MANEL ARPA AND AGNES WICANDER CLAIM GLORY AT WAYDOO SFT E-FOIL WORLD CUP 2026
Waydoo SFT E-Foil World Cup Shenzhen
May 17 – May 19, 2026 | Shenzhen, China
The SFT Surf Foil World Tour wrote a new chapter in the sport’s history this week.
Forty-seven riders from across the globe descended on Shenzhen for the Waydoo SFT E-Foil World Cup – the first World Tour stop ever held on Chinese soil.
Three days of racing unfolded at the Wuzhou Shanghaiwan Hotel, a venue that felt genuinely unique: pristine nature right at the water’s edge, with Shenzhen’s iconic skyline glowing across the bay in the distance. Not many sporting events get a setting like that. The racing matched the scenery. Breakthrough wins, a record $30,000 prize purse, and a women’s field that showed the world exactly how fast this sport is growing.
SPAIN TAKES THE TOP STEP
In the Men’s Pro final, Spain’s Manel Arpa Zuriguel was simply untouchable – racing a clean, controlled final to take the biggest prize in SFT E-Foil World Cup history. American Justin Chait pushed hard for silver, while Dutch veteran Piet Varkevisser completed the top three.
AGNES WICANDER LEADS THE WAY
Sweden’s Agnes Wicander took the women’s win in dominant fashion, but the result almost undersells what actually happened. A full field of 12 women – from China, Russia, Scandinavia and beyond – brought a level of competition that had set the tone of women’s e-foiling. Russia’s Masha Lyanova and Valentina Butsukina took second and third.
THE REST OF THE FIELD
Germany’s Sebastian Lange won the Challenger division ahead of Australia’s Jeremy Wilmotte and Latvia’s Vladislavs Mironovs. In the Masters, Varkevisser doubled up – adding a division title to his Pro podium – with Australia’s Simon Axmann and Belgium’s Fons De Prins behind him.
WHAT MADE THIS ONE SPECIAL
Shenzhen was always a perfect choice. The city is home to Waydoo, the title sponsor who actually manufactures the e-foils these athletes race on – electric hydrofoils that lift riders clean out of the water at serious speed. Having the world’s best come to race in Waydoo’s own backyard gave the whole event a different energy. The opening ceremony mixed traditional Chinese culture with the sport’s tech-forward vibe, and partners including DJI and Red Bull made sure the production matched the occasion.
WHAT’S NEXT
The tour heads to Munich, Germany next. The season is young, the points are close, and the title race is very much open.
Words: Zuzana Pavelkova
Images: Michal Prouza
Full Results: Waydoo SFT E-Foil World Cup Shenzhen 2026
Men Pro
- Manel Arpa Zuriguel (ESP)
- Justin Chait (USA)
- Piet Varkevisser (NED)
Women Pro
- Agnes Wicander (SWE)
- Masha Lyanova (RUS)
- Valentina Butsukina (RUS)
Men Challenger
- Sebastian Lange (GER)
- Jereme Wilmotte (AUS)
- Vladislavs Mironovs (LAT)
Men Masters
- Piet Varkevisser (NED)
- Simon Axmann (AUS)
- Fons De Prins (BEL)
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