Meet Switzerland's rising 29er duo: Ikke and Liam
by International 29er Class 25 Mar 2025 04:11 PDT
Swiss sailors Ikke Huber and Liam Berger © World Sailing
Swiss sailors Ikke Huber and Liam Berger have been climbing the ranks in the 29er class, currently sitting in third place overall in the 29er Eurocup.
With years of dedication, countless training hours on Lake Thun, and a strong partnership built on trust and ambition, the duo has proven themselves as one of the top young teams in the fleet. In this Q&A, they share insights into their journey, training routines, and future ambitions—offering a glimpse into what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Q: Can you both introduce yourselves? How old are you, and where are you from?
Ikke: My name is Ikke Huber, I'm 18 years old and I'm from Oberhofen at Lake Thun in Switzerland.
Liam: My name is Liam Berger, I'm 17 and im from Spiez at Lake Thun in Switzerland.
Q: How did you get into sailing, and what drew you to the 29er class?
Ikke: I got into sailing because of my father, who was also a sailor. My parents signed me up for sailing school when I was six, and I've been hooked ever since. I always want to improve after each training. I moved into the 29er class because of my brother, who was part of its early expansion in Switzerland.
Liam: My dad is a boat builder, so sailing was always a part of my life. As a kid, I spent summers at Optimist sailing camps, which is actually where I first met Ikke. He was in a more advanced group, but after a year, I caught up, and we quickly became friends.
Q: How did you team up as a sailing duo?
We had already known each other from sailing camps, and as we both progressed in the sport, teaming up in the 29er just felt like the natural next step.
Q: You're currently sitting in 3rd place overall in the 29er Eurocup with two events down—what's been working so well for you this season?
Consistency, trust, and always pushing each other to improve. We've also put in a lot of training hours to refine our technique and communication on the water.
Q: How often do you train, and where do you do most of your training?
We train several times a week, mostly on Lake Thun, but we also travel to different locations to prepare for varying conditions.
Q: What's your favorite venue to sail at, and why?
Definitely Hyères. There's always a good breeze and challenging conditions, which keeps things interesting.
Q: What's the most challenging aspect of racing a 29er, and how do you overcome it?
The 29er is a physically demanding boat, especially in strong winds. It takes a lot of coordination and quick decision-making to keep everything under control. The key is working together and trusting each other's instinct, when that happens, everything just flows.
Q: What's your favorite thing about sailing a skiff?
The speed and adrenaline! It's such a dynamic and exciting boat to race.
Q: What previous achievements in your sailing careers are you most proud of?
We've won the 29er Swiss Championship twice, which was a huge milestone for us. But our biggest achievement so far is definitely the 2024 29er Eurocup Final in Riva, where we finished 3rd and secured 3rd place overall in the Eurocup ranking
Q: What are your goals for the rest of the Eurocup series?
We want to keep improving and stay as consistent as possible. Of course, finishing on the podium would be great, but our main goal is to keep learning and refining our performance.
Q: Do you have ambitions to move into the 49er class or other sailing disciplines in the future?
Yes! We're already working with our club to gradually transition to the 49er, but we're still figuring out the right timing for a full switch. For now, we're focusing on getting as much experience as possible in the 29er while preparing for the next step.
Q: Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines?
Ikke: I always make sure to go to the toilet right before heading out!:)
Liam: I don't really have a specific pre-race routine, but I always drink something before the race and have a quick chat with our coach about the game plan.
Q: What's one piece of advice you'd give to younger sailors looking to compete in the 29er class?
Stay patient and keep learning! The 29er can feel difficult at first, but the more you sail, the more natural and easier it becomes. Focus on the big things like boat handling and communication first and after that you can work out the small things.
Q: If you weren't sailing, what other sport would you be doing?
Ikke: Probably basketball, but honestly, I can't imagine doing anything other than sailing.
Liam: I'd probably be skiing more, and maybe even boxing!
Check out the full 2025 EuroCup Results HERE