The 2026 Citroën Windsurf World Cup Sylt delivered an incredible week for Team Starboard, with Lennart Neubauer claiming his second Freestyle World Title, Matteo Iachino taking the Foil Slalom event victory and Fabian Wolf securing a career-best second place. Three outstanding performances, two event victories and a World Championship title made Sylt another unforgettable stop for the Starboard team.

Lennart Neubauer – 2026 Freestyle World Champion!

Unbeaten in 2026 and back on top of the world! Lennart Neubauer capped off an incredible season by winning the Freestyle event in Sylt and securing his second PWA Freestyle World Championship title. After claiming victory in Fuerteventura earlier this summer, Lennart arrived in Sylt leading the World Tour rankings. Despite the challenging conditions, he once again demonstrated why he is one of the most exciting talents in modern freestyle windsurfing.

With another event victory under his belt, the 22-year-old finished the season undefeated, adding the 2026 World Title to his first championship from 2024. Winning in front of the passionate German crowd made the moment even more special. His combination of technical progression, consistency and determination continues to push the boundaries of freestyle windsurfing. Lennart was using his Starboard iGNITE 93. 

Two World Titles at just 22 years old, and Lennart is only getting started!

Matteo Iachino – Foil Slalom Victory and World Tour Lead

The Foil Slalom competition in Sylt was nothing short of a thriller, with Starboard teammates Matteo Iachino and Fabian Wolf battling for the top spot throughout the event.

Matteo delivered another impressive performance, recording two elimination victories, four second places, a third and a sixth across eight races. His consistency and experience proved decisive as the competition went down to the final elimination.

With just 0.3 points separating the two Starboard riders heading into the last day, everything was still to play for. Matteo held his nerve, finishing third in the final race to secure the overall event victory.

The win marks another major achievement for the Italian, who continues his outstanding 2026 season after already securing the Slalom X World Title.

Matteo now leads the PWA Foil Slalom World Tour rankings heading into the final stop in Japan, putting himself in a strong position to fight for another World Championship title.

 

"I'm really happy with how Sylt went. It was a great competition with plenty of racing and several days of good conditions. I used the Starboard X-15 85 throughout the entire event, and it proved to be an excellent choice in both strong and light winds. It's super stable, fast and easy to pump, which gave me a lot of confidence on the water.

 

Starting the Foil Slalom season with a victory was incredibly important, and heading to Japan leading the rankings definitely gives me an advantage.

 

Japan can be tricky, with anything from super light, patchy and gusty winds to strong side-onshore conditions. That's why arriving there as the rankings leader makes me feel more comfortable.

 

I'm really confident with my equipment, feeling positive and working hard to fine-tune everything before the final event. I'm looking forward to the challenge!"

Fabian Wolf – So Close to Victory, but a Huge Step Forward

If there was one rider who proved that hard work and dedication pay off, it was Fabian Wolf. Competing on home soil, the German delivered one of the strongest performances of his career, going head-to-head with teammate Matteo Iachino for the event victory.

Fabian was in outstanding form throughout the week, claiming three elimination victories and consistently finishing at the front of the fleet. Heading into the final day, he was leading the event and within reach of his first-ever PWA World Tour victory.

Unfortunately, a racing incident in the final elimination prevented him from qualifying for the Winners' Final, allowing Matteo to move ahead in the overall standings.

While narrowly missing out on the win was undoubtedly disappointing, Fabian's second place marks his best-ever PWA World Tour event result and confirms his position among the world's fastest foil slalom racers.

 

"I came into the Windsurf World Cup Sylt 2026 with a lot of confidence. The competition at Lake Garda just before had shown me that I can keep up with Matteo, and that gave me a real boost going into my home event.

 

Sylt itself was anything but easy. The offshore wind made the waves extremely difficult to read, and the strong, gusty conditions turned every heat into a real challenge. That’s where my board really paid off: I was riding the Starboard X-15 in 85 cm width, and even in the gusts it stayed super controllable at high speed, so I could push hard without losing control. On the touchdowns it absorbed the landings super smoothly, which gave me a lot of confidence in those tough conditions.

 

In the end I finished in 2nd place. Of course I’m a bit disappointed to have lost the win, but second is still a great result, and it keeps me fully in the race for the world title.
Competing in front of the home crowd in Westerland is always something special, and the atmosphere on the beach was incredible. Big thanks to everyone who came out to support, and to my sponsors for backing me. Already looking forward to the next event!"

 

His progression, consistency and determination are clear signs that the countless hours of training and hard work are paying off. Fabian has proven that he has everything it takes to challenge for victories at the highest level.

And with the final World Tour stop in Japan still ahead, the battle is far from over!

Both Matteo and Fabian were using the Starboard X-15 85. 

A Strong Team Performance in Sylt

With Lennart Neubauer crowned Freestyle World Champion, Matteo Iachino taking the Foil Slalom victory and Fabian Wolf finishing a close second, the 2026 PWA Sylt World Cup was a huge success for Team Starboard.

These results reflect the talent, dedication and determination of our riders, who continue to push their limits and raise the level of competitive windsurfing.

Congratulations to Lennart, Matteo and Fabian on their outstanding performances!

The Freestyle World Title is decided, but the Foil Slalom World Championship battle continues. Next stop: Japan, where Matteo and Fabian will once again be fighting at the front of the fleet.

Stay tuned. The season isn't over yet!