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MARIA BEHRENS: THE NEXT WAVE

At just 23 years old, German wave sailor Maria Behrens is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting names in women’s wave sailing. Raised on the Baltic coast near Lübeck and inspired by family sessions in the waves, Behrens has made a fast progression to being one of the top ranked riders on the PWA tour. Fresh from an emotional runner-up finish at the Maui Pro Am in Maui and currently sitting second in the 2026 world rankings, she talks about life on tour, balancing studies and sponsorship, her love for Ho‘okipa and why the latest generation of women’s wave sailing has never looked stronger.

Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries and PWA Carter.

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WINDSURF: What is your background where are you from in Germany?

MARIA BEHRENS: I’m from the north of Germany, from a city called Lübeck near the Baltic Sea. Whenever I’m home, I usually go windsurf there. But I also have Spanish roots, because my mum is from Sevilla, so our lifestyle is strongly influenced by Spanish culture. I love it!

WINDSURF: Where did you learn to sail and when did you get into wave sailing?

MARIA BEHRENS: My parents taught me how to windsurf when I was 12. I started on a shallow lake near my home, learning the basics. At some point, I really wanted to join my parents in the waves instead of waiting in the camper van, so I needed to learn how to water start. In 2014, we travelled to Maui, where I finally mastered it in deep water. After that, I was ready to ride small waves at the Baltic Sea…and eventually all over the world.

WINDSURF: What were you goals with wave sailing when you first got into it?

MARIA BEHRENS: My main goal was to be able to share all windsurf sessions with my parents. I wanted to jump and surf waves like my dad!

WINDSURF: What did you study at school and can you use anything you learned in your windsurfing career?

MARIA BEHRENS: At school, I was in a sports-focused class that combined both practical and theoretical elements. We developed physical skills, learned training methods and studied sports science. Today that knowledge helps me a lot when analysing my movements during sailing or when creating a specific workout plan for the gym.

At the moment, I’m pursuing a bachelor’s degree in online marketing, and there are many aspects of it that I can apply to both areas. It’s really interesting to me because nowadays it’s not just about being an athlete anymore, but also about representing yourself in the right way on social media and to potential sponsors.

WINDSURF: What were your first competitions and how did you first get sponsored?

MARIA BEHRENS: My first ever competition was the Danish Open in Klitmøller in 2018. A friend encouraged me to join, and it turned out to be such a cool experience. In 2019, I entered my first international event on Tenerife in the U20 category. At that time, I didn’t have a sponsor yet.

WINDSURF: When and how did you join the Duotone Team?

MARIA BEHRENS: I got in touch with Duotone through the Freerider shop in Hamburg. I signed with Duotone at the end of 2019 and met the team behind the brand straight after at Boot Düsseldorf, where I also received the Rookie of the Year award for 2020.

WINDSURF: You also do wing foiling how do you combine the two sports?

MARIA BEHRENS: The past years, I’ve been getting more into wave wing foiling, especially since Duotone started developing more wave-specific wing foil gear. Whenever I travel to PWA tour stops, I always bring my wing foil equipment to train for the Wingfoil World Tour!  I mean it’s hard not to when you visit perfect wave destinations like Chile, Maui, or the Canary Islands.

WINDSURF: What are your ambitions with your windsurfing?

MARIA BEHRENS: My dream is to become Women’s Wave World Champion one day. Along the way, I want to push my limits and improve my skills in both jumping and wave riding across all kinds of conditions. Finishing second on Maui was one of those milestones that brought me closer to my goal.

WINDSURF: You are currently sitting second in the world in the 2026 rankings…how does that feel?

MARIA BEHRENS: It feels amazing! There are still many World Cups ahead this year, but starting the season with such a strong result is incredibly motivating! For now I am just enjoying seeing myself in second place in the ranking ha-ha!

WINDSURF: What did it feel like to make the final at the Aloha Classic?

MARIA BEHRENS: It was my most emotional moment of the event. I knew my parents were watching the live stream, and I started crying because it felt so special and because I was very proud of myself. Coming from northern Germany and reaching my second final in Pacific conditions at Ho’okipa, Maui, is a huge achievement for me.

WINDSURF: Were you pleased with the way you were riding and your wave selection also?

MARIA BEHRENS: On the first day, I wasn’t fully satisfied because I didn’t go for the bigger sets. I knew I needed to take those risks to score higher, and I managed to do that the following day. In the end, I was really happy with both my wave selection and my riding, even though the conditions were a bit onshore. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that much fun and flow in a competition before.

WINDSURF: How tough was the first onshore day?

MARIA BEHRENS: Getting out through the channel on the first day was really challenging because the current was pushing toward the rocks. Many riders were already heading out around 25 minutes before their heats just to make sure they were in position on time. Once outside, the light and onshore wind made it hard to get upwind. Because of that, wave selection became extremely important, with only 12-minute heats, you couldn’t afford to waste time getting back into position.

The actual wave riding turned out to be less difficult than I expected. Before the competition, I only had two days of training at Ho‘okipa in similar side-on conditions. It helped me to adapt quickly and to feel prepared for the conditions we were expecting during the event.

WINDSURF: Were you emotional after the final?

MARIA BEHRENS: Of course, finishing second and reaching the podium was an incredible feeling and I was extremely happy and proud, but at the same time it almost felt unreal. There was barely time for me to process my emotions in between the heats so I don’t think I fully understood what I had achieved in that moment. Only afterwards, I slowly started to realize how special that result actually was.

WINDSURF: How do you like Maui and sailing at Ho‘okipa?

MARIA BEHRENS: Maui is magical! It’s every water sports lover’s dream. The North Shore, where I usually stay, is all about ocean sports, offering incredible conditions for surfing, windsurfing, and foiling. The west side of the island also has stunning landscapes and great hiking opportunities, same as the East.

Since my first time on Maui in 2014 my dream has always been to windsurf in Ho’okipa. The life guard tower at the beach and it‘s unique conditions makes it one of the most iconic spots in windsurfing. I really love the waves, I love the water colour but I hate the rocks! Ha-ha!

WINDSURF: How do you feel about the level in women’s wave sailing at the moment?

MARIA BEHRENS: I’m really impressed by the level right now. The women’s fleet is incredibly strong, and it’s inspiring to see everyone pushing their limits. I can‘t wait for this summer in the Canaries for every one to bust out their moves. It’s so cool to be part of such a supportive and talented community.

WINDSURF: What other sailors do you look up to on tour?

MARIA BEHRENS: I really look up to Sarah-Quita Offringa. For me, she’s the definition of an all-around windsurfer. I’ve always admired her jumping and wave riding, and how good she performs in all kinds of conditions. She’s also a very open and helpful person off the water, which I really respect.

WINDSURF: Is it easy to be able to afford doing all the events on tour?

MARIA BEHRENS: It’s definitely not easy. As a 23-year-old athlete, I’m still studying and working at the same time, so I really have to manage everything carefully. Traveling, equipment, entry fees…it all adds up pretty quickly.

I’m doing about five events this season, which is a good balance for me right now. I get support through my sponsors, but it’s still important to plan ahead and sometimes make compromises. At the same time, I see it as an investment in my career, so I try to make it work as best as I can.

WINDSURF: What about your gear, what were you riding in Maui?

MARIA BEHRENS: I was mainly riding the Duotone Ultra Grip 69L with the 4.5m Super Hero D/LAB. Because of the lighter wind, I used my biggest sail, which is still very light thanks to the D/LAB construction. It makes it easy to connect my bottom turns and brings me to the top of the wave effortless even in slightly onshore conditions like we had. The board has around 10L more than my body weight. It’s rail work feels so stable and smooth in bigger wave conditions. This board and sail combination is my dream setup for Maui!

WINDSURF: How do you like the latest Duotone wave Boards and sails?

MARIA BEHRENS: I really like the latest Duotone wave boards and sails. You can feel that a lot of development has gone into them over the past years.

The boards give a lot of control but still feel loose and playful when you push them in the wave, which is exactly what I want in competition.

The sails are super stable but still powerful and reactive when you need it. Overall, it just feels like gear you can fully trust on the World Tour, no matter what conditions you get.

WINDSURF: How do you like the new ION range and what wetsuit do you wear in the winter at home and in the warm in Maui?

MARIA BEHRENS: I’m really impressed by the new ION wetsuits. Over the past few years, they’ve invested a lot into improving and developing their products, and you can really feel it. During winter, I usually wear the Amaze Amp 6/5 with the integrated hood. It keeps me warm and at the same time allows a lot of freedom of movement, which is rare for such a thick wetsuit. When I’m on Maui, I mostly use the Amaze Amp shorty. It’s made with flexible, eco-friendly materials that make it super comfortable to wear. That flexibility really improves the overall feeling on the water.

WINDSURF: Do you still sail a lot in Germany?

MARIA BEHRENS: Yes, as soon as there are good conditions at home, you can find me on the water. It doesn’t matter what time of the year. As soon as it’s above 2 degrees!

WINDSURF: What are your other favourite locations to windsurf and compete?

MARIA BEHRENS: Other place I really like to windsurf at are Hanstholm in Denmark, El Cabezo in Tenerife and I actually can’t wait for the Grand Final event in Chile.

WINDSURF: Do you enjoy the travel side of windsurfing?

MARIA BEHRENS: Yes definitely!! I’m very grateful for every trip and for the opportunity to experience different cultures and meet new people. The hardest part is definitely traveling with all the gear. The amount of board bags can be really annoying some times.

WINDSURF: What do you love about windsurfing?

MARIA BEHRENS: It’s difficult to describe, but being out on the ocean gives me a unique sense of freedom. Far away from everyday distractions and surrounded only by nature. I also love the feeling of adrenaline before going on the water, knowing that you’re facing natural conditions you can’t control. It’s an experience that very few sports can offer.

What I appreciate most about windsurfing, is the sense of community that comes with it. Through the sport, I’ve met amazing people and made close friends from all around the world, which I’m truly grateful for.

WINDSURF: Where do you see yourself in ten years time?

MARIA BEHRENS: In ten years, I see myself continuing to compete at a high level, while also inspiring younger athletes and sharing my experience with the next generation of windsurfers and wingfoilers. Hopefully also teaching my own children by then.

At the same time, I want to build a life that allows me to compete, travel and work on projects I’m passionate about…whether that’s within the windsurfing industry or not. Most importantly, I still want to have the same passion and excitement for being on the water that I have today!!!

WINDSURF: Three words to live by?

MARIA BEHRENS: Live, smile, respect!