Ensis Engedinwing 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Switzerland - Overall
by WingFoil Racing World Cup 14 Jun 22:58 BST
10-15 June 2025
New faces shine in Switzerland - Ensis Engedinwing 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Switzerland © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk
After four days of adrenalin-filled racing, the event's top riders arrived at Silvaplana lake hungry for glory in the Medal Series. The wind, however, had different ideas.
All week you could have set your watch on the arrival of the Maloja wind - the local thermal breeze that kicks-in at lunchtime - but not today.
The men's Golden Ticket race was the only casualty of the weather. As tenth-placed finisher in qualifying, Gregorio Pugliese was awarded the last spot in the Medal Series.
One of the most exciting things about this round of the World Cup Series has been watching new talent emerge and challenge the established order - American rookie JP Lattanzi impressed all week and won both the repechage and the quarter-final.
Freddie Strawson also came of age at this event. The Briton hadn't won a race in the World Cup before this week and his form and confidence was on full show when he won the semi-final. Series newcomer Sean Herbert of New Zealand - another rider who found great form here in Silvaplana - also made it to the final.
Waiting for them on the start-line was defending champion Mathis Ghio of France and experienced Pole Kamil Manowiecki. The 22 year old from Gdnyia got a great start and led to the first mark.
But the downwind leg saw everything change. Ghio took the lead with Herbert right behind him. The rider from Auckland pushed Ghio all the way to the finish line. Earlier in the week Herbert beat Ghio by just a few centimetres but there was no repeat of that success in the final. The Frenchman held on to claim the title and take another step to his fourth World Cup Series crown.
The Women's competition also highlighted upcoming talent. 15 year old Vaina Picot of France had high hopes of making the final after finishing third in qualifying and progressing straight into the semi-final.
However it was Picot's compatriot Anais Mai Desjardins that went through to the final instead. Kristyna Chalupnikova of the Czech Republic took the other available spot in the final. The 20 year old has impressed in Silvaplana with some of her best ever performances, having won the quarter-final as well as the semi there was no doubt she deserved to be in the final.
With two riders in the final, Italy was guaranteed a medal. But could anyone beat the defending women's champion Maddalena Spanu who, as top qualifier, already had a 2 point advantage?
It was Chalupnikova who once again upset the order. Undaunted by the quality of the opposition, she took race one of the best-of-three final. Spanu showed a champion's composure to dominate the start of Race 2 and lead from the front.
It was an advantage she refused to relinquish and claimed the win and her third successive Silvaplana title.
The Wingfoil Racing World Cup Series moves on to Turkey for Round 3. The action kicks off in Istanbul on 13th August where once again the new talent will aim to challenge the old.