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 marks the first collaborative event between the International Funboard Class Association (IFCA) and the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA).
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 count as a 4-Star PWA World Series event, with the results contributing towards the PWA World Rankings and 9,000 ranking points awarded to the winners.
In addition to Foil Slalom, competitors will have the opportunity to race in Fin Slalom, which will offer up to 15,000 Euros in prize money. 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 in the nights. SPO will be a memorable experience!
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.
A joint team of IFCA and PWA officials will oversee the competition, reflecting the shared commitment of both organisations to delivering high-quality racing and strengthening international cooperation within the sport.
The registration for the event is open and the early bird entry period ends on June 15th!
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 organizer event website (German language): www.windsurfcup.de/events/st-peter-ording