2025 IFCA Fin & Foil Slalom European Championships at Circolo Surf Torbole - Day 1
by Elena Giolai 16 Oct 2025 22:07 BST
14-19 October 2025
Johan Søe (DEN 37) leads the Men's Foil ranking, while Justine Lemeteyer (FRA 171) dominates among the women, topping both the Foil and Fin divisions. In the Men's Fin fleet, Jordy Vonk (NED 69) is in the lead, followed by Nicolas Prien (GER 7) and Malte Reuscher (GER 777).
Two days of high-level racing and a wide range of wind conditions marked the start of the 2025 IFCA European Championships Slalom Fin & Foil, organized by Circolo Surf Torbole in cooperation with the Italian Sailing Federation and the International Funboard Class Association (IFCA).
After Tuesday evening's opening ceremony, Wednesday saw light winds between 9 and 11 knots on Lake Garda — perfect for the foil discipline. Around 70 athletes from across Europe completed two men's eliminations and six women's races in a full day of competition that concluded around 18:00. In the Men's Foil category, Johan Søe (DEN 37) was the most consistent, taking the lead with results of 1st and 2nd, ahead of Mathis Alexis (FRA 997) and Bob Burgt (NED 737). Fabian Wolf (GER), fourth overall and fresh from winning the Formula Foil Worlds — also held in Torbole — confirmed his excellent form. In the Women's Foil category, Justine Lemeteyer (FRA 171) dominated the day, followed by Lina Eržen (SLO) and Blanca Alabau (ESP).
Thursday brought stronger and steadier winds, around 13 knots and above, thanks to a change in air circulation over the northern Adriatic that reinforced the classic Ora southerly breeze on Lake Garda, ideal for switching to the Fin slalom, which requires more wind. The day followed the same schedule as Wednesday, with two eliminations for men and six for women completed. Among the men, Jordy Vonk (NED 69) proved the most consistent, taking the lead in the Fin discipline with scores of 1st and 3rd, followed by Nicolas Prien (GER 7) and Malte Reuscher (GER 777) — German sail number but Italian by heart, living on Elba Island. Excellent performance also by Sacha Fortune (FRA), first Youth and fourth overall. Representing Circolo Surf Torbole, Bruno Martini had a mixed day, while several promising young club athletes, usually competing in Techno 293 and iQFoil classes, gained valuable experience in international slalom racing. In the women's Fin fleet, Justine Lemeteyer confirmed her supremacy by scoring six wins out of six, ahead of compatriot Charlotte Philip (first Youth) and Femke van der Veen (NED), just one point behind second place.
Great satisfaction for Circolo Surf Torbole, which together with IFCA and the Italian Sailing Federation, is managing a high-level event in a season that still offers mild, windy days, perfect for funboard slalom racing, as only Garda Trentino can deliver.
Racing will continue through Sunday, October 19, with forecasts indicating the continuation of the Bora flow over the Gulf of Trieste, which should again bring good southerly winds and ideal conditions for more Fin slalom racing.
More information and full results