Singapore’s Max Maeder settles for silver at Formula Kite World Championships

SINGAPORE – The race for a hat-trick of titles at the Formula Kite World Championships ended in disappointment for Maximilian Maeder on Oct 5, when the Singaporean finished second on the final day of competition.

At the Quartu Sant’Elena beach in Italy, Maeder missed out on gold to Italy’s eventual winner Riccardo Pianosi, while Frenchman Benoit Gomez claimed the bronze.

The 19-year-old told The Straits Times: “What a race… I’m disappointed indeed and it doesn’t feel great of course. But I don’t feel like I’m destroyed because this regatta is really well sailed by him (Pianosi).

“I felt like I had chances but didn’t use them... it’s moments like these when it will feel quite invigorating to try again, try and improve, to make sure next time it works out better.

“It is such a tight competition and battle all the time, it only shows the amount of effort people are putting in and getting better.

“This year, I wasn’t far away from winning it, perhaps one decision by another competitor, or one gust here, and I may have been in front.”

Paris Olympic bronze medallist Maeder had entered day five of the opening series in fourth, after a poor showing the previous day when he fell behind leader Pianosi, Switzerland’s Gian Stragiotti and Slovenian Toni Vodisek.

But, after placing fourth, second and third in races 16, 18 and 19 on Oct 4, the Singaporean gained an automatic spot into the Oct 5 grand final with 40.4 nett points to leapfrog Stragiotti (49.0) and Vodisek (80.0).

That meant that Pianosi, who qualified top with 39 points, needed just one race to seal the title, while Maeder needed to win twice.

Only the top two of the opening series gained direct entry to the grand final, with the third- and fourth-placed kitefoilers starting the final day in the semi-finals. Those who finished fifth to eighth competed in the quarter-finals.

In the grand final, it was Maeder who pushed Pianosi all the way, but the Singaporean was ultimately unable to catch the home favourite, finishing just seconds behind him. Gomez was third while Vodisek did not finish the race.

Ong Rong Quan, president of the Kitesurfing Association of Singapore, said: “Even without a third title, Max’s season has been exceptional – including a silver at the Youth European Championships and consistently strong performances across the international circuit.

“His results this year reinforce his position among the world’s elite. In a sport where the margins are incredibly fine, Max has shown remarkable maturity, resilience, and hunger to keep improving.”

Apart from his Olympic bronze, Maeder also has two golds (2023 and 2024) and a silver at the world championships and an Asian Games gold from Hangzhou 2022.

In 2025, Maeder retained both the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta and Formula Kite European Championship titles.

But he lost out to Pianosi at the French Olympic Week event in April and Formula Kite Youth European Championships in June.

Ahead of the world championships, Maeder had made a coaching switch from Ivica Dolenc – who had worked with him since he was 14 – to join the Swiss team and coach Matthieu Girolet.

His brother Karl and Stragiotti are also part of the Swiss team.

“It has been one that is quite a fortunate change because with Matthieu, I feel we have very good team spirit, along with my brother and Gian, in the team,” said Maeder.

“I feel like in the long term it will work towards always improving, I love the more analytical approach and training set-up and it’s been going very well with Matthieu.”

He also got to race alongside his brother in Italy.

“In the first race (of the opening series), I couldn’t stop looking back because he was doing so well and I am so proud, and I felt so happy for him,” Maeder said.

“Of course it’s not good to look backwards while you’re racing forwards, but that’s how invested I was in his racing.”

Maeder will next compete in the Formula Youth World Championships in Portugal from Oct 26 to Nov 1, before making his SEA Games debut in Thailand in December.

He said: “I always train and compete and stay at the highest level and I’m happy to make my debut at the SEA Games. My targets there are to do and deliver my best, and I very much want to win.”

Ong added: “The SEA Games are a great opportunity for Max to showcase his skills and the kitefoiling on a regional stage.

“Of course, we’re hoping to see Singapore on the podium. But, more importantly, it is another valuable racing experience under pressure, part of his broader preparation and competition rhythm leading up to the next Olympics.

“Beyond results, it’s also meaningful that he’ll be racing alongside and against familiar faces like co-pilot Daniel (Leow), which brings a touch of nostalgia and camaraderie.”