The ninth edition of the Foiling Awards (IX) is officially in the “decisive phase,” and it’s time to make your voices heard.
Public voting for the 2026 awards is now open, celebrating the most innovative gear, the fastest sailors, and the most impactful projects of the 2025 season. As we saw last year with Canada’s own weCANfoil taking home the “Best Foiling Pathway” award in Milan, our northern foiling scene is no longer just a participant—it’s a global contender.
Since 2016, the Foiling Awards have set the benchmark for excellence in foiling, recognizing the athletes, projects and innovations that are shaping the future of the sport.
Driven by the international Foiling Community, the Awards celebrate impact over results, giving visibility and recognition to those who truly move the sport forward.
What You Need to Know
The Foiling Awards are the “Oscars” of the foiling world, organized by The Foiling Organization. This year features 104 nominees across 13 distinct categories, from high-tech America’s Cup designs to the boards and wings we use on our local lakes.
- Voting Period: February 1st – February 20th, 2026.
- The Big Night: Winners will be announced on March 17, 2026, during a gala dinner in Genoa, Italy, coinciding with the World Foiling Congress.
- The “Forlanini”: One standout winner will also be honored with the overall Forlanini Award, named after the foiling pioneer Enrico Forlanini.
Key Categories to Watch
| Category | What it Celebrates |
| Male / Female Sailor | Best solo foiler on a boat or board. |
| Innovation Technology | The best technical solutions (masts, foils, systems). |
| Foiling Pathway | Programs making foiling accessible to the next generation. |
| Sustainability | Initiatives reducing the environmental footprint of the sport. |
| Production Boats | The best foiling crafts already on the market. |
🏆 The Nominees: Foiling Awards IX
FEMALE SAILOR
FOR THE BEST FEMALE FOILING SAILOR OF A SINGLE-HANDED BOAT OR BOARD.
PRESENTING PARTNER
Pearl Lattanzi
(USA)
Waszp Games Female Winner
Victoria Schultheis
(MLT)
Moth Female World champion
Switch Female Global Champion
Emma Wilson
(GBR)
iQFOiL World Champion
Nia Suardiaz
(SPA)
GWA – World Champion Wave
GWA – World Champion FreeFly Slalom
Marie Schlittenbauer
(GER)
GWA – Surf-Freestyle World Champion
Youth Wingfoil World Champion U19 Surf-Freestyle
Justine Lemeteyer
(FRA)
PWA – Foil Slalom World Champion
Jessie Kampman
(NED)
Women’s Formula Kite World Championships
Maddalena Spanu
(ITA)
IWSA – Women Formula Wing World and European Champion
Andrea Zust
(SUI)
GKA – Ranking Winner Big Air Hydrofoil
Viola Lippitsch
(AUT)
SFT – Pump Foil World Champion
Agnes Wicander
(SWE)
SFT E-Foil World Champion & Efoil Racing League ranking winner
MALE SAILOR
FOR THE BEST MALE FOILING SAILOR OF A SINGLE-HANDED BOAT OR BOARD.
PRESENTING PARTNER
Nicolas Parlier
(FRA)
Tour of France on kitefoil – 2394,5 kms/14 days of sailing
Benoît Marie
(FRA)
First foil Mini 6.50 “Nicomatic – Petit Bateau” of Minitransat 2025
Record 24 hours in a solo race – 352,59 milles at 14,69 knots
Erwan Jauffroy
(FRA)
Longest non stop 100% foiling distance world record on a SUP foil – 156,5 km
Andy Brown
(GBR)
iQFOiL World Champion
Federico Bergamasco
(ITA)
Waszp Games Champion overall & Under 21
Mathis Ghio
(FRA)
IWSA – Men Formula Wing World Champion
Matteo Iachino
(ITA)
PWA – Foil Slalom World Champion
Cash Berzolla
(USA)
GWA – Wave World Champion
Bastien Escofet
(FRA)
GWA – FreeFly Slalom World Champion
Riccardo Pianosi
(ITA)
Men’s Formula Kite World Championships
Formula Kite Youth World Championships
Men’s Formula Kite European Championships
Formula Kite Youth European Championships
Enzo Balanger
(FRA)
Moth World Champion
Benjamin Castenskiold
(DEN)
GWA – Surf-Freestyle World Champion
Hugo Wigglesworth
(NZL)
GKA – Ranking Winner Big Air Hydrofoil
Justin Chait
(USA)
SFT E-Foil World Champion & Efoil Racing League ranking winner
Edan Fiander
(SUI)
SFT Pump Foil World Champion
Mattia Cesana
(ITA)
Winner of Switch Global Championship
SAILING TEAM
FOR THE BEST FOILING ACHIEVEMENT OF A CREW.
PRESENTING PARTNER
SVR-Lazartigue – Tom Laperche & Franck Cammas
(FRA)
Winner of Transaf Café L’Or 2025 – Ultim
Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team
(GBR)
SailGP 2025 Season Champions
Charal – Jérémie Beyou & Morgan Lagrevière
(FRA)
Winner of Transaf Café L’Or 2025 – Imoca60
Team Biotherm
(FRA)
Winner of The Ocean Race Europe 2025
Entreprises du Morbihan
(FRA)
ETF 26 2025 ranking winner
Sails of Change 8 (SUI 8)
(SUI)
TF35 2025 ranking winner
John Gimson & Anna Burnet
(GBR)
Nacra17 World Champions 2025
INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY
FOR THE BEST FOILING TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT AND/OR SOLUTION (HULL EXCLUDED), APPLICABLE ON SAILING AND/OR POWERED VESSELS AND/OR BOARDS.
Flyte – Autopilot rake control
Minilab’s Sustainable Hydrofoils: LMPAEK™ Innovation
Foil Drive – Fusion
Starboard – Aluminium mast V10
Charal – “A” rudders foil
Foil Cedrus – Forged mast
T-foils on SailGP F50
Vessev – VS-Drive
Evolo
Regent Craft – Foil and rudder
SUSTAINABILITY
FOR THE BEST FOILING IDEA, INVENTION, DESIGN AND/OR INITIATIVE, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
PRESENTING PARTNER
PoliMi Sailing Team (Politecnico di Milano) – “ALTEA” sustainable foiling Moth prototype
Candela P-12 navigation in Trondheim’s fjords
Starboard and iQFOiL’s Plastic Offset Programme
Minilab’s Sustainable Hydrofoils: LMPAEK™ Innovation
Appletree boards
PROJECT
FOR THE BEST PROJECT OF A SAILING OR POWERED VESSEL STILL IN THE DESIGN PHASE.
PRESENTING PARTNER
Pboats Pocket Spider by Hugh Welbourn Design
The Voodo XF450
The SKAW A
Ferrari Hypersail
Foiler – GHOST
ASKEL66
Trimaran T32
Levanta Tech “float-and-fly” drones
Vessev VS-9 Skye
FOILING EVENT
FOR THE BEST FOILING EVENT (IF A SERIES ON MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, ONLY SINGLE EVENTS ARE CONSIDERED).
PRESENTING PARTNER
Defi Wind – Gruissan
Moth Worlds – Lake Garda
Waszp Games WPNSA Weymouth
Barcelona Mataro Foil Festival
SailGP 2025 Grand Final (Abu Dhabi)
Foiling Week Malcesine
The Crozon Foil Festival
The Ocean Race Europe 2025
Transat Café L’Or 2025
Les Ailes de Saint Tropez
FLITE Dubai International E-Foil Race 2025
FOILING PATHWAY
FOR THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OR ORGANIZATION THAT REALIZED THE BEST FOILING DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE.
PRESENTING PARTNERS
Australian Sailing Para Wing Foil Camp
Junior Foiling Cup
IDP Wingfoil Clinic 2025
Athena Pathway
America One Racing
Foiling Base Cadiz powered by SailGP Inspire
Foiling Academy
PWA Youth Foil Slalom World Tour
K-Challenge Academy
PRODUCTION MOTOR BOAT
FOR THE BEST FOILING ENGINE POWERED CRAFT ALREADY IN PRODUCTION AND BEING SAILED (PROTOTYPE OR BOAT 1 BUILT AT MINIMUM).
Blue Game – BGF45
Vandal v60
Powerplay 40 OB
Aquila 46 Coupe
Aquila 42 Coupe
Aquila 46 Yacht
Proteus 310
Vandal v50
Kaebon – ELEKTROBOOT EINS
Makai M37 Power Catamaran
COMMERCIAL VESSEL
FOR THE BEST FOILING VESSEL INTENDED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SAR, PILOT OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL OR WORK USE.
CAT14
Penguin Princess Fast Crew Boat
ONE-OFF SAILING OR POWERED YACHT
FOR THE BEST FOILING VESSEL NOT INTENDED FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION, ALREADY IN A PROTOTYPE OR TESTING/COMMISSIONING PHASE.
PRESENTING PARTNER
Gitana 18
Palm Beach XI
PRODUCTION SAILING BOAT
FOR THE BEST FOILING SAILING CRAFT ALREADY IN PRODUCTION AND BEING SAILED (PROTOTYPE OR BOAT 1 BUILT AT MINIMUM).
PRESENTING PARTNER
Flyte
FlyTri – Hydrofoil Trimaran sailing
BOARDS AND WATER-TOYS
FOR THE BEST FOILING BOARD OR WATER-TOY POWERED BY HUMAN, WIND OR MOTOR.
PRESENTING PARTNER
Pelagion Hydroblade
Kosmos go-foil
Freucamp Hydrofoil Bike
Aerofoils Hyperfly
Waydoo EVO Pro Plus
Aerofoils Audi e-Tron foil
FLITELab* AMPJET
Fliteboard RACE
Appletree Appleslice V4
Appletree Zapple
Don’t forget to cast your vote! The voting window closes on February 20th. Your input helps decide who takes home the trophy at the gala in Genoa this March.
🗳️ How to Vote
The Canadian foiling community has always punched above its weight. Let’s make sure these innovators know we’re watching from the Great Lakes to the West Coast.
Cast your official vote here before the February 20th deadline or visit Foiling Awards page for more information
