HO’OKIPA, MAUI – Brust- bis kopfhohe Wellen und querablandiger Wind begrüßten die Teilnehmer am Eröffnungstag der Aloha Classic 2026, als drei Weltmeisterschaftsrennen im Ho’okipa Beach Park eine entscheidende Wende nahmen. Der Spanier Javier Escribano, der Japaner Ryu Noguchi (Starboard / Severne Sails) und die Australierin Sarah Kenyon (Severne Windsurfing) sicherten sich die Titel in den Kategorien Junior Boys, Pro Junior Boys und Pro Junior Girls, während die Super Groms für eine spektakuläre Show sorgten und in den Challenger-Runden die letzten vier Plätze im Hauptfeld der Pro Men vergeben wurden.
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.
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.
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.
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.