Buzios, Brazil (December, 2024) – X-15, the innovative wingfoil one-design by FreeWing and Starboard, made waves at the recent Youth Sailing World Championships in Buzios, Brazil. The World Sailing event saw 400 competitors aged 14-18 from 61 nations battle it out in 11 different classes.
Amidst the main sailing competition, X-15 hosted an exhibition letting the sailors experience the exhilarating world of wingfoiling. From seasoned iQFoiL and kitefoil riders to curious boat-class competitors, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Participants, some experiencing wingfoiling for the first time, were quickly up and riding, praising the gear’s responsiveness and incredible upwind and downwind performance.
“The feedback on our gear was fantastic,” says X-15 representative Dan Arnon. “We showed that wingfoiling is not just for strong winds, but performs in light conditions too.”
Italian Youth Sailor Quan Cardi, winner of the two-person Dinghy event (420 Class), also took the X-15 foil equipment for a spin, praising its versatility and racing capabilities. The X-15’s innovative wing trimming options and double surface system were highlights, allowing riders of all skill levels to customize their experience.
“It was exciting to know that there was also wingfoil at the Youth World Championship. I am hopeful that this suggests wingfoil will be able to enter as a youth class very soon. I liked the X-15 Class equipment because thanks to the 82 liter board, the fronts hydrofoil wings and the very performing sails, every racer would be able to go out and compete in all conditions”, says Cardi.
After claiming the 420 Youth World Championship title, Cardi also acknowledged that wingfoil training contributed to his sailing success;
“I think that the wingfoil in this last year has given me a great experience to improve on my boat sailing skills. Thanks to Starboard and Freewing this was possible.”
While X-15 wasn’t officially competing in the event, their demo day proved to be a resounding success. Their presence showcased the growing popularity of wingfoiling and its potential to become a mainstay in the sailing world.
iQFoilL Class manager Gonzalo Costa Hoevel shares; “The goal of the collaboration between World Sailing and Starboard at this event was to allow high-performance youth sailors the opportunity to learn about the emerging sport of wingfoiling and its racing possibilities, by demoing the innovative one-design X-15 wingfoil equipment.”
So what’s next for X-15 Class and one-design wingfoil racing?
After the successful demonstration at Buzios Youth World Championships, FreeWing and Starboard have gained invaluable feedback from top sailors and are finalizing the official equipment and pathway.
Newly positioned X-15 Class manager Fiona Wylde sees a bright future for one-design; “As the sport of wing foiling has exploded in recent years, we have seen the competitive side emerge. One of the most bright elements to wingfoiling is how it has become such a fantastic sport for sailors of all levels to learn foiling windsports. The X-15 event in Buzios, Brazil showcased a variety of sailors at different ability levels taking on wingfoiling and learning, improving, and getting exposed to the sport.
Wingfoil is a super fun, competitive, and fast sailing event. I am thrilled with so much positive feedback from the X-15 demo in Buzios and excited to see the growth, especially in youth development, for the one-design Starboard X-15 Class going forward! This is a big step in the development of competitive wingfoiling as a whole.”
See this post for more detailed information on the X-15 Class equipment (link coming soon).
