Formula Kite Youth Europeans & KiteFoil Open Masters Worlds 2026 - Overall
by International Kiteboarding Association 5 Jul 14:49 PDT
2026 Formula Kite Youth Europeans & Kite Foil Masters Gizzeria 2026 Day 4 © IKA Media / Robert Hajduk
Four days of high-speed racing came to a close in Gizzeria, where the 2026 Formula Kite Youth European Championships and the 2026 KiteFoil Open Masters World Championships crowned their champions after a spectacular final day on the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia.
True to its reputation, Gizzeria delivered its signature thermal breeze for the championship finale, allowing four final races across all three fleets and setting the stage for three very different title deciders. The Youth Men's title remained up for grabs until the closing stages, Argentina's Catalina Turienzo completed a flawless campaign in the Youth Women's fleet, while the Masters championship delivered one final showdown between its leading contenders.
The Formula Kite Youth Men's European Championship produced the closest fight of the week. Positions changed constantly throughout the final races, with Nell De Jaham, Jan Koszowski and Karl Maeder trading pressure at the front of the fleet.
France's Nell De Jaham claimed the 2026 Formula Kite Youth Men's European title after one of the most intense battles of the event. Poland's Jan Koszowski claimed silver, while Switzerland's Karl Maeder completed the podium."It was such a tight battle with Jan. We finished level on points, so out on the water I had no idea who had won. When my coach told me I had won, I was just so happy," said De Jaham.
In the Youth Women's fleet, Argentina's Catalina Turienzo completed a perfect championship to top the overall standings after winning all 14 races, while Svetlana Trusova was crowned Formula Kite Youth Women's European Champion. Derin Deniz Sorguç took silver, with Poland's Karolina Jankowska completing the European podium. "For me, this result was completely unexpected. When I arrived here, I couldn't imagine I would be competing at this level. Just being part of this championship means a lot after six years of training, and standing on the podium is something I'm really proud of. Competing against the best riders has shown me how far I've come, and I'm just grateful to be here," said Trusova.
The KiteFoil Open Masters World Championships also closed with a strong final-day battle, as Denmark's James Johnsen repeatedly challenged France's Antoine Paillette throughout the final races. Paillette responded when it mattered most, sealing the 2026 KiteFoil Open Masters World title after an outstanding week of racing. Johnsen finished second overall, with France's Matthieu Di Russo third.
Reflecting on the conclusion of the championships, IKA President Spyros Krotsis underlined the importance of continuing to invest in the next generation of Formula Kite athletes.
"Youth participation is a key priority for IKA. What we need now is confidence, structure and a clear pathway. IKA's role is to support that growth through better youth pathways, more coaching links, more girls in the sport, and stronger national programmes."