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WINDSURF SYLT PREDICTIONS

WELCOME TO THE NORTH SEA LOTTERY…

Well, where do we even start trying to unravel this particular World Tour conundrum? Three disciplines, more than 100 competitors and some of the most unpredictable weather and conditions on the entire tour. Yes, welcome to Sylt!

From September 25 to October 4, the churned-up waters of the North Sea will play host to one of the biggest events of the season, with racing, wave and freestyle all fighting for their moment in the spotlight. The sailors will have to dig deep, keep their heads screwed on and be ready to strike whenever the conditions finally decide to play ball.

And that is the tricky bit. Sylt has never been known for handing out easy answers. One minute it can look like a week of nuclear wind and wild seas; the next, the North Sea decides it has other plans entirely and sends everyone out to the horizon to race in offshore winds. Right now, the forecast looks more race-biased, which could make getting meaningful wave and freestyle competition on the board a serious game of weather roulette.

But this is Sylt… and we all know forecasts have a habit of drastically changing in the blink of an eye.

So, with the crystal ball polished, the North Sea ready to rumble and absolutely no idea what Mother Nature has instore, let’s see who we think could emerge from the Sylt madness with the silverware…

Photos: Olivier Caenen // PWA Carter

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A LITTLE PREDICTIONS DISCLAIMER…

Before we get stuck in, apologies if a few familiar names keep popping up in our predictions. But let’s be honest, the best are the best for a reason and when they keep delivering the goods, it’s pretty hard to leave them out!

We could always throw a few wild guesses into the mix, but then we’d be out of business in no time and have to pull up the drawbridge on windsurf towers and go into hiding. Our reputation is at stake here…so…drum roll…here we go! (Get those fantasy predictions in now and don’t blame us if we are totally wrong!)

And a piece of advice…always go with your gut instinct…nothing worse than changing your mind and seeing your original picks smash in the winners!

 

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RACING MEN

1: MATTEO IACHINO

2: MACIEK RUTKOWSKI

3: PIERRE MORTEFON

WILD CARD: AMADO VRIESWIJK

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MATTEO IACHINO

THE ITALIAN MAESTRO

Matteo came flying out of the blocks after moving to NeilPryde earlier this season, scooping the Slalom X world title in Fuerteventura. We’ve seen no reason to doubt that he can carry that hot form onto the foil gear.

One of the most experienced and savvy racers on tour, Matteo knows exactly what it takes to arrive in Sylt tuned, prepared and ready to deliver. The consummate professional, always ready to put the hammer down when the green flag is raised.

Could another Sylt victory be on the cards and then onwards to Japan to fight for another racing title? We certainly wouldn’t bet against it!

MACIEK RUTKOWSKI

FIGHTS TO THE END!

We’re taking a swing at Maciek Rutkowski to make podium in Germany. He may not always have the consistency of some of the other title contenders, but when he’s on… he’s a formidable force on the water.

One thing’s for sure: Maciek is a hard worker and, being based in Poland, he’ll no doubt be well acclimatised to whatever North Sea weather Sylt decides to throw his way.

Mentally, he’ll need to keep things together if the battle for the podium gets tight, but he’s more than experienced enough to know what needs doing on the water and, perhaps more importantly, when not to make those costly errors.

PIERRE MORTEFON

NEVER COUNT PIERRE OUT

If the final day in Fuerteventura taught us anything, it’s that you can never count Pierre out. He’ll fight to the bitter end in any battle and when the pressure is on, he’s more than capable of turning the tables.

It looked like Matteo had the title sewn up heading into the final day in Fuerte, but Pierre doggedly fought, scrapped and clawed his way back into contention, keeping the battle alive right down to the last race.

It’ll be interesting to see how he performs on his North Sails / FMX combination, but you can bet Pierre will have been busy tuning, testing and getting fully revved up for the final stretch of the season.

WILD CARD: AMADO VRIESWIJK

THE NORTH SEA TANK

The only form we have to go on so far this season came from the last event in St. Peter-Ording, Germany, where Amado cleaned up ahead of Fabien Wolf and John Soukas, both fast-improving foilers who are hitting the top of their game.

Amado has always been a strong contender on the foil and, with his North / Future Fly combination, he can certainly be a threat in Sylt. One thing’s for sure: he has the muscle power to hold down his gear when the conditions get gnarly and after quite a few years on the foil, this could well be his year to shine.

If Sylt decides to turn the volume up to 11, Amado could be just the man to handle it.

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FREESTYLE

1: LENNART NEUBAUER

2: YENTEL CAERS

3: BALZ MULLER

WILD CARD: STEVEN VAN BROECKHOVEN

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LENNART NEUBAUER

FULL TANK OF CONFIDENCE

Lennart is oozing with confidence this season and for good reason. He knows his strengths and comes into these events well prepared, fit and mentally in the right frame of mind to go all the way.

As long as the conditions play ball, Lennart will be a formidable opponent, and only a handful of sailors in the fleet have the skill and ability to beat him.

Last year Lennart was nursing an injury; this season he is fighting fit and hungry for the kill. If Sylt gives him the opportunity, expect him to take it.

YENTEL CAERS

THE CHAMPION WANTS TO RETAIN HIS CROWN!

The reigning World Champion came second to Lennart in Fuerteventura in one of the most epic finals in freestyle history. To be fair to Yentel, it could have gone either way, so don’t discount him in Sylt, where he has a solid track record.

A lot will depend on the conditions. Will it be radical freestyle, with sailors throwing everything they have at the judges? Or could it become a battle of attrition in sketchy-but-doable conditions?

We’ll have to wait and find out. One thing is for sure: it is very difficult to count Yentel out of the frame when it comes down to the wire in Sylt. He has all the tricks and talent to go all the way and, no doubt, he’ll be hungry to rack up another World title in Germany.

Could there be a super final for the world title?

Remember, you read it here first!

BALZ MULLER

ROLL THE DICE

Balz has always been an entertainer at every event he has attended, with his extreme level of enthusiasm and innovative, no-holds-barred approach to freestyle.

He has been the man to invent new moves and throw them down, while more recently becoming a little more savvy in his approach to competition. Filling out the score sheet as well as entertaining the crowd on the beach has moved higher up the priority list and that approach paid off in Fuerteventura, where he clocked up his first major podium on the PWA Tour.

If the conditions comply and get wild, Balz can be the wildcard who threatens the hierarchy. If it turns into a pure flat-water showdown on the big gear, maybe he isn’t the man to be backing.

Either way, we’re rolling the dice and hoping Balz can edge his way onto another podium.

WILD CARD: STEVEN VAN BROECKHOVEN

EXPERIENCE COUNTS

At 40 years of age, Steven classes as a freestyle veteran, but his sailing is still on par with most of the freestyle young guns on tour.

Steven also has experience on his side and knows how to play to his strengths and fill out those score sheets when the pressure is on. He may not have quite the same weapons anymore to take on the likes of Caers and Neubauer at their absolute best, but aside from those two big hitters, he can give pretty much anyone in the fleet a run for their money.

Never write off the veteran…

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WAVE

1: MARC PARÉ

2: MARCILIO BROWNE

3: PHILIP KÖSTER

WILD CARD: MIGUEL CHAPUIS

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MARC PARÉ

RIDING THE WAVE

Marc is on a hot streak right now and his sailing has gone next level in all conditions. He recently cleaned up at Wissant in France with a comprehensive display of clinical jumps and radical wave riding that even the likes of Philip Köster found hard to match.

Now with back-to-back victories and confidence riding high, Paré is a formidable force to be reckoned with whatever the conditions. Marc tends to shine when things get tough and will no doubt have his gear totally dialled in for whatever Sylt throws at him.

It would be a brave man to bet against Paré while he is riding this wave of success.

But don’t forget… this is Sylt. Anything can happen.

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MARCILIO BROWNE

THE COMEBACK KID?

Marcilio may not have featured in the winners’ enclosure in the Canary Islands, but do not discount him when it comes to grinding out a result in Sylt.

He’ll no doubt have his equipment tuned and be hungry to make amends and finish the tail end of the season with a bang after poor results by his standards in Pozo and Tenerife.

As we’ve seen at almost every event this year, having those doubles and push forwards on tap is a major key to success, and Marcilio is one of the few sailors who can deliver when it matters.

When the pressure goes up, Brawzinho tends to turn up.

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PHILIP KÖSTER

THE KÖSTER KID RETURNS

Philip is another sailor who looks hungry to get back on top this season, but with Paré on a hot streak, he will have to produce his absolute best to come out on top.

Philip had all the tricks to rival Paré in Wissant, but in our opinion, Paré’s powerhouse wave riding gave him the edge. We loved the one-handed tabletop that Philip threw down in one of his heats in France, and it’s a shame we don’t get to see more variety and moves like this in competition.

We also heard in one of his interviews that Köster is even contemplating coming to Tiree. Now that would be cool to see…Philip ripping up some Scottish waves once he’s done and dusted with Sylt. Philip may seem quite mellow when you hear him in his interviews but we can assure you, he will be fired up to go all the way in Sylt and get back to winning ways!

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WILD CARD: MIGUEL CHAPUIS

THE DARK HORSE

After overcoming the injury that put him out of the picture earlier in the season, Miguel is back charging and looking like a dangerous prospect on the PWA / IWT Wave Tour this year.

Miguel was seen landing the Volwater in Tenerife…a mesmerising forward into back loop…and if he busts that out in Sylt, it could leave the judges reaching for the big numbers.

Last year Miguel made the top four on that dramatic storm-force finals day, so we already know he can handle it when the going gets seriously tough.

We also have our eye on Liam Dunkerbeck, Dieter Van Der Eyken, Victor Fernandez and Takuma Sugi, who could all feature in the great Sylt lottery this year.

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WOMEN

1: SOL DEGRIEK

2: LINA ERPENSTEIN

3: MARINE HUNTER

WILD CARD: SARAH QUITA OFFRINGA

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SOL DEGRIEK

WHO SAID WE WERE PREDICTABLE?

Who said our predictions are getting predictable?

Well, we’re running with Sol Degriek to clock up consecutive victories in Sylt after winning here in 2025. Sol’s wave riding in France looked seriously on point and she won in convincing fashion. If she gets the opportunity, you never know, she might even throw down a double loop once she has filled out her score sheets.

We like the fact that Sol is an aggressive sailor and is never afraid to hit the grinding Sylt shore break. It could be all or nothing, but no doubt she’ll go all in if the conditions are there.

LINA ERPENSTEIN

THE DOCTOR OF DESTRUCTION

Lina is gradually picking up momentum in 2026 after a nasty injury last year. We reckon that, at her best, she will be a formidable force in Sylt.

She has the jumps, the fearless wave-riding style and the ability to go on full attack when the heat is on. If Sylt serves up the kind of conditions that separate the brave from the merely sensible, Lina could be right in the thick of it.

MARINE HUNTER

SYLT SPECIALIST?

Marine is a previous winner in Sylt, back in 2023, and what set her apart was her fearless wave riding when it came to hitting the notorious Sylt shore break.

If it gets big and chunky, then we all know who to look out for when there are some ugly sections to hit. She’ll need a little luck on her side in the jumps department, but if she can nail a back loop and a decent forward, that should be enough to keep her in the mix and allow her wave scores to do the rest.

WILD CARD: SARAH QUITA OFFRINGA

HAVE WE LOST THE PLOT?

We know what you’re saying…

Is Windsurf on drugs?

Leaving SQ out of the equation in Germany?

Actually, thinking about it… maybe somebody did spike our drink.

Over the last three years Sarah’s Sylt results have been 5th in 2025, 1st in 2024 and 3rd in 2023, so by the looks of it, Sylt is not exactly her favourite playground.

She could, of course, come out and blow the fleet away this year and if she does, we’ll probably spend the next six months being reminded of this prediction.

But we’ve decided to go rogue and leave her out of the podium placings. Yes, we will most likely regret that decision.

But you sometimes have to take a chance in life…and that is what we do at windsurf towers!

Sorry Sarah!

And if she wins… this article will self-destruct and be forever deleted from the windsurf back up computers.

Don’t count out Justyna Sniady, Lisa Wermiester, Pauline Katz and Maria Behrens…There is so much talent in the women’s fleet right now almost any sailor in the fleet could feature on the podium!