Forty-seven riders from nineteen countries took to the Atlantic waters off the island of Terceira as the Formula Kite Youth World Championships got underway 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.
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
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.
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
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.”
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
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.”
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
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.
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
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.
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
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.
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