ahead of Los Angeles 2028. The new format includes direct elimination Semi Finals among 3rd to 8th place, with the top two advancing to the Grand Final, which also includes the best two from the Opening Series. The series leader enters with one win already counted; the first athlete to score two wins claims overall victory.
Spectacular action was seen at the first reach mark after the start, with races lasting about four minutes each. As always in Sprint Racing, starts proved decisive - with some athletes disqualified for early starts. The event is hosted by Circolo Surf Torbole in collaboration with the International iQFOiL Youth&Junior Class and the Italian Sailing Federation.
U19 Men
Leading into the Grand Final is Canadian Valentino Blewett, who earned the top spot and the bonus win thanks to a third, two seconds, and a seventh. Climbing to second is Kfir Nov from Israel, still only U17 by age. Mattia Saoncella (ITA) produced a stunning comeback to third overall despite an early start penalty (discarded), supported by a win, a third, and a seventh. The other qualifiers are: Brisedou (FRA), Dabek (POL), Evans and Zeley (SUI), and Haava (EST), who slipped to eighth after leading.
U19 Women
Italian Medea Falcioni continues her dominance with three wins and a seventh today, earning a 24-point lead over Yfke Van Der Meer (NED). Francesca Maria Salerno (ITA) qualifies in third, followed by Leen (ISR), Guven (TUR), Klein (ISR), Schleicher (GER), and Hermitant (FRA).
U17 Men
The Dutch continue to lead with Brüll and Boswijk in first and second, followed by Burda (CZE), then Schleicher (GER), Lichtenstein (ISR), Dits (NED), Lorenzo Maroadi (ITA), and Zaal (NED).
U17 Women
Only two races were completed for the youngest female fleet. Rüya Ugurlu (TUR) enters the Grand Final as leader, followed by Kabasakal (TUR), Hen and Regev (ISR), Miarczynska (POL), Ginevra Giunti (ITA, Planet Sail Bracciano), Inversin (SUI), and Koren (ISR).
The iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games, with 215 competitors from 23 nations, will conclude tomorrow, Saturday 10 May, with the first Medal Series races scheduled to start at 11:00.