31. August 2026
Hugo Wigglesworth Defends Big Air Hydrofoil World Title
Back-to-back World Champion.
Hugo Wigglesworth successfully defended his GKA Big Air Hydrofoil World Title in Sylt, Germany, proving once again why he is the benchmark in the discipline. Facing a world-class final lineup of Finn Flügel, Lorenzo Casati, and Marten Koblischke, the young New Zealander delivered a technical and versatile performance to take the victory with 35.17 points. The final on August 30th was far from straightforward.
Sylt served up with the notorious North Sea chop that made landings incredibly difficult. Riders could find enough power to execute big tricks, but bringing them back to the water cleanly was another story. The rough sea state punished mistakes immediately, and throughout the heat even the world's best hydrofoil athletes struggled to consistently stick their landings.
Hugo approached the final with a smart strategy, adapting his equipment to the changing conditions. He started on a FLYSURFER SONIC⁵ 7m, taking advantage of the stronger gusts to ride aggressively and attack the scoring zone. With the smaller kite, he threw massive loops and high-risk maneuvers that immediately put him in contention for the title. As the conditions evolved, Hugo switched to a SONIC⁵ 10m and later a SONIC⁵ 12m, unlocking additional hangtime and allowing him to expand his trick selection to showcase the full spectrum of skills required to win at the highest level of Hydrofoil Big Air.
What stood out throughout the final was Hugo's versatility. Rather than relying on a single style of riding, he combined powered technical tricks with controlled execution. His standout maneuvers included a huge board-off kite loop, a clean front roll with a late kite loop, and a stylish rodeo that demonstrated both creativity and control. While other riders struggled to convert their biggest attempts in the difficult conditions, Hugo consistently found a way to ride away from his landings. In the closing stages of the heat, he posted two scores in the nine-point range, ultimately creating the gap that secured the world title.
The battle for the podium remained intense until the final moments. Germany's Finn Flügel pushed hard in front of the home crowd and finished second with 31.80 points. Spain's Lorenzo Casati claimed third place with 27.50 points, while Germany's Marten Koblischke capped off an impressive event in fourth with 26.10 points.
For Hugo, this victory is another milestone in an already remarkable career. Defending a world title is often harder than winning it the first time, but in Sylt he once again demonstrated the complete package: tactical kite selection, technical excellence, and the composure to perform when the pressure is highest. From explosive loops on the SONIC⁵ 7m to the incredible hangtime delivered by the 10m and 12m sizes, Hugo showcased exactly what is possible when athlete and equipment perform in perfect harmony. With a second consecutive world title secured, Hugo Wigglesworth continues to raise the bar for Hydrofoil Big Air. And if his performance in Sylt is any indication, the reigning champion is far from done pushing the limits of what's possible above the water.
The entire FLYSURFER team is proud to be part of Hugo's remarkable journey and to see him continue pushing the limits of Big Air. Congratulations on another world title, Hugo. We wish you all the best for the upcoming competitions at the Cold Hawaii Games and the Red Bull Megaloop, and can't wait to see what comes next.
GKA Kite World Cup Sylt 2026
Photography ©Lukas K Stiller
