2026 Aloha Classic 19.10. - 30.10.2026

World titles on the line as Aloha Classic decides who leads into the Grand Finale in Chile

HO'OKIPA, MAUI – The 2026 World Windsurf Tour is producing some of the tightest title races in years, and the Aloha Classic at Ho'okipa Beach Park, Maui, from 19 to 30 October will go a long way to deciding them. With one event left after Hawaii, a win for any of the top four men or women could send them to the Grand Final in Chile at the top of the world rankings.

Pro Women: a first-time champion within reach

With 29-time world champion Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) sidelined by a foot injury, the Pro Women's title is closer to producing a first-time world champion than it has been in years.

Germany's Lina Erpenstein (Severne Windsurfing) leads the rankings, with compatriot Maria Behrens (Duotone Windsurfing / Maui Ultra Fins) second and France's Marine Hunter (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing) third – the same three riders who filled the podium at April's event in Hawaii. Just over 500 points separate them, and the rankings leader will be who can perform under the pressure of a potential world title.

Belgian teenager Sol Degrieck (Severne Windsurfing), 17, sits fourth and has potential to take the lead in the Pro Women's rankings with a big result, while also chasing the Pro Junior title.

Lina Erpenstein: “A world title has always been the dream and still is. Yet the title race is still very open with a lot of contenders, so I don’t even really feel like I’m leading. I feel less pressure than in the past years and feel more relaxed with my sailing and results.”

Lina Erpenstein moved into world title contention after earning second place in Tenerife

“Being in contention for a world title wasn’t really something I was expecting at the start of the year, but I’m going to give it my all.” Maria Behrens.

Maria Behrens

Pro Men: Ho'okipa specialists hunt the champion

Reigning world champion Marc Paré Rico (Simmer Windsurfing) holds first place on the back of outstanding results in the Canary Islands where he recorded a third consecutive event victory in Tenerife, while finishing in a very close second in Gran Canaria. But Ho'okipa favours the riders who know it best, and two of the men sitting right behind him have some of the strongest credentials when it comes to Ho’okipa..

Marc Paré is looking to defend his 2025 world title

Marcilio Browne and Bernd Roediger (Flikka), third and fourth, are both multiple Aloha Classic winners and among the best riders in Hawaiian conditions. For Roediger, who won the Maui Pro in April, this may be his first genuine shot at a world title, and another win in Maui would bring a big haul of points. Philip Köster (Severne Windsurfing), currently second, could improve his current points haul with a seventh place or better result here.

“For me, I’ve never had more fun on tour. I haven’t done any events where I’ve felt I’m going to them just for points. To come out of that having this current ranking, it feels pretty good. It feels how it should feel. To follow your passion and get some results doing that is a pretty cool feeling. Who knows what will happen in the title race, but what got me to this point is just having fun with it.” Bernd Roediger

However, the title contenders won’t have it easy, with Ho’okipa locals like Kai Lenny and Morgan Noireaux (JP / NeilPryde) ready to play spoiler. Noireaux, who is the reigning event champion, will have his sights set on becoming the most successful Aloha Classic sailor ever by winning a fifth crown to move clear of Robby Naish (Naish Windsurfing), Angela Cochran (Simmer Windsurfing) and Sarah-Quita Offringa - all of whom currently have four Aloha’s.

Can Morgan Noireaux add a fifth Aloha Classic to his trophy cabinet?

Pro Juniors: Wide open in both divisions

The Pro Junior Boys' race is just as open. Australia's Jake Ghiretti (Severne Windsurfing), 19, the 2025 Pro Junior Boys World Wave Champion, leads the rankings, with Gregory Stathopoulos and Leon Maethner (JP / NeilPryde) close behind and each chasing a second win of the season. Japan's Ry Noguchi (Starboard / Severne Sails) could also jump into first place with a win at the Aloha Classic.

In the Pro Junior Girls, Sol Degrieck (17, Belgium) and Australia's Sarah Kenyon, 18, (Severne Windsurfing) resume their season-long duel for the world title.

You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Maui — including the live stream, elimination ladders, entry list and images simply by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Escribano, Noguchi and Kenyon Claim Youth Titles as Aloha Classic Opens at Ho’okipa

HO'OKIPA, MAUI – Chest to head-high waves and cross-offshore winds greeted competitors on the opening day of the 2026 Aloha Classic, as three world title races took a decisive turn at Ho'okipa Beach Park. Spain's Javier Escribano, Japan's Ryu Noguchi (Starboard / Severne Sails) and Australia's Sarah Kenyon (Severne Windsurfing) claimed the Junior Boys, Pro Junior Boys and Pro Junior Girls titles, while the Super Groms put on a show and the Challenger Rounds filled the last four spots in the Pro Men's main draw.

With the season-deciding Grand Final in Chile just weeks away, the results have reshaped the youth rankings heading into the last stop of the year.

Escribano Takes Junior Boys Title

Javier Escribano Toribio (17, Spain) executed a near-flawless game plan to secure his first Aloha Classic victory, posting a heat total of 9.43 in the Junior Boys final. The result hands him a valuable 3,965-point lead in the world title race heading into the Chile Grand Final.

The Spaniard controlled the final from the outset, picking off some of the biggest sets of the day and attacking the lip with confidence to land solid hits and tail slides. Greece's Jason Papanikolaou (15) rode with speed and flow to finish second, just 0.16 points ahead of France's Raphael Dumesnil (15) in third. Chile's Loic Antoine Harfagar went hard at the lip but couldn't find the larger, more connected sets and settled for fourth.

“I want to thank my sponsors, friends, family and everyone who pushes me every day to improve. I felt really good with my wave riding. I was hitting where I needed to hit in the pocket and I did some aerials. I was really happy with my performance in this competition.” Javier Escribano.

Noguchi Wins Pro Junior Boys and Takes the World Ranking Lead

Both Pro Junior divisions were decided over a three-heat leaderboard final.

Ryu Noguchi (19, Japan) claimed the Pro Junior Boys title with one heat win and two second places, a result that lifts him to the top of the world rankings. His consistent speed, aerial ability and aggressive turns made him the standout of the division.

France's Cesar Filippi (20, Duotone Windsurfing) grew stronger as the series went on, winning the final heat with well-timed aerials and tight snaps to finish second overall. Germany's Leon Maethner (18, Duotone Windsurfing), winner of April's Maui Pro, made the strongest start with a convincing victory in Final 1 but couldn’t quite sustain that same dominant performance and finished third. Greece's Gregory Stathopoulos (20) placed fourth, still landing textbook aerials and committed hits.

“I’m super happy to win. I just always try to do my best.” Ryu Noguchi.

Ryu Noguchi mid goiter

Kenyon Edges a Tight Pro Junior Girls Final

The Pro Junior Girls final went down to the wire, with a different rider winning each of the three heats.

Sarah Kenyon (18, Australia) opened Final 1 in style, landing an aerial on her second wave for an 8.97, the highest heat score of the series. Japanese pair Fumi Akita (14) and Natsuki Wakasa (16) also impressed with strong, committed riding and critical hits, and Akita produced the second-best heat score of the series with an 8.03.

Belgium's Sol Degrieck (17, Severne Windsurfing) finished fourth in Final 1 but bounced back in Final 2, using smart wave selection and a string of turns to take the win. That set up a decisive Final 3, where Wakasa played spoiler, claiming victory with a series of fast, explosive lip hits.

Kenyon's consistency across all three finals earned her the title, with Degrieck one point back in second and Wakasa a further point behind in third. The result leaves Kenyon and DeGrieck tied at the top of the 2026 Pro Junior Girls world rankings.

“I’m super stoked to win. I’ve been training really hard as Starboard tack (wind from the right) isn’t what I sail at home, but it showed all that training was worth it. If you put in the time and effort, it helps things to go your way.” Sarah Kenyon.

Sarah Kenyon's consistency earned her the Girls event title

Swift and Glickenhaus Shine in Super Groms

The youngest riders made the most of ideal conditions, with Rocco Swift edging out good mate Akash Glickenhaus (12) by just 0.26 points. Navigating a heavy shorebreak and Ho'okipa's notorious rocks, the Super Groms showed smart wave selection and stylish bottom turn–top turn combinations well beyond their years, and weren't afraid to take on some overhead lips.

“It was really fun out there. It was a bit stressful to compete against my good friend Akash. I didn’t really want to beat him but I also did want to beat him, but it was really fun to sail with him.”Rocco Swift.

Rocco Swift looking to follow in the footsteps of his father, Robby Swift

Challenger Rounds Set the Pro Men's Draw

The 20-rider Challenger competition produced four winners, who have now secured their places in the 32-rider Pro Men's main draw: windsurfing legend Francisco Goya (Argentina), Cesar Filippi (France), Zdenek Maryzko (Czech Republic, Naish Windsurfing) and Antony Ruenes (France).

The Pro Men's division will get under way when the next swell arrives with wind.

Photo credit: Fish Bowl Diaries