Foiling Week 2025: A Spectacular Showdown on Lake Garda Begins!

Pensacola, Florida, United States - The Foiling Week 2025 has officially launched, running from June 22 to June 29 in the picturesque setting of Lake Garda, Italy. This twelfth edition promises to be a real showstopper, showcasing the incredible potential of foiling sports, with robust participation and a myriad of activities in the pipeline. As Sail-World reports, this event has recorded a remarkable turnout, featuring 131 athletes in the WASZP class—marking the highest turnout for this class ever—along with 32 boats in the Switch One Design fleet, also a record high.

Excitingly, after six races, the current leaders are already making waves in their respective classes. In the WASZP class, Pablo Astiazaran Perez-Cela from Spain leads, followed by Federico Bergamasco from Italy and Peter Cope from the UK. Olivia Castaldi from Italy stands tall in the 6.9 division, while the Switch fleet sees Finley Dickinson (UK), Matteo Paulon (Switzerland), and Francesco Bertone Fresia (Italy) at the helm.

What’s Coming Up?

As the week unfolds, it’s hard not to feel the thrill of competition in the air. The ETF catamaran races are slated to kick off tomorrow, and June 26 is poised to be particularly eventful with the first BirdyFish World Championship featuring 11 teams from six nations. Enthusiasts are gearing up to watch the Moth fleet showcase their prowess ahead of their World Championship in July. The anticipation is almost palpable!

The latter half of the week will include a stellar Pump and E-foil board program, and there’s talk of a possible Downwind Race from Malcesine to Campione, set to start bright and early on Friday.

A Community-Focused Initiative

In keeping with the spirit of community and sustainability, Foiling Week 2025 has adopted the social theme of #regeneration. Initiatives are in place to promote eco-friendliness, including a Vox Maris workshop, set for June 25 and 28, where participants will create bags from discarded fishing nets. Additionally, a lakebed cleanup session, scheduled for June 29 in collaboration with the Atlas Diving Club, aims to protect the beautiful waters that host these impressive events.

Meanwhile, the Foiling Sport Congress will take place at the end of the week, inviting representatives from the global sailing and foiling communities to engage and discuss ways to bolster the sport’s growth.

Celebrating a Milestone in Pensacola

Earlier this year, Pensacola hosted the largest WASZP North American Championship in U.S. history, redefining what’s possible for foiling events in the region. As Sailing.org highlights, the event drew competitors and spectators from all corners of the globe, marking a successful debut that has sparked conversations about a potential return to the U.S. in 2026.

Scott Over, Managing Partner of Foiling Week, lauded the support from the Pensacola community. Athletes, including Olympic medalists and many others, took part in various classes, with winners from the Moth, WASZP, A-Class Catamaran, and BirdyFish classes being celebrated.

Riley Gibbs, who triumphed in the Moth fleet, remarked on the exceptional level of competition present, while the event itself provided a platform for community engagement through beach clean-ups and children’s activities, coupled with a Foiling Film Festival, ensuring a memorable experience for all.

Clearly, whether in the scenic landscapes of Italy or the vibrant shores of Florida, the Foiling Week series has carved out a place for itself in the hearts of many sailing enthusiasts. As we look ahead to the remainder of this week, there’s much to be excited about in the world of foiling.