Wingfoil World Cup Switzerland
Gold Rush in the high mountains: The new champions of Silvaplana revealed
Switzerland reached a breathtaking conclusion today on Lake Silvaplana, proving once again that in the world of high-stakes foiling, it is never over until the final reach. While the legendary Maloja thermal wind remained elusive throughout the morning, suppressed by a stubborn northerly gradient wind, the patience of the organisers and the international fleet from 18 countries was finally rewarded. Shortly before 16:00, the thermal breeze roared to life, setting the stage for a dramatic Medal Series that saw a stunning leaderboard overhaul in the men’s fleet and a heroic title defense in the women’s..
© IWSA media/Robert HajdukMen’s Fleet: Manowiecki’scomeback and the Italian heartbreak
The men’s Medal Series was defined by drama and a shifting of the guard. Following the cancellation of the Golden Ticket race due to the morning’s wind delay, the 10th placed in the Opening Series Alberto Citzia (ESP) advanced directly into the Quarter Final. This round was marred by a high-speed collision between Citzia and Thomas Proust (FRA), which resulted in a disqualification for the young Frenchman and allowed Sean Herbert (NZL) and Michele Capitani (ITA), who sailed his first medal series at a World Cup Series event, to progress.
The Semi Final saw fourth placed Julien Rattotti (FRA) and third placed Kamil Manowiecki (POL) assert their dominance, marching into the Grand Final to face the event-leading Italians, Alessandro Tomasi and Francesco Cappuzzo. In the first race of the Grand Final, a collision on the first upwind between the two Italian leaders shattered their hopes for a straight-set victory. Demonstrating the sportsmanship for which he is known, Tomasi took a penalty for his breach and finished at the back of the fleet alongside Cappuzzo.
Kamil Manowiecki, the winner of the previous World Cup stop in Türkiye, capitalized on misfortune of the Italians and scored his first bullet of the final after an intense duel with Rattotti. With three riders on match point, Manowiecki remained in a state of flow, winning the second race of the Grand Final to secure the overall victory of the event.
The battle for the remaining podium spots was decided by a tie-break, with Francesco Cappuzzo securing silver and Alessandro Tomasi taking the bronze. The 2026 Formula Wing European Champion Julien Rattotti finished the event in fourth.
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
Women’s Fleet: Spanu defends the alpine crown
The women’s Medal Series delivered a masterclass in resilience, beginning with a breakout performance from Klara Chalupnikova (CZE). After a dominant victory in the Quarter Final with a massive lead, Chalupnikova carried her momentum into the Semi Final to claim another win. She was joined in the Grand Final by Yana Li (CHN), who staged a heroic recovery after falling off her foil to secure the second advancing spot. This high-pressure progression brought a premature end to the event for Charlotte Barruzzi (ITA), Iset Segura (ESP), and Marta Monge (ITA), who finished the event in 5th through 7th place respectively.
The stage was set for a heavyweight showdown between the season’s benchmark, Vaina Picot (FRA), and the 2024 and 2024 Silvaplana winner Maddalena Spanu (ITA). Despite Picot entering the Medal Series with a nearly perfect score from the Opening Series, the unique format proved that experience under pressure is paramount. In a dramatic turn at the leeward gate, misfortune struck the young French star as she fell off her foil, opening the door for her rivals.
Spanu, the 2025 Overall World Cup winner and Formula Wing World Champion, seized the opportunity with clinical precision. Leveraging her extensive experience, she powered away to win the race and secure her first victory of the 2026 World Cup Series. Picot took second place overall, while Li in third and Chalupnikova in fourth signalled their future potential.
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
Looking Ahead: From World Cup to World Championships
While the podiums at the 2026 Ensis ENGADINWING WingFoil Racing World Cup Switzerland have been decided, the wingfoiling world remains centred on Silvaplana. Tomorrow marks the registration for the 2026 Formula Wing Youth and WingFoil Open Masters World Championships, which will be held at this very venue over the coming week. Racing for the new world titles is scheduled to begin on Monday afternoon, concluding on June 26.
Follow updates on social media and the official event website:https://wingfoilracing.com/2026youthworlds
The WingFoil Racing World Cup Series will then head south to Gizzeria, Italy, from July 8-12 for the fourth stop of the season.
