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Introduction

Hidde van der Meer is a young Dutch iQFoil talent who competed for a spot at the Olympic Games earlier this year. Currently, he is racing in the Slalom discipline at the PWA tour in Fuerteventura. In this article, we delve into the key differences between the IQ Foiling Class and the traditional foil slalom class known from the PWA.

Differences in Disciplines

The primary differences between the Olympic IQ foil windsurfing class and the foil slalom class are the equipment used and the disciplines competed in. Foil Slalom is purely about going as fast as possible on a broad reach. In contrast, the IQ Foil class features three disciplines:

  1. Slalom: Similar to PWA slalom, focusing on beam reaches.
  2. Course Racing: This involves racing upwind and downwind legs.
  3. Marathon: A long-distance race lasting at least an hour, involving the entire fleet, which can be up to 200 competitors. These large-scale races provide a spectacular sight.

Equipment Differences

The equipment differences are also notable. The PWA is akin to Formula 1 in windsurfing, with continuous innovation and development. There are certain "box rules" within which brands must operate, but they have the freedom to develop the fastest gear possible. This results in highly advanced and fast equipment. Furthermore, every rider competing in the PWA can register their own pieces of equipment. In comparison, the iQFoil gear is a one-design class where all manufacturers must produce equipment according to the same specifications. Initially, Starboard, Future Fly, and FMX were making iQFoil gear, but now only Patrik and Starboard supply it. The standardized iQFoil gear is designed to ensure fairness and accessibility.

You can find the iQFoil products on our website here: https://surf-center.com/en/windfoil/iqfoil

Required Skills

The required skill for the competitors also differs. In the PWA, races only occur in good wind conditions, which means there's no (or at least less) need for pumping. This allows sailors to focus on maximizing leverage and speed. For iQFoil racing,, competitions often also happen in lighter winds, necessitating less weight and greater fitness to maintain flight and accelerate after tacks or gybes. Pumping in the iQFoil class acts as a turbo boost, requiring high fitness levels to use pumping effectively and sustain throughout a race.

Schedule and Races at the Paris Olympics

During the Paris Olympics, five race days are planned, with the medal races scheduled for Friday, August 2. If there’s no wind, there is a reserve day. The top ten competitors advance to the medal races. In these races, competitors can still win the event, even if they start in tenth place, making the competition highly unpredictable and exciting.

The medal races follow a specific format:

  • Quarterfinals: Sailors ranked fourth to tenth race against each other. The top two from this race advance.
  • Semifinals: The winners from the quarterfinals join the second and third-ranked sailors. The top two from this race move on.
  • Finals: The winners from the semifinals race against the top-ranked sailors. The winner of this final race becomes the Olympic champion, with the second and third places determined accordingly.

This format ensures a thrilling conclusion, as even the tenth-placed sailor can become the Olympic champion by performing well in the final races.

In Summary

The iQFoil class emphasizes standardized equipment, versatility across various race formats, and accessibility, aligning with the Olympic values of fairness and equal opportunity. The PWA Slalom focuses on high performance, technological innovation, and offers more opportunities for customized and advanced equipment, catering to professional athletes. Hidde van der Meer’s experiences in both disciplines highlight the diverse skill set required to excel in these exciting formats.

Are you excited about these windfoiling classes and ready to take your first steps in windfoiling? At Surfcenter, we offer a variety of windfoiling sets for beginners and provide assistance to get you started. A great set to begin your windfoiling adventures with is the Starboard GoFly for example, complete with this sail and foil. Board: https://surf-center.com/en/starboard-go-fly-2024

Sail: https://surf-center.com/en/severne-foilglide-3

Foil: https://surf-center.com/en/starboard-foil-set-evolution-mkii-supercruiser-2-go-fly-aluminium-2024

More info about the iQFoil disciplines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98J3TqfQC78

If you have any more questions, please let us or Hidde know and we are happy to start your windfoiling journey!