Gizzeria crowns future kitefoil stars at the 2025 IKA European Junior Championships

Hang Loose Family! The turquoise waters of Gizzeria, Calabria, have once again been the setting for a week of intense competition and excitement with the celebration of the 2025 IKA European Junior Formula Kite Championship . From June 30th to July 6th, the Hang Loose Beach Club hosted 68 riders from various divisions (U21, U17, and U15), cementing itself as a crucial platform for the next generation of kitefoiling talent.

Gizzeria: A Spot of Exceptional Conditions: Known for its reliable thermal breezes and crystal-clear waters, Gizzeria has once again demonstrated why it's a mainstay on the world kitefoiling map. For over a decade, this corner of the Calabrian coast has hosted top-level competitions, offering an unbeatable setting for the sport. The constant thermal breeze and the stunning scenery, with the silhouette of Stromboli volcano on the horizon on clear days, provided a spectacular backdrop for the action on the water.

Prominent figures and promising newcomers in competition

This year's competition brought back champions from previous editions, such as Switzerland's Gian Andrea Stragiotti and Argentina's Catalina Turienzo, both winners of U21 World Junior titles last year at this very venue. They were joined by names like Karolina Jankowska (POL), Derin Atakan (TUR), Dominika Braunova (CZE), and Carmel Avisar (ISR), all eager to improve their results.

One of the most closely watched transitions was Stephan Benes (CZE) , the recent U17 Formula Wing European Champion, who made his kitefoil debut, bringing his speed and agility to the table. Max Maeder (SGP) , just 18 and a Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, returned to defend his European junior title, setting the standard in the men’s fleet. His home challengers included Italy’s Massimo Chieffo and Riccardo Pianosi, while family rivalry was at its peak with Max’s younger brother Karl Maeder racing for Switzerland. British brothers Matthew and Charlie Mann also added intrigue, standing out in a Flysurfer-dominated fleet with their Ozone kites.

In the women's category, the absence of Lysa Caval, who exceeded the junior age limit, opened the field to new contenders. Suofeiya Li (CHN) showed a steady rise, while Karolina Jankowska (POL), just 15 years old and the only girl in her five-person Polish team, was one of the revelations. Britain's Emma and Sophie Rennie also showed strong performances, fueling a new wave of British female kitefoiling talent. 2024 European Junior Champion Derin Atakan (TUR) and World Junior Champion Catalina Turienzo (ARG) engaged in intense duels, pushing each other to the limits.

The championship benefited from the IKA Youth Kitefoil Camp , a pre-event camp led by respected Polish coach Tomek Janiak, which offered valuable sessions on tactics, mental preparation and team optimization.

Exciting days of racing and challenges

The competition began on July 1 with team inspection, followed by four action-packed days of racing from July 2 to 5. Excellent breeze conditions of 10-14 knots in the opening days made for a vibrant start.

In the men's fleet, European champion Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) dominated his opening races, winning them all. However, it wasn't without challenges; Gian Stragiotti (SUI) and Max Maeder (SGP) also proved their strength. The second day was marked by racing incidents and the riders' need to work hard in light, challenging wind conditions. Pianosi suffered mishaps with floating plastics, while Maeder made a mistake on a mark, proving that even the best aren't infallible. Vojtěch Koska (CZE) and Lucas Fonseca (BRA) constantly pressured the leaders.

In the women's fleet, Derin Atakan (TUR) and Catalina Turienzo (ARG) stood out from the start, maintaining an intense rivalry that raised the level of the races. Ella Geiger (GBR) consolidated her third position, showing great consistency.

The grand final and the youth champions

The event culminated on "Big Sunday" on July 6 with the thrilling Golden Ticket Race, which offered a final chance for competitors outside the top nine to advance to the medal series. The final was a true spectacle.

In the men's category, Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) successfully defended his European Junior Champion title. After a week of intense competition, Pianosi and Max Maeder (SGP) faced off in a two-race final. After Pianosi neutralized Maeder's initial lead in the first race, the second saw Pianosi execute a brilliant start maneuver, which led to Maeder committing a decisive penalty. Pianosi took his second consecutive gold medal.

In the women's final, Derin Atakan (TUR) and Catalina Turienzo (ARG) engaged in a tactical duel from the start. Atakan gained a decisive advantage, crossing the finish line first. Ella Geiger (GBR) took European silver, and Derin Deniz Sorguc (TUR) took bronze, culminating an excellent day for Turkish sailing.

IKA European Junior Championship 2025 Podiums

Formula Kite Grand Prix Men:

🥇 Jan Marciniak 🇵🇱

🥈 Anastasis Gkaripis 🇬🇷

🥉 Sylvain Hoceini 🇫🇷

Formula Kite Grand Prix Women:

🥇 Giorgia Speciale 🇮🇹

🥈 Tiana Laporte 🇮🇹

🥉 Marina Vodisek 🇸🇮

2025 Formula Kite Youth European Championship Men:

🥇 Riccardo Pianosi 🇮🇹

🥈 Gian Andrea Stragiotti 🇨🇭

🥉 Vojtech Koska 🇨🇿

2025 Formula Kite Youth European Championship Women:

🥇 Derin Atakan 🇹🇷

🥈 Ella Geiger 🇬🇧

🥉 Derin Deniz Sorguc 🇹🇷

2025 IKA Youth European Championships - Podiums by Age Group:

U15 Men:

🥇 Jean Paul Liechti Villegas 🇨🇴

🥈 Esteban Bernard Pacheco Pico 🇵🇪

U15 Women:

🥇 Molly O'Brien 🇺🇸

🥈 Elisa Houze 🇮🇹

U17 Men:

🥇 Nathan Pearce 🇨🇦

🥈 Sasha Lethulier 🇫🇷

🥉 Massimo Chieffo 🇮🇹

U17 Women:

🥇 Karolina Jankowska 🇵🇱

🥈 Tylia Louber 🇫🇷

🥉 Argyro Krotsi 🇬🇷

U19 Men:

🥇 Gian Andrea Stragiotti 🇨🇭

🥈 Karl Maeder 🇨🇭

🥉 Carmel Notify 🇮🇱

U19 Women:

🥇 Derin Deniz Sorguc 🇹🇷

🥈 Emma Rennie 🇬🇧

🥉 Karolina Jankowska 🇵🇱

Chubanga's success in the championship

The Chubanga brand had an exceptional performance at this championship, taking home two European titles and multiple podium finishes. In the women's fleet, the European podium was 100% Chubanga-powered, with Derin Atakan (🇹🇷) in first place, Ella Geiger (🇬🇧) in second, and Derin Deniz Sorguc (🇹🇷) in third. In the men's fleet, Riccardo Pianosi (🇮🇹) took gold and Vojtech Koska (🇨🇿) took bronze at the U21 European Championship, consolidating Chubanga's presence at the elite level.

All the stunning event images were captured by © IKA media/Robert Hajduk . 📸 @r_hajduk

From SUELTALABARRA, we congratulate all the riders for their incredible performance and the organization for such a successful championship that has given us a glimpse into the bright future of kitefoiling.