2025 IKA Youth World Championships at Praia da Vitoria, Azores, Portugal - Day 1
by International Kiteboarding Association 28 Oct 2025 22:31 PDT
26 October - 1 November 2025
2025 IKA Youth Worlds at Praia da Vitoria Day 1 © Robert Hajduk /
www.ShutterSail.com
Young guns rise and fall on giant Atlantic swell
Forty-seven riders from nineteen countries took to the Atlantic waters off the island of Terceira as the Formula Kite Youth World Championships got under way in the Azores.
With wind speeds ranging between 15 and 23 knots, competitors faced not only strong gusts but also the rolling ocean swells that proved a new challenge for many. "The winner will be the rider who can best adapt to the changing extreme conditions here in the Azores," said French rider Solan Autric before heading out on the water.
His prediction proved correct as the day unfolded into a thrilling test of adaptability and composure.
Among those to watch were Max Maeder of Singapore, the Olympic bronze medallist, Italy's Riccardo Pianosi, the newly crowned senior World Champion, and Switzerland's Gian Stragiotti, the defending Youth World Champion.
New talents are also emerging, including 13-year-old Esteban Pacheco of Peru, who is aiming for a place in the 2027 PanAm Games, and Belgium's Lucas Vandermoere, who at 15 is competing in his first major international event just two years after taking up kiteboarding.
An epic first day saw a mix of wide-eyed disbelief and adrenaline-fuelled smiles as riders returned to shore. Huge gusts, sudden wind-holes, giant swell, and even flocks of seagulls made for a chaotic spectacle.
Olympic medallist Max Maeder summed up the experience, "Oh my goodness, the conditions were the most crazy I've ever experienced. There'd be zero wind then someone a few metres away flies up because they have too much wind. It was chaos out there so hats off to those, like Riccardo Pianosi, who managed to sail consistently."
Maeder was among those who managed to stay composed, recording four top-two finishes including two victories. The Singaporean ended the day joint top of the leaderboard with Pianosi, who also secured two wins in the treacherous conditions. Pianosi admitted the challenges were not limited to the wind and waves, "The birds were unbelievable. They were everywhere. I think, like us, they were battling the wind."
Drama in the Girls' Event
In the girls' fleet, there was early drama when Karolina Jankowska of Poland suffered an accident after her bar broke and her finger was caught in the leash. She was brought ashore by a safety boat and treated by paramedics. Thankfully the injury won't stop her racing on Day 2.
With Jankowska out for the remainder of the day, the battle at the top was reignited between Derin Atakan of Turkey and Catalina Turienzo of Argentina, a rivalry that stretches back to last season.
Atakan, the reigning European Youth Champion took the day's first race but Turienzo, the defending women's Youth World Champion finished just seven seconds behind.
As the Azores delivered a fierce opening to the championship it was clear that those who can adapt quickest to the unpredictable ocean conditions will be the ones fighting for glory in the days ahead.
Find out more at www.kiteclasses.org/2025youthworlds