2026 Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships in Västerås, Sweden - Overall

by Marina Psychogyiou 24 Feb 09:47 GMT 16-21 February 2026

What began as a daring four month "mission impossible" ended in roaring crowds, record breaking speeds, and a final day of racing so spectacular it felt scripted.

The 2026 WISSA World Championships transformed Lake Mälaren into a frozen arena of speed, skill, and cutting edge winter sailing technology—drawing athletes from across the globe and thousands of spectators who braved the cold to witness the world's best on ice.

Across sleds, wings, and kites, each with its own blend of sails, skis, skates, and snowboards, competitors battled shifting winds, changing surfaces, and the unforgiving physics of ice.

Smooth or bumpy, soft or hard, wet or dry, every meter of the lake demanded precision and adaptability. And yet, despite the challenging wind, the event delivered a full slate of racing: course races for all classes, Short Track Slalom (STS) for sleds and wings, and a Marathon that pushed endurance to its limit.

An Event Built on Vision, Volunteers, and a City That Showed Up

The event was powered by enormous support from the City of Västerås and a network of dedicated volunteers. Commodore Hans Holm, hosting his first-ever world championship, described the journey as "starting with a hundred vibrant ideas and narrowing them down to what truly mattered: the racing."

As the awards dinner began at the iconic Steam Hotel, Holm finally allowed himself to relax, calling the week "a success built on teamwork, passion, and a little bit of holding everyone back from doing too much."

The Steam Hotel, Västerås' landmark reborn from a century-old steam power plant, provided a fittingly grand stage for the closing ceremony. With its industrial architecture, sweeping lake views, and reputation as one of Sweden's most distinctive hotels, it offered a celebratory atmosphere worthy of new world champions.

A Final Day for the History Books

After days of unpredictable wind, the championship concluded with a glorious finale: three course races for every discipline, followed by the legendary 1-hour marathon, where athletes push at full throttle for sixty relentless minutes.

The kite fleet stunned spectators by completing ten full laps of the lake, an emphatic demonstration of raw speed. Crowds lined the shoreline throughout the weekend, cheering as racers blasted past at highway speeds. For many, it was their first time seeing the fusion of athleticism and engineering that defines modern ice sailing.

Kite Course Racing: Estonia's Ranno Rumm Claims His Third World Title Estonian powerhouse Ranno Rumm opened the week with four straight wins, but equipment challenges nearly derailed his campaign. A last day ski tune-up from American friends transformed his setup, "like riding on rails," he said, and he stormed to his third world championship title.

Sweden's Frank Kronert and Andreas Gustavson completed the podium. Kronert, who balanced competing with co-organizing the event, admitted that the double workload cost him crucial focus on the final day. "I chose the wrong kite size twice," he said, but emphasized the strong camaraderie among competitors and pride in delivering a world-class event for Västerås.

Sleds Course Racing: Lithuania Dominates

Lithuania's Arvydas Moliusis arrived in Sweden for the first time, and left as world champion. Big sails, thin snow, and solid wind played perfectly to his strengths. Though frustrated by marathon penalties, he was unstoppable in course racing, leading a Lithuanian 1-2 finish with Robertas Berkelis in silver and France's Alexis Hillairet in bronze.

Women: Lisbeth Orav (EST).

Wings Course Racing: Norway Takes Gold

Norway's Idan Shubin mastered the shifting conditions to secure the world title, ahead of Sweden's Wilhelm Eriksson and Erik Karelfelt.

Women: Bianka Micke (CZE).

Sleds Short Track Slalom: High-Speed Duels on Ice

Lithuania struck gold again as Giedrius Liutkus claimed the title after making key equipment adjustments that transformed his speed. "You never know what the ice will give you," he said, "but this time, it suited me perfectly."

Podium: Liutkus (LTU), Sinkunas (LTU), Mård (SWE). Women: Johanna Lukk (EST).

Wings Short Track Slalom: Sweden Rules

Sweden swept the men's podium, with Erik Karelfelt taking gold ahead of Wilhelm Eriksson and Alexander Sahlin. In the women's fleet, American Annie Tuthill, who has spent half her life wing sailing, captured the title. Returning to Sweden, she said, reminded her why she fell in love with the sport: "Challenging, beautiful, and deeply rewarding."

Marathon: One Hour of Pure Endurance

The Marathon winners proved who could push hardest, longest, and smartest.

• Kites: SWE Andreas Gustavsson
• Wings Men: SWE Erik Karelfelt
• Wings Women: EST Cerley Aulik
• Sleds Men: POL Jedrzej Cituk
• Sleds Women: EST Lisbeth Orav

Gustavsson described the marathon as "another level, you push non-stop," climbing from fourth on the first lap to a commanding lead by the finish and his fourth consecutive Marathon victory.

A Community, A Championship, A Celebration

For many athletes, the WISSA community is a family; one that debates fiercely on the ice but always comes together afterwards. The 2026 Worlds in Västerås embodied that spirit: competitive, welcoming, and unforgettable. As the sun set over Lake Mälaren and the Steam Hotel glowed above the waterfront, organizers, volunteers, and competitors shared the same sentiment: This was one of the best WISSA World Championships ever held.

And for Västerås, it was more than a sporting event—it was a showcase of innovation, resilience, and the thrill of harnessing wind and ice at world class speed.

Find out more at www.isswc.com