2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final - World titles on the line as next-gen shines
by International Windsurfing Tour 14 Oct 10:22 BST
13-24 October 2025
Aloha Classic © International Windsurfing Tour
A 16-year-old girl could be about to dethrone a queen. A hungry challenger could crash through a two-decade-long empire. One final event. Everything on the line.
For a quarter of a century the same faces have dominated women's windsurfing: The Moreno twins, Iballa and Daida (Spain) own 21 world titles between them while Sarah-Quita Offringa (Aruba) has sealed the last 4. No one else has won this century. That's rare domination in any sport. For the past fifteen years, the men's world title has been ruled by three giants of the sport: Philip Köster, Víctor Fernández, and Marcilio Browne. Between them, they've captured every championship but one - Thomas Travers in 2014. The barrier to entry has been almost absolute. Until perhaps this upcoming 2025 Aloha Classic.
This is the Aloha Classic Grand Final, presented by WINDSURF AI. The next generation arrives.
Championship scenarios and generational context
Women's division
The End of a Dynasty, The Birth of a New Era
Current points heading in:
1st: Sarah-Quita Offringa (Aruba) - 32,520 pts
2nd Alexia Kiefer Quintana (Spain) — 30,100 pts (unable to compete in Hawai'i this year)
3rd: Sol Degrieck (Belgium) - 29,985 pts
The reigning champion
Sarah-Quita Offringa has claimed 4 wave world titles with the last three consecutive years (2022-2024). Before that shared dominance with the Moreno twins (Daida and Iballa Ruano Moreno won all from 1999 to 2018). Sarah enters the final with a commanding 2,535-point lead, positioning her as the clear favorite for another title.
Path to victory: Sarah-Quita secures the title with a top 3 or 4 finish. Her experience, consistency, and championship pedigree give her significant advantages in high-pressure situations at legendary breaks like Ho'okipa.
A decade of domination: These 3 legends of the sport have dominated. No one else has broken through to win a single world title in this first quarter of the 21st century. That's unprecedented dominance. Until now.
The generational breakthrough
Sol Degrieck (Age 16)
Remarkably, 16-year-old Belgian phenom Sol Degrieck sits just 2,535 points behind Sarah-Quita—within striking distance of the world title. Her aggressive riding style and fearlessness have made her a surprise contender this season, and her presence at this level signals a seismic shift in windsurfing's generational landscape.
Path to victory: Sol would need to WIN the Aloha Classic while Sarah-Quita finishes 4th, =5th or worse. This represents a high bar but is mathematically possible. Given her youth and explosive potential, Ho'okipa's powerful waves could suit her risk-taking approach.
The next generation is here: At just 16 years old, Sol Degrieck is on the title race and win or lose, her presence proves that the next generation is ready to take the sport by storm. If she wins, she becomes the first woman in a decade to break through the Sarah-Quita/Moreno twins barrier, a generational earthquake.
Men's division
An Era of Domination Faces Its Reckoning
Current points heading in:
1st: Marc Paré Rico (Spain) - 35,385 pts
2nd: Marcilio Browne (Brazil) - 31,755 pts
3rd: Philip Köster (Germany) - 30,870 pts
4th: Víctor Fernández (Spain) - 27,205 pts
The Challengers
Marc Paré Rico and the new generation
Marc Paré holds a commanding 3,630-point lead and arrives in Hawaii as the favorite. His victory would be historic: the first new name on the men's world title trophy in over a decade, breaking through a barrier that has seemed impenetrable.
More than a decade of domination: Men's windsurfing has been dominated by these giants of the sport:
Philip Köster: (German) 5 world titles (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Thomas Traversa (France) 1 world title (2014)
Víctor Fernández: (Spain) 3 world titles (2010, 2016, 2018)
Marcilio Browne: (Brazil) 4 world titles (2013, 2022, 2023, 2024)
The breakthrough moment: If Marc Paré wins at Ho'okipa, he doesn't just claim a championship, he becomes the first man in a decade to break through the near total stranglehold of Köster, Fernández, and Browne. He becomes the catalyst for a new era.
The challenge: Despite his 3,630-point advantage, Paré's position carries risk. A 5th-place finish or worse opens the door for challengers if they win. Ho'okipa's massive, powerful waves and competitive atmosphere create unpredictable conditions that can favor aggressive challengers over point leaders under immense pressure.
The reigning champion
Marcilio Browne (4 x World Champion)
Marcilio Browne is the defending three-time champion and the the only athlete in this decade to achieve consecutive titles. He trails by 3,630 points but carries something more valuable than points: proven mastery of the sport at the highest level.
Path to victory: Marcilio can claim a fourth consecutive world title by winning the final while Marc Paré finishes outside the top four. His experience at Ho'okipa, combined with his technical prowess and mental toughness, makes him a genuine threat.
The dynasty question: For Marcilio, this is about proving that the elite can maintain their grip on the sport. A win would give him four consecutive titles and cement his place as the most dominant athlete of this era. But losing means the new generation finally breaks through. Philip and Víctor represent the old guard of dominance. Both face steeper mathematical mountains but remain formidable competitors capable of surprising in the right conditions. Their presence in the top four proves the elite hasn't been displaced yet.
The turning point
The 2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final is more than the end of a season, it's the culmination of a sporting evolution. In the Women's Division, two decades of dominance meet a fearless new generation ready to redefine what's possible. In the Men's Division, the reign of three great champions faces its greatest test as Marc Paré Rico stands poised to usher in a new era. For the first time, the world's best will meet on a single, unified stage to decide who truly rules the waves. The next generation is rising, and at Ho'okipa, the ocean will decide who rides into history.