Formula Kite Europeans: Big Battles and New Faces Lock In Tomorrow’s Medal Series

The final battle for places in Saturday’s Medal Series at the 2026 Türk Telekom Formula Kite European Championships delivered relentless intensity in Akyaka, with four races completed today. In winds of 12 - 15 knots, fading slightly for the final race, tactical execution made all the difference as riders fought for every point on the leaderboard.

Men’s Gold Fleet: Maeder Wins All Four Races as Fresh Faces Grab Top 10 Spots

Maximilian Maeder (SGP) was unstoppable, sweeping all four Gold Fleet races. While most of the fleet remained on 15m kites throughout the afternoon, Maeder made a decisive tactical call to step up to his 21m setup for the final race as the wind dropped below 14 knots.

“I had a good day and I’m happy with how it went,” said Maeder. “Today was the final battle for the Medal Series - there was a lot going on back and forth, and in the end, it was all about execution and how well you could play the situation.”

Gian Stragiotti (SUI) held firm in second overall to secure his direct place in Saturday’s Grand Final alongside Maeder.

“It was super tight racing with Max - I tried to make his life hard, but it was tough. Changing to the 21m in the last race was a good call for him,” Stragiotti reflected on the day’s battles.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s decider, he added: “Now focus on tomorrow. I booked my spot in the Grand Final in second, so I just have to win one race. I’m excited to put everything into that one race tomorrow and smash it.”

The day also marked major career milestones for new faces entering the Quarter-Finals of the Medal Series. Karl Maeder (SUI) secured eighth place to lock in his first-ever Senior Regatta Medal Series appearance, while Flavio Marx (ITA) took ninth overall after an incredible surge through the fleet - climbing from 17th to 10th in a single day yesterday before pushing even higher today

“My nerves were at an all-time high,” admitted Karl Maeder. “I’ve been working for so long to get into the top 10. I just did my job, and I couldn’t be happier to be in the fight tomorrow.”

Marx credited his summer preparations with a close training group - including Riccardo Pianosi, Vojtech Koska and Sam Dickinson - for pushing his speed to the next level.

“I trained a lot the whole summer with guys like Riccardo, Vojtech, and Sam. Training with top riders really pushes you forward - we push each other a lot, and that work paid off to keep me in the top 10 for tomorrow.”

Women’s Fleet: Bold Moves and Breakthrough Battles

In the women’s fleet, overall leader Jessie Kampman (NED) shared the spotlight with Wan Li (CHN), who produced a masterclass performance. After Kampman claimed victory in the opening two races, Wan Li surged back to win the final two races of the day, holding onto fourth place overall and securing a direct spot in tomorrow’s Semi-Finals.

“My choice today was to make bolder moves and be more confident at the start,” Wan Li said. “With everyone tired, it came down to perseverance. I just focused on every leg, every maneuver, and ensuring there was zero room for mistakes.”

Local favourite Derin Atakan (TUR) continued her steady ascent up the leaderboard, climbing to sixth overall to secure her place in Saturday’s Semi-Final.

“Every day this week got better, just pushing 100% and staying focused on the water,” Atakan explained. “I was pushing my limits with the girls because they’re really fast and strong. I’m learning from my mistakes and fixing them day by day to get closer to perfection - that’s how you improve.”

Izabela Satrjan (POL) also fought back from early-week setbacks to secure 10th place and the final qualifying spot in the Medal Series.

“I had a really tough start to the regatta, but I kept fighting and improving every day,” Satrjan said. “Believing in myself paid off, and I’m ready to fight in the Quarter-Finals tomorrow.”

The Final Showdown: Champions to Be Crowned Tomorrow

The stage is officially set for the final showdown in Akyaka. High-stakes, short-course Medal Series racing begins tomorrow, Saturday, 12 September, at 12:30 local time (11:30 CEST), when the 2026 Türk Telekom Formula Kite European Champions will be crowned.

Follow the action on our official social media channels, with Instagram stories from the water, live tracking at kiteclasses.org and full race highlights on the IKA YouTube channel.