The 2024 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships Begin in Mallorca
by iQFOiL Class Communications 27 Oct 12:00 PDT
27 October – 2 November 2024
The 2024 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships will take place in Sa Ràpita, Mallorca, from October 27 through November 2, gathering the world’s top young windsurfers.
Host organization Vela CN Sa Rapita, in partnership with the International iQFOiL Youth & Junior Class Association and under the authority of the Real Federación Española de Vela, is presenting an event that will bring forth the future stars of iQFOiL, competing in the U19 and U17 divisions across both men’s and women’s categories.
Athletes to Keep an Eye On
In the U19 Women’s division, the standout contender is 2024 Youth Sailing World Champion Carola Colasanto (ITA 239), who earned her title in mid-July at Lake Garda, sanctioned by World Sailing, where only one representative per country qualifies. Rising stars such as Danielle Ziv (ISR 369), who finished 2nd at the 2024 U19 European Championships, and Nela Sadílková (CZE 80), who took 3rd in the same event, will also challenge for top positions. Young talent Medea Falcioni (ITA 57), just 14 years old, already boasts the title of 2024 U19 European Champion, despite competing in the U15 category. Additional strong contenders include Francesca Maria Salerno (ITA 9), the 2023 U17 World Champion, and Maya Gysler (NOR 21), who has excelled in both U23 and Senior European Championships.
On the men’s side, Federico Pilloni (ITA 286) is the 2024 U19 Youth Sailing World Champion. Along with Leonardo Tomasini (ITA 155), the reigning 2023 U19 World Champion and 2024 European Champion, they’ll face stiff competition from athletes like Antonio Medina Rodríguez (ESP 10), Kylian Manhaval (FRA 1908), and Noam Kobel (SUI 101), who have all secured top ranks in recent competitions and are ready to deliver impressive performances.
For the U17 Women, keep an eye on Martina Mantovani (ESP 636), who has earned medals in recent championships, and Maria Rudowicz (POL 71), the 2024 U17 European Champion. In the U17 Men’s category, David Aleshko (ISR 688) and Pierluigi Caproni (ITA 10) come in with recent top placements in the European Championships and aim for podium finishes in Mallorca.
Competition Layout
The competition will kick off with the Qualifying Series, with 375 sailors battling for spots in the Final Series: the top 50 percent will qualify for the Gold Fleet, while the rest will compete in the Silver Fleet. Following these rounds, the top 10 boards overall will progress to the Medal Race Series, structured as follows:
1. Quarter Final
The boards ranked 4th through 10th overall after the Opening/Final Series will race in the Quarter Final. The top 2 from this race will advance to the Semi Final.
2. Semi Final
The Semi Final race will include the top 2 from the Quarter Final, alongside the boards ranked 2nd and 3rd overall from the Opening/Final Series. The top 2 from this Semi Final will move on to the Grand Final.
3. Grand Final
The Grand Final consists of the top 2 finishers from the Semi Final and the board ranked 1st overall from the Opening/Final Series. The Grand Final winner will be crowned the event’s overall champion, with the second and third positions determined by their Grand Final standings.
This distinctive format increases the stakes in the final stages, ensuring every race in the Medal Series can influence the outcome.
This competition not only emphasizes the emerging talents within the iQFOiL class but also showcases the skill and excitement inherent in youth windsurfing, providing a glimpse into the future of this expanding discipline.
The entry list is available here.
