WingFoil Racing World Cup
Maloja magic: Tomasi leads as Silvaplana delivers alpine MasterClass
The Engadin Valley has finally witnessed the much-awaited event. After two days of anticipation, the legendary Maloja wind unleashed its fury across Lake3 Silvaplana today. The glacier-fed waters transformed into a high-speed stadium, hosting the Ensis ENGADINWING WingFoil Racing World Cup. Despite a brief delay as the thermal breeze took hold, the international fleet was rewarded with seven exhilarating races in exceptional foiling conditions.
Men’s Fleet: The lake specialist advantage
The Men’s qualifying series concluded today with an explosive display of speed that saw the leaderboard tighten into a high-stakes battle between the sport’s heavyweights. Alessandro Tomasi emerged as the man to beat, seizing the overall lead with a clinical performance that included four race victories. Despite a mid-race crash involving Kamil Manowiecki in a blind spot, the Italian remained composed, utilizing his extensive experience on freshwater lakes to maintain his edge.Overall leader Alessandro Tomasi noted that his familiarity with inland racing gave him a psychological edge today. “It was a good day,” Tomasi remarked. “I’m pretty comfortable in these conditions. My home spot is Lake Garda, so I’m used to racing on lakes.”
The rapid-fire schedule was only halted late in the afternoon when rain clouds moved over the valley, causing the Maloja wind to fade and forcing the abandonment of the day’s final scheduled race.
The standings reflect a razor-thin margin at the top; Tomasi leads with seven points, but reigning World Champion Mathis Ghio and a resurgent Francesco Cappuzzo are locked in a tie just one point behind. Cappuzzo’s performance was a standout highlight; after a dedicated training block and recent competition in Italy, he signalled that he is a serious contestant for the overall victory by claiming two race wins today.
© IWSA media/Robert HajdukNewcomers showing potential and getting ready for the Youth Worlds
The day also provided a glimpse into the future of the sport as the next generation of competitors made their mark. Australian newcomers Banjo Nicholson and Connor Radford stunned the veterans by claiming a race win each. Meanwhile, Kosta Gladiadis proved the depth of the New Zealand contingent, finishing every race in the top seven, including two second-place finishes, as he gears up for next week’s Youth World Championships.
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
Women’s Fleet: Picot remains the benchmark under Italian pressure
In the women’s competition, Vaina Picot remains the undisputed benchmark of the 2026 season. Maintaining her overall lead with characteristic consistency, the French star navigated the shifty lake thermals with precision. However, the “Queen of the Alps”, Maddalena Spanu, made it clear she will not surrender her Silvaplana crown easily. The defending champion struck back with two race wins, reminding the fleet that the title fight is far from over as she sits firmly in second place overall.
The battle for the final podium spot remains wide open. Yana Li (CHN) currently holds third, with Iset Segura (ESP) looming in fourth, setting the stage for a dramatic final series as the women’s fleet prepares for the decisive races ahead.
Looking Ahead to Day 4
With seven races now on the scoreboard, the men’s qualifying series is complete. Tomorrow, the competition enters its most critical phase as the men’s fleet splits into Gold and Silver Fleets, concentrating the world’s elite onto a single, high-pressure starting line. The women’s fleet will continue their battle in a single, high-stakes group.
With tied points and narrow margins across both leaderboards, all eyes are on the horizon in hopes that the Maloja will return for another chapter of world-class flight in the Engadin.
The full results and link the live tracking can be found on the event website:
https://wingfoilracing.com/2026worldcupsui