History is about to be made on the shores of Lake Garda!
After two groundbreaking SFT Downwind Parawing World Cup events in Leucate, France, and Cabarete, Dominican Republic, the inaugural SFT Downwind Parawing World Champions 2026 will be crowned during Foiling Week at Fraglia Vela Malcesine in Lake Garda, Italy, July 2–5.
What began as the newest category within the Downwind discipline on the Surf Foil World Tour has quickly become one of its most exciting, attracting world-class riders from across the globe and showcasing just how quickly the sport is evolving.
The men’s championship remains wide open heading into the final event. Bastien Escofet (FRA) leads the standings after impressive performances in both Leucate and Cabarete, but with valuable championship points still available at Lake Garda, the title is far from decided. Close behind are Dimitry Evseev (MUS), Sergiy Doroshenko (UKR), Tom Pansard (FRA), and Maksim Pashkevskii (RUS) —five riders capable of making history as the sport’s first-ever World Champion.
The women’s division has been equally competitive. Manon Dupe (FRA) arrives at Lake Garda in the strongest position after consistent performances throughout the opening events. She will face fierce competition from Mae Haas (FRA), Viola Lippitsch (AUT), Bowien Van Der Linden (NLD), and Sofia Ginzinger (ESP), all of whom remain firmly in contention heading into the championship finale.
Every tactical decision and every finish could determine who lifts the first SFT Downwind Parawing World Championship trophy. See full parawing rankings.
Lake Garda will host far more than the SFT Downwind Foil World Cup and crowning of the parawing world champions. The event also features the SFT E-Foil World Cup and SFT Pump Foil World Cup, making it one of the biggest stops on the 2026 Surf Foil World Tour calendar. With valuable World Championship points still up for grabs in both disciplines, the racing promises to be just as intense. The E-Foil title battle remains one of the closest of the season, while reigning Pump Foil World Champion Edan Fiander will look to strengthen his lead against an increasingly competitive international field. Across all three disciplines, Lake Garda is set to deliver a weekend of world-class racing with championship implications at every turn.
There could hardly be a more fitting venue for the finale than Lake Garda. Held in partnership with Foiling Week, one of the world’s premier foiling festivals, the event brings together athletes, brands, and fans from across the international foiling community. With Garda’s reliable thermal winds, breathtaking mountain scenery, and passionate watersports culture, the stage is set for an unforgettable conclusion to the inaugural season of SFT Downwind Parawing competition and the ongoing battles within efoil and pump foil.
Event Schedule
- Parawing: July 2–3
- Downwind (Paddle, Foil Assisted, Parawing & Wingfoil) : July 3–5
- Pump Foil : July 4–5
- E-Foil: July 4–5
Stay tuned for highlights, results, and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the week as Foiling Week unfolds.
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👉 For schedules, event information, rankings, and final results, visit the event pages on surffoilworldtour.com/events