Inaugural X-15 Wingfoil World Championships - Day 1
by Ava Hider 5 Nov 05:46 GMT
4–8 November 2026
Germany's Jette Koep has taken to the X-15 wingfoil with great success, winning two races on day one - X-15 Wingfoil Worlds 2026 Day 1 © Jamie Allardice
The pursuit of the first X-15 World Championship titles began in Ibiza, Spain on Wednesday 4 November, bringing together 107 competitors from 24 nations for a defining moment in X-15 wingfoiling.
Across senior and junior divisions, established racers and emerging talent took their first steps towards an achievement that can only happen once: becoming the first world champion.
Hosted by Club Mare Nostrum at Port Nàutic Ibiza, with support from De Antonio Yachts, racing took place just off Ibiza Town with around 10 knots of wind in the morning before conditions faded. After racing, sailors were formally welcomed to Ibiza with a stunning opening ceremony under the glow Ibiza Cathedral.
But on the race course, Germany's Jette Koep made the strongest possible start in the Senior Women, winning both opening races to lead Finnish Olympian Monika Mikkola, who recorded two second places. Poland's Pola Wawrzyniak completes the early top three.
For Koep, finding clear wind and getting her starts right proved essential, particularly with lighter conditions in the sheltered starting area.
"Timing is important, but also having a clear line," she explained. "Having clear wind is the most important thing."
Once away from the start, maintaining an effective angle became central to her performance. "I think my speed was okay today, but having the angle makes such a big difference because you are gaining so much more height than the others."
Beyond her results, Koep welcomed the atmosphere among competitors as they shared experiences of racing the X-15 equipment. "Everybody's on the same gear. We can chat a lot about how we are just learning the equipment," she said. "I think the vibe is pretty good."
Despite two wins, her expectations remain measured, "After today, the stakes are pretty high, I think, for me. I'd be happy finishing top five."
In Senior Men, Poland's Kamil Manowiecki leads Australia's Henry Myers, with France's Romain Ghio third.
For Manowiecki, the opening day demanded composure as well as racecraft. "Today it was really tough. It was all about finding the peace in the chaos," he said. "The start itself was an adventure, then to find the next mark and hope you did it right."
Competing at his first world championship in any discipline, Myers described close racing throughout the course and a contest shaped by decisions.
"Everyone was still within a few metres of each other the whole course," he said. "You've got to make the right decision because there's not really a speed lane to overtake, because we're all the same speed virtually."
Looking ahead to challenging Manowiecki, Myers added: "I didn't necessarily expect to be where I am now, so I'm the underdog. I know I can beat him, so I just have to do it."
The junior fleets completed one race, with American Holland Vierling leading the combined U19/U17 Men standings ahead of France's Baptiste Loire and Poland's Antoni Lutomski. Hungary's Botond Virag is the highest-placed U17 rider.
Norway's Ane Fiskvik Mjoen leads the combined U19/U17 Women standings. France's Anae Rio is second overall and is followed by Blanka Jerzelkowska of Poland.
Brazil's Benjamin Almeida heads the combined U15/U13 fleet ahead of Poland's Kacper Hryniewicz and Turkey's Alp Yavrucuk. Thailand's Thanawat "Shane" Promwaen is the leading U13 competitor.
Racing continues through to Sunday 8 November, when the first X-15 world champions will be crowned.
Results: