Sylt crowns World Champions in two disciplines as season closes
GKA Kite World Cup Sylt
25-30 August, 2026 | Westerland, Sylt
Sylt welcomed a full fleet for both the one-off World Championship Hydrofoil Big Air event and the Kite-Surf discipline which would be the final event of the 2026 season.
The opening two days proved a tough start, with persistent offshore winds complicating the first round of competition.
By day three the wind swung to a more suitable direction, unlocking full-power conditions and letting the event get properly underway.
Women’s Kite-Surf
After no result could be reached for the women at the season-opening stop in Cape Verde — the conditions simply wouldn’t allow it — the entire title picture rested on this one event. The World Title was decided right here, in Germany.
Seven athletes registered to compete, with the field whittled down to a final four for the semi-finals.
Camille Losserand of Switzerland faced off against young German talent Kaya Lehmann. Lehmann defended herself well, but it wasn’t enough against the experience of Losserand, who built a solid lead and locked down her spot in the final.
The second semi-final pitted current World Champion Capucine Delannoy against Charlotte Carpentier. Delannoy was relentless, landing trick after trick to post an outstanding overall score of 30.80 points and sailed through to the final with her eyes set firmly on defending her title.
Women’s Kite-Surf Finals
In the mini-final for third, Kaya Lehmann had one objective: a podium finish. She fought from start to finish, building a lead over Charlotte Carpentier to claim the spot.
The final was a tight battle between defending World Champion Capucine Delannoy and Camille Losserand — trick for trick, the two were separated by fractions of a point deep into the heat. Delannoy stayed composed and consistent throughout, while Losserand, who started strongly, made the strategic call to switch kite size midway through the heat. The gamble didn’t pay off, and she couldn’t land the tricks she needed in the closing stage. Delannoy sailed to shore with her fifth World Title in hand — another year at the very top of her discipline.
Final Results:
1st – Capucine Delannoy (FRA)
2nd – Camille Losserand (CHE)
3rd – Kaya Lehmann (GER)
4th – Charlotte Carpentier (FRA)
After a short break the men’s Kite-Surf hit the water ready to battle it out for the 2026 World Titles.
Men’s Kite-Surf
Conditions were still pumping for the men’s division, and by round three the judging criteria had shifted from 100% Surfboard Freestyle to mixed Wave, adding some welcome variety to the heats.
The standout performers of round three were brothers Leonardo and Lorenzo Casati, who both locked down big scores, alongside Gabriel Benetton, Airton Cozzolino, and James Carew.
Quarter-finals kicked off in the early afternoon, and things heated up fast. First out, Matchu Lopes eliminated Charly Martin, looking hungry for a strong result this week. Leo Casati and Gabriel Benetton went heat for heat in a tight matchup, but Benetton edged ahead to advance. The closest call of the day came between Airton Cozzolino and Keanu Merten: the heat was neck and neck until Cozzolino suffered a massive crash, losing his kite and struggling to recover. Just as it looked like Merten had done enough to advance, Cozzolino caught one final wave on the buzzer that handed him the lead — and the semi-final spot, eliminating Merten in the process. In the last quarter-final, James Carew eliminated Lorenzo Casati, who struggled to find the scores he needed.
Next came the semi-finals, opening with Gabriel Benetton against Matchu Lopes. Benetton held the lead through the freestyle trick segment, and although Lopes hunted for a comeback in the wave-riding portion, he couldn’t find what he needed. Benetton advanced to the final.
Unfortunately, Cozzolino had injured himself in the previous heat and, despite advancing to the semi-final, was unable to compete. That automatically placed Lopes in 3rd, and set up the final: Gabriel Benetton vs. James Carew. Both riders completed the freestyle trick segment with Benetton holding a slight lead. Wave-riding points were still up for grabs, and both athletes hunted for a suitable set. Just as it looked like Benetton had the win locked up, Carew produced a final 313, scoring 8.67 and snatching the win by a fraction of a point. Not only did he take the Sylt event, but with that result, James Carew became the 2026 GKA Kite-Surf World Champion — his 5th World Title.
Final results:
1st – James Carew (AUS)
2nd – Gabriel Benetton (BRA)
3rd – Matchu Lopes (ESP)
4th – Airton Cozzolino (ITA)
With the Kite-Surf results in the bag, the focus shifted to the completion of the Hydrofoil Big Air.
Women’s Hydrofoil Big Air
Ola Markowska set the tone in the first women’s semi-final, stringing together a clean, polished run of tricks to book her spot in the final. Behind her, the remaining three riders in the heat fought a much tighter battle for the second final spot, with Kailani Friedrich snatching it in the closing seconds courtesy of a Backroll Board Off.
The second semi-final belonged to the front-runners early, with defending World Champion Andrea Zust of Switzerland putting together a strong, composed heat. Christelle Divry looked well placed to join her in the final until newcomer Aya Kasabova caught fire late, landing a string of exceptional tricks that vaulted her into first place. Kasabova’s charge sent her through to the final alongside Zust, eliminating Divry and Michnuk at the semi-final stage.
The big final belonged to current World Champion Andrea Zust, who rode with confidence and consistency from start to finish. Kailani Friedrich stayed close behind, locking down second place, while Aya Kasabova and Ola Markowska trailed further back. Positions held right to the end, and Andrea Zust sailed to shore as Hydrofoil Big Air World Champion once again — an incredible result for an athlete who balances her kitesurfing career with life as a full-time doctor.
Final Results:
1st – Andrea Zust (CHE)
2nd – Kailani Friedrich (AUT)
3rd – Aya Kasabova (BUL)
4th – Ola Markowska (NED)
The final discpline to completed during this busy week of competitoin was the men’s Hydrofoil Big-Air.
Men’s Hydrofoil Big Air
Alex Soto pushed through frigid North Sea conditions, riding well enough in the early rounds to advance to the semi-finals. Finn Flügel was the standout of the day — untouchable from the very first heat, in a class of his own. Lorenzo Casati once again proved why he’s one of the tour’s most versatile athletes, stringing together clean, technical runs to punch his ticket to the semis. The defending 2025 World Champion Hugo Wigglesworth reminded everyone exactly why he wears the crown, delivering the composed, high-scoring riding that’s made him the man to beat in this discipline.
In the semi-finals, Finn Flügel was on a different level entirely — trick after trick, racking up scores that locked down his spot in the final well before the heat was done. Martin Koblischke joined him, advancing ahead of Alex Soto and Robby James.
The second semi-final belonged to an outstanding performance from Hugo Wigglesworth, who posted an overall score of 36.44 points on the back of relentless height and clean execution throughout. The battle for the second final spot came down to the Casati brothers and Lasse Geisler, with Lorenzo Casati edging ahead to join Wigglesworth in the final.
The focus now shifts to the men’s Hydrofoil Big Air finals that take place tomorrow, the final day of the event window.
words: Gemma Hamaini
images: Lukas K Stiller