bel29 said..
... Drastically reduce the gear: only 1 board/sail/foil for foiling, keep same limit for fin as now (2 boards, 3 sails). Switch to foil somewhere between 17 to 20knots, depending on circumstances and conditions. Racing 34!

Thoughts?

Paducah said..

What's the practical wind minimum of IQ (8.0 and old tech 900) vs PWA (8.0 and new tech 560s for most of the Patrik crowd at Sylt, afaik)?

bel29 said..
Not a lot of chatter about Sylt here so far. Maybe indicative of the slightly underwhelming start to the event so far - not to mention the disappointing lastminute cancellation of the women's foil fleet.
Despite the close technical and tactical racing - which I personally love watching - one can't but think that this is no longer sustainable. The Tour clearly can't sustain two separate racing disciplines, and the market for foil (slalom) racing if it ever existed is melting away. At the same time, it would be foolish - and against development in pretty much all other sailing classes - to give up on the progress made by foiling. So what's next?

My 2 cents: go back to a single racing ranking, combined foil and fin, but race foils only in low wind and switch to fin in medium/high wind (so no mixed racing). Drastically reduce the gear: only 1 board/sail/foil for foiling, keep same limit for fin as now (2 boards, 3 sails). Switch to foil somewhere between 17 to 20knots, depending on circumstances and conditions. Racing 34!

Thoughts?

LyndbyStrand said..
Maybe PWA is the problem?Are PWA looking backward in their effort to solve challenges with new technology? Have a look at SailGP and Americas Cup which successfully have transformed from old school sailing to high tech hydro foiling! Drivers in this transformation is media together with world brands, it is NOT driven by boat yards. A new concept could be that the riders are individual sponsored by companies and with free gear within a box rule. Sails and boards could be in the colors and look of the sponsors which attracts sponsors outside the windsurfing industry which is needed.This sport must be driven by and for the sailors and and all the people that love this awesome sport, and NOT by producers with their own agenda of what is good for them First step in this direction have already been taken, have a look at www.epwtour.comCheersRen?

duzzi said..

The PWA is indeed the problem. They run windsurfing racing as if it was SailGP or the Americas Cup, forgetting that nobody actually uses F50 catamarans or AC75. That is is the core problem: the delusion that there is an actual market for the equivalent of formula 1 cars.

The result have been predictable. Slalom fin boards used to be approachable for almost everybody until, say, 2008-2012, but now a slalom/freerace board is a machine with no low end, hard to jibe, requiring to be massively overpowered to be sailed with any consistency.

PWA Slalom foil is even worse. It helped destroying the whole windfoiling "revolution" with machines that literally a handful of people worldwide could entertain using for fun. I have never seen more than 4 people (#$%!) actually using a slalom foil set up in the Bay Area: 2 of them the F4 development team, seemingly unfazed by terrifying crashes at 30+ knots.

What to do? Stop the mad rush for "extreme" racing formats. Look at winging: thousands of people literally dropped windsurfing, kiting, and windfoiling to embrace a "lame" freeriding sport where people rarely cross 20 knots of speed. Organize races with windsurfing/windfoil equipment that average sailor would actually like to use as a fun toy. It is done routinely with freestyle or wave boards. Maybe that will re-vitalize the sport ... or maybe not.

WillyWind said..






PWA is supposed to be the top racers with the top gear. It is not supposed to be done with freeride gear. I don't think high end foiling killed windfoiling; it was winging. In fact, the same boards and foils used by PWA racers can be used without a problem by anyone (except for the tinier front wings maybe). If just 500 people are watching the races live, how many do you think will tune in to see the same athletes using freeride gear going 25mph? Also I'm pretty sure most of the foil development for windfoiling is coming from racing. another thing: iQfoil is the "low budget" and simple format. There are also pretty good local races in some places.

duzzi said..



Well, that is what the PWA says ... and sure PWA gear fin or foil can be used by everybody. Too bad that people actually don't. And the main reason is because compared to gear we used just 15 years ago the PWA gear is absurdly unpractical. So dump it. Who cares if people look at races on youtube. To grow back the sport you need EASY wide range gear, not crazy-hard boards, sails and foils designed for ultra-fit 100-120 Kg athletes.

WillyWind said..







That easy gear is available already.

Matt UK said..
I can't believe theres no live video of the mens wave finals, such a shame, would be great to watch.

Grantmac said..
15 years ago Formula sails were detonating +$800 masts on the beach just to kind of plane in 10kts.

Meanwhile foils make that performance accessible to all sorts of skill levels.

Matt UK said..
I can't believe theres no live video of the mens wave finals, such a shame, would be great to watch.

Following discussions within the PWA Management Board and consultation with the Race Committee, we would like to inform you of the approved Slalom rule updates for the 2026 season.
These adjustments are designed to reduce rider costs, simplify logistics, and maintain balanced and fair competition across both Foil and Fin disciplines.
1. Foil Slalom Equipment Limits (Foil-only events)
To reduce expenses and create a more level playing field, the following limits will apply at all foil-only Slalom events from January 1st, 2026:
Sails: Reduced to 3 sails
Foil set: Reduced to 1 mast, 2 front wings, 2 back wing & 2 fuselages
The maximum foil sail size will be reduced to 8.0 m?
A temporary tolerance of 0.5 m? for foil sails will apply in 2026 to allow brands and riders time to adapt to these changes
These limits are intended to simplify equipment management while keeping competition close and affordable.
2. Equipment Registration - Slalom X (Fin-only events)
To provide greater flexibility for riders and accommodate a wider range of wind conditions while maintaining cost efficiency, the following new limits will apply for Slalom X:
Sails: 4 fin sails per rider per year, with a maximum of 3 per event
Boards: 3 fin boards per rider per year, with a maximum of 2 per event
The maximum fin sail size will be set to 8.5 m?
This adjustment responds directly to sailors' requests, offering ample choice and flexibility for fin-only events while keeping logistics under control.
With the additional board and sail, we are aiming to make fin racing possible from as low as 12-16 knots, particularly at lighter-wind venues.
This configuration will serve as a test model for 2026, and if successful, similar regulations may be extended to foil sails from 2027 onwards.
3. NEW Combined Foil & Fin Events (max. sail size remain same as Foil/Fin-only events)
At events where both Foil and Fin Slalom are run as part of a new combined format (separate racing, same event), the foil gear allowance will be further reduced to encourage efficiency and versatility:
Foil gear: Maximum of 2 sails + 1 board, + 1 Foil set consisting of 1 mast , 2 front wings, 1 back wing + 1 fuselage
Fin gear/event: Maximum of 3 sails + 2 boards
Total combined quiver: 2 foil sails + 3 fin sails + 1 foil board + 2 fin boards
Wind range transition guide: Racing will switch from Foil to Fin (Slalom X) between 15 - 17 knots.
4. Combined vs. Foil-Only Event Planning
For 2026, all European stand-alone racing events should aim to be combined Foil & Fin events wherever possible and viable, provided that the PWA has the financial capacity to support these formats if required.
Europe provides the ideal testing ground to refine this combined event model before expanding globally in 2027, thanks to its logistical accessibility and rider concentration.
5. Rankings and World Titles
For 2026, the PWA will maintain:
A separate ranking for Foil and Fin Slalom.
An overall (unofficial) combined world title & ranking will be introduced, recognising performance across both disciplines.
6. Future Developments
Looking ahead, the PWA is working toward:
Introducing lower-tier and regional events to strengthen the development pathway for new racers.
Enhancing collaboration with IFCA to create greater alignment across international Slalom formats.
Continuing to refine event formats and media delivery to make racing more engaging for fans and partners.
Additionally, the PWA will introduce a men's weight-based ranking for analytical purposes:
Under 80 kg
Over 80 kg
This ranking will serve as an informational classification only; all race results, prize money, and official PWA points will remain based on the disciplines event results.
For women, the standard disciplines ranking will continue to apply without separate divisions.
7. Production Rules and Commercial Availability
Production rules remain unchanged.
However, if a product is proven to be unrivalled in performance, the brand must comment that the same quantity supplied to its riders is also made available for purchase for other competitors.
This ensures fair access to competitive equipment and transparency between manufacturers and riders.
8. Equipment Registration Deadlines
Brands: Equipment registration deadline remains December 15th, 2025.
All brands must submit their registered equipment lists by this date for approval ahead of the 2026 season.
Riders: Equipment registration will take place at the first event each rider competes in during the 2026 season.
We hope these updates and clarifications provide clear direction for all stakeholders as we continue to evolve professional Slalom racing.
These collective adjustments aim to make the sport more sustainable, balanced, and exciting for both competitors and fans.