France steps up: Wissant Wave Classic debuts as 4-Star World Cup
by International Windsurfing Tour 8 Sep 00:39 BST
12-20 September 2026
Defending Wissant 2025 Women's French Champion Alice Arutkin © International Windsurfing Tour
World ranking leaders Philip Köster and Marc Paré headline an international field as Arthur and Alice Arutkin prepare to defend their Wissant titles on home waters
The World Wave Tour heads to France this weekend as the Wissant Wave Classic opens its nine day competition window from September 12-20, bringing a 4-STAR Wave World Cup to French waters for the first time.
After successful 3-STAR editions in 2024 and 2025, Wissant now takes a major step forward as a 4-STAR Challenger World Cup, attracting the strongest international field the event has ever seen and putting valuable World Ranking points on the line.
And the timing could hardly be better.
At the top of the entry list are the two men currently locked together at the top of the 2026 World Wave Rankings: Germany's Philip Köster and reigning World Champion Marc Paré of Spain. Both arrive in France tied on 22,400 ranking points as the world title race enters an important European stretch.
Joining them is Hawaii's Morgan Noireaux, the reigning Aloha Classic Champion and now a four time winner at Ho'okipa Maui Hawaii. Noireaux's 2025 victory placed him alongside Robby Naish with four men's Aloha Classic titles, adding another genuine heavyweight to an already stacked Wissant field.
But the biggest story for the French crowd may be waiting at home.
The champions are back - Times two
Arthur Arutkin and Alice Arutkin return to Wissant as the reigning men's and women's champions.
- Brother and sister.
- Two French champions.
- Two defending Wissant titles.
Arthur won the men's division here in 2025, while Alice took the women's victory, making their return as defending champions one of the standout stories of this year's event.
Arthur will now face a substantially deeper international field as Wissant moves up to 4-STAR status, including Köster, Paré and Noireaux.
For Alice, the challenge is equally strong.
The defending champion leads the French charge against a women's field that includes Marine Hunter of France and exciting Belgian talent Sol Degrieck, with a valuable 4-STAR victory and World Ranking points on offer.
France joins the 4-Star World Cup stage
The move from 3-STAR to 4-STAR represents another important step in the growth of the Wissant Wave Classic.
Set on France's spectacular Côte d'Opale between Cap Gris-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez, Wissant has long been recognised by European windsurfers for its strong winds, powerful waves and exceptional natural amphitheatre. Its geography can accelerate the prevailing winds between the two capes, helping create the side-shore conditions that have made the area one of Europe's renowned wave-windsurfing locations.
Now the event is stepping onto a bigger international stage.
The 2026 edition becomes the first 4-STAR Wave World Cup ever staged in France, as well as the only French stop on this year's World Wave Tour.
The ambition is clear from event organiser Sylvain Bourlard: continue building Wissant into one of Europe's major World Cup destinations, with the opportunity to progress toward a full 5-STAR World Cup in 2027 following a successful 2026 edition.
The 4-STAR level plays an important role in the World Wave Tour pyramid, connecting the strongest regional events directly with the World Championship race and giving both established stars and emerging challengers the opportunity to earn significant World Ranking points.
Nine days. One call. Wissant ready to fire
The waiting period begins Saturday, September 12 and runs through Sunday, September 20, giving organisers nine days to select the strongest available conditions and unleash the world-class field.
With world ranking leaders, a reigning World Champion, an Aloha Classic record-holder and France's own defending brother-and-sister champions all converging on the same stretch of coastline, the ingredients are in place for a landmark week for French wave windsurfing.
The Wissant Wave Classic is stepping up.
France is stepping onto the 4-STAR World Cup stage.
And from September 12, the waiting begins.