From July 15th to 19th, St. Peter-Ording, Germany, will host the 2026 IFCA Foiling European Championships as part of the California Windsurf Cup. The event will award the official IFCA Men's and Women's Foil Slalom European Championship titles and for the first time, the results will count for the PWA Rankings.
The championship marks the first event under the new IFCA-PWA ranking collaboration, creating an additional pathway for riders to earn valuable ranking points while competing for a major international title. The event remains an official IFCA European Championship and is not a PWA World Cup or official PWA World Tour event.
With a total prize purse of 40,000 Euros, including a minimum of 25,000 Euros allocated to the Foil Slalom Championship, the event represents one of the most significant racing competitions of the 2026 season with the coveted European Championship titles up for grabs.
The championship will also award up to 9,000 ranking points as a PWA Ranking Event in Foil Slalom, providing an important opportunity for both established competitors and emerging talent to strengthen their position ahead of the PWA World Cup season. While St. Peter-Ording represents the first major ranking opportunity of the year in Foil Slalom, the Citroën Windsurf World Cup Sylt will remain the first event where riders can compete for full World Cup points in the discipline.
In addition to Foil Slalom, competitors will have the opportunity to race in Fin Slalom, with up to 15,000 Euros in prize money available. Athletes may enter either discipline or compete in both categories.
St. Peter-Ording is a unique venue. The event takes place in the middle of the “Wattenmeer” national park. A huge village is set up directly on the giant Ording beach. This is one of Germany’s biggest beaches and you may drive on the sand with a car. If there is good weather thousands of visitors are expected at the beach and will provide an impressive audience. The event offers not only high-performance sport on the North Sea but also an attractive supporting program on land with stands of sponsors and partners in the village and various activities for the spectators. A huge food corner will offer various stands with street food and event catering.
In the evenings that sector will transform into a party zone to host the infamous event parties where riders and visitors can dance and party together until deep into the night. St. Peter-Ording has become one of the most popular stops on the German racing calendar and promises a memorable experience both on and off the water.
The venue offers a diverse range of racing conditions. Competitors may experience everything from flat-water racing in light easterly offshore winds to challenging North Sea swell and stronger onshore conditions generated by passing weather systems. Thanks to the relatively shallow water and extensive sandbanks, the shore break is generally more forgiving than at other North Sea venues, allowing both Foil and Fin Slalom competitions to be conducted safely across a wide range of conditions.
The event village will host sponsor and partner exhibitions, hospitality areas, food vendors and entertainment throughout the week. Athletes will have access to a dedicated rider lounge with water, fruit and snacks, as well as a secured equipment area located directly on the beach. Free rider camping will be available for all competitors and includes access to showers, toilets and electricity. Additional accommodation options are available throughout St. Peter-Ording, ranging from hotels and apartments to campsites and holiday houses.
IFCA and PWA representatives will work together to ensure the sporting administration and ranking integration of the event, reflecting the shared commitment of both organisations to strengthening international competition opportunities within the sport.
Registration is now open and competitors can secure their place through the official event registration portal.
Further Event Information
Direct link to registration:
registration.internationalwindsurfing.com/en/events/register/id/503
Link to wind forecast:
www.windguru.cz/116939
Official IFCA event website (including registration):
www.ifcaclass.com/events/2026-events/2026-ifca-slalom-foil-europeans/
Official organiser event website (German language):
www.windsurfcup.de/events/st-peter-ording