S’pore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder wins fifth Formula Kite European Championships gold

SINGAPORE – Singaporean kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder celebrated his 20th birthday in style on Sept 12, as he won the Formula Kite European Championships for the fifth time.

At Akyaka Kite Beach in Gokova, Turkey, Maeder won the first race of the four-rider grand final to seal victory as he finished first, ahead of Switzerland’s Gian Stragiotti.

Austria’s Valentin Bontus was third, followed by Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi.

Maeder told the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA): “We had a very classic final situation with four super-strong riders and we were all fighting in the pre-start.

“The situation developed in a way where I got lucky with being a little bit closer to the windy side and managing to catch some good wind to help me along with some speed that pushed me forward, so it was first to top mark for me, and from there, it was all about defending.

“That was a race to learn from and definitely a race to enjoy as well.”

Maeder has won the event in all five editions that he has competed in since 2021, missing out only on the 2023 championships, as it clashed with the Hangzhou Asian Games.

While unfavourable wind conditions hampered racing on the first day of the regatta on Sept 7, Maeder was in dominant form once the action began.

The reigning world champion won all but one of his races to top the standings with 16 net points and qualify first for the grand final.

Stragiotti was the other kitefoiler who automatically qualified for the grand final after he finished second in qualification with 27 points.

The line-up for the grand final was completed by Pianosi and Olympic champion Bontus, who earned their spots after finishing first and second respectively in the semi-finals.

It has been an encouraging season for Maeder, the 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist, who reclaimed his world title at the Formula Kite World Championships in May.

He also emerged victorious at the French Olympic Week, Trofeo Princesa Sofia and the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta earlier in 2026.

Maeder attributed his form to the work he has done with his coach Matthieu Girolet.

He has been training with Girolet and the Swiss team since June 2025.

He said: “This year, all of the new pieces and processes that were beginning to be implemented last year have been properly integrated into my racing.”

“Staying diligent in always sticking to the process and always trying to learn and improve, no matter what position we are in, helps the team continue to stay ahead,” he added.

He credited Girolet for instilling a strong work ethic and team chemistry, which has also resulted in strong showings by Stragiotti and Maeder’s younger brother Karl.

Karl, who represents Switzerland, finished 10th after making it to the quarter-finals.

The Maeder brothers, whose father Valentin is Swiss and mother Hwee Keng is Singaporean, also train together.

At the event’s award ceremony, Maeder said: “The best birthday present given to me today is the fact that my younger brother, at 17, is racing against world champions, Olympic medallists and still holding his own.”

He hopes to keep his stellar form up with qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics just round the corner.

He said: “The momentum is something that we are happy about, of course.

“However, we aren’t taking it for granted, it’s right back to training after a break so that we can keep up the good streak we have.”