19 classes racing at Foiling Week Pensacola

Excitement is building for the first-ever Foiling Week Pensacola 2025, the premier international foiling regatta and World Sailing Special Event, taking place in less than three months in Florida’s Panhandle (24 February - 2 March). Foiling Week is the first and only global event dedicated to the amazing foiling boats and boards, their athletes, designers and manufacturers.

The racing line-up is growing rapidly with the introduction of six of the most exciting and fast-growing water sport classes:

- Kite Foil – which made its Olympic debut at Paris 2024 this summer
- Open Wing Foil
- SUP Foil
- Surf (prone) Foil
- Pump Foil
- Wake Board Foil

The above classes will take it to 19 classes across the seven-day event, making Foiling Week Pensacola 2025 a foiling event with one of the highest number of classes in the world.

SUP, Surf, Pump and Wake will be part of ‘FlexFoil’, a two-day, multidiscipline event that combines all the board sports into a large gathering on Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. There are three options each day of competition or exhibition based on the following weather/sea conditions: Downwind, Pump/Wake (competition and exhibition) and Surf Foil.

There’s just three weeks remaining for athletes to take massive advantage of the special early bird entry 25% discount, and secure their spot on the start-line. Early registration closes at the end of the year, on Tuesday 31 December at midnight.

The upcoming event promises thrilling races, epic foiling conditions, cutting-edge technology displays, and a vibrant gathering in its new US home. Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Sailing Operations for Pensacola-based American Magic, on welcoming the event to the city, “Foiling Week 2025 is going to be held late February / early March in Pensacola, and we are really looking forward to the opportunity to expose this great event to Pensacola Bay and everything we have been learning here over the past six years. We know Pensacola is going to deliver great conditions and a great week for foiling sailors and look forward to welcoming everyone to come and see what we’ve been enjoying during our time based here.”

Sailing classes completing the program include the Moth, WASZP, Birdyfish, A-Class Catamaran, Nacra 15 FCS, X-15, iQFOil and an ‘open class’ division with the Skeeta, F101, Flying Phantom, iFly, Whisper and UFOs. Racing will take place in Pensacola Bay and on the waves of the Gulf of Mexico - in front of the Pensacola Beach Hilton Hotel.

Billy Bosch, President of Good Breeze Kiteboarding on their involvement, "The Foil Surf Race League brings a high action foil surfing endurance race to the sandbars of the Pensacola Coast. This blend of surf foiling, pumping, strategy and physical stamina is exciting for both the athletes and spectators!".

The Foil Surf Race League is scheduled for Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March, with a demo day on Friday 28 February to allow competitors and sponsors to test the equipment.

Gwen Le Tutour, Pump Foil Instructor continued, “Pump foiling is one of the fastest growing foil sports in North America and the bay and marinas around Pensacola are just massive playgrounds for all the foiling disciplines.”

Mike Mendez, Emerald Coast Foilers: "Downwind foiling unlocks the hidden waterpark that has always been right there, right in front of our eyes, opening up the Gulf and Pensacola's large bays to epic downwind runs. Downwinding in the foiling world is the backcountry skiing in the ski world. It's a combination of foil surfing, mental and physical endurance, strategy, and ocean knowledge. It's the pinnacle of foiling and offers an unmatched feeling of adventure in the open ocean well outside of the boundaries of traditional surf zones."

During the weekend, the Foiling Week Race Village at Maritime Park will give the opportunity to watch the close racing, visit an expo showcasing the latest in high-tech nautical equipment and apparel, and enjoy live entertainment. Sustainability, inclusivity, clinics, youth and women’s coaching, discussions on the evolution of foiling, and technical workshops will also be highlights of the programme.