IWSA WingFoil Racing - Clouds stifle maloja wind as waiting game begins in Silvaplana

The WingFoil Racing World Cup Series returned to the spectacular alpine heights of the Engadin valley today for the third stop of the 2026 season, but the legendary Maloja wind failed to deliver for the opening day of competition. While the race course on Lake Silvaplana is a favourite for spectators, the combination of thinner air at high altitude, cold water, and a short "playground" makes this venue one of the most challenging on the global circuit.

A diverse fleet of 58 competitors, comprising 48 men and 10 women from 18countries and 6 continents, is eager to test their skills in the unique Swiss conditions. However, prevailing cloud cover prevented the thermal breeze from building as expected. When conditions appeared to brighten, the race committee immediately called the fleet onto the water to attempt the usual long-distance racing with the exciting rabbit start, but the wind died shortly after, pressing riders back to shore. After several hours of waiting withoutsailable conditions, the race committee was forced to cancel racing for the day.

Men’s Fleet: International Challengers Ready to Break European Dominance

The men’s fleet features a high-stakes mix of seasoned World Cup veterans and a significant contingent of overseas debutants. Many eyes are on the New Zealanders,Sean Herbert and Kosta Gladiadis, who have already shown their potential and are now looking to disrupt the established European dominance seen at earlier events in Naples and Urla this season.

The 48-man fleet also sees the debut of numerous international riders from South Africa, the USA, Singapore, Australia, and the strong wingfoiling hub of Hong Kong, China. For these athletes, the first day was a lesson in patience as they calibrated their equipment for the thinner alpine air, awaiting their first chance to battle for crucial overall World Cup ranking points.

Women’s Fleet: "Queen of the Alps" Faces New Threat

In the women's competition, the narrative remains centred on the intense rivalry between Vaina Picot (FRA), Yana Li (CHN), and Maddalena Spanu (ITA). While Li and Picot found success in the light-wind conditions of Hong Kong and Naples, Spanu remains the undisputed "Queen of the Alps" after winning the 2025 World Cup event at this very venue. Having also claimed the 2024 Formula Wing European Championship in Silvaplana, the Italian star will be the rider to beat once the wind returns to the lake.

Adding a local dimension to the fleet is the return of Swiss competitor Cindy Robert. Having missed the opening events of the 2026 season, Robert’s local knowledge of the Maloja thermals could provide a significant advantage as she rejoins the World Cup series on home waters.

Despite the lack of racing, the day was far from wasted as riders worked to adapt their gear to the alpine environment. The thinner air requires precise equipment choices, as the physics of both wings and foils changes compared to events sailed at sea level. Many Youth and Masters competitors are also using this event as vital preparation for the Formula Wing Youth World Championships and WingFoil Open Masters World Championships, both scheduled to follow next week. For this reason, representatives of several leading equipment manufacturers could be seen at the venue, advising their team riders on the final fine-tuning of equipment.

Looking Ahead to Day 2

With a more promising forecast on the horizon, the race committee has announced an ambitious plan for tomorrow. The schedule features two sessions of short-track racing, with four races planned per session.

The men’s fleet will be split into two separate groups based on their current World Cup overall rankings, with thefirst warning signalscheduled for 11:30 am local time. Fans can follow the action via live GPS tracking and wingfoil racing social media updates as the world’s best riders finally get their chance to fly on Lake Silvaplana.