Foilwave 2025
Three days of foil party in Cold Hawaii
From September 19 to 21, the "Armstrong Foils Foilwave presented by Wingsurfersmagazin" took place in Klitmøller and Hanstholm. "Cold Hawaii" is the name that has come to be associated with the region, and the conditions awaiting the participants this year were just as good.
It was a foil party at its finest, with Munich pro Benjamin May once again claiming the overall title after 2024, this time by winning the men’s wing and prone foil events. Just as dominant in the junior division with two wins was Tebbe Voget from Kiel. Jelena Duwe, the only female competitor, held her own against the men and was also honored with a trophy.
Three weekends in September were considered as potential dates for the event in order to secure the best possible conditions.
The organizing team kept their cool, waited until the very last possible moment, and - despite forecasts that were anything but clear - managed to secure the perfect conditions they’d been hoping for: Friday brought offshore winds and powerful waves in Klitmøller Bay; Saturday offered sunshine, calm conditions, and ideal prone-surfing conditions in the same spot; and on Sunday, the juniors - almost all of whom had to attend school on Friday - got to head out to Hanstholm to "play" with their smallest wings.
Event sponsor Armstrong Foils was on hand at the beach with a wide selection of equipment for testing.
Friday
After four weeks of training on-site, Benjamin May was in top form. From the very start, he demonstrated a keen eye for the waves and powerful turns on the most challenging section of the smooth waves, making it clear that he was determined to defend his title from the previous year.
But his namesake Benjamin Kohl from Hamburg also impressed right from the start with his keen eye and stylish wave rides at his favorite spot. No less impressive was Moritz Schlicksbier, another Hamburg native, who executed his turns with ease but simply had bad luck with his aerials in the semifinals; to make matters worse, he wrecked his wing during a wash cycle and thus narrowly had to cede the final to the two Benjamins.
But everything went smoothly for him in the third-place match, and despite strong performances by Jonas and Julius Manthei, he left them no chance and secured third place. In the final, the competition remained exciting right up until the very end. In the end, just half a point separated the two Benjamins. Benjamin May gained that slight edge with his confidently executed and fluidly delivered 360s in the steepest part of the wave.
Saturday
Sunshine, calm winds, and - as if on cue - a clean residual swell rolled over the sandbars in Klitmøller Bay. The six participants in the prone foiling event didn’t need to be asked twice. After a 45-minute heat, Benjamin May emerged as the undisputed winner in the men’s division. In the juniors’ division, Tebbe Voget proved once again that this young waterman is destined to become a true star very soon.
Sunday
As recently as midweek, it wasn’t clear whether the final day of the event would be calm or stormy. To everyone’s delight, it turned out to be stormy, and so the three youngsters Theo Buchwald, Tebbe Voget, and Mads Michel were able to battle it out for the best waves behind the long pier at the Hanstholm fish factory in conditions where even a few adults were out riding 3.0 kites. The margin at the end was razor-thin, as all three absolutely crushed the conditions. Just ahead: Tebbe, ahead of his North German buddies Theo and Mads.
The organizers are already looking forward to the fourth edition, which will once again take place as part of the Cold Hawaii Games in September 2026.
Final results
Wing Foil Wave
1. Benjamin May
2. Benjamin Kohl
3. Moritz Schlicksbier
4. Jonas Manthei
5. Julius Manthei
Best woman: Jelena Duwe
Wing Foil Wave Juniors
1. Tebbe Voget
2. Theo Buchwald
3. Mads Michel
Prone
1. Benjamin May
2. Jannik Salmonn
3. Klaas Voget
September 26, 2025 © WING DAILY | text: Dirk Herpel, Jürgen Schall | photos/graphics: @Kirsten_Frank, Jürgen Schall | translation: DE
