Denmark’s Benjamin Castenskiold landed his first world title in Surf-Freestyle after turning 14 in mid-season. He got the better of double world champion Chris MacDonald, a close friend and training partner in the process. The record of Germany’s Marie Schlittenbauer, just 15, is almost a mirror image of that . She beat two-time world champion, Nia Suardiaz, to land the crown without even completing the whole season. Castenskiold is training in Tarifa, Spain, while Schlittenbauer trains in Lake Garda, Italy. They both talked to Ian MacKinnon about their victories.
Benjamin Castenskiold | 2025 GWA Surf-Freestyle World Champion
Question: How does it feel to win your first world title on your first year on tour?
Benajmin Castenskiold: I’ve been training for this for so long. I’ve been thinking and imagining this a long time. But it’s one step on the way.
Q: Explain how you saw the season play out?
BC: I got fourth place in Leucate, my first GWA official event. After that I was fired up to get better results. Then I won here in Tarifa. The first win feels really good. I went to Fuerteventura and got second place. It was really between me and Chris MacDonald.
We went to Gran Canaria. I had been to the spot before. It has perfect conditions to shine in. I knew I could do good there. There’s always good wind.
Q: Is Chris MacDonald your biggest rival?
BC: To be honest I’ve been training with Chris MacDonald in La Ventana, in Mexico, for years. We were at a similar level at the start of the season. It’s between me and Chris and the twins [Aleks and Tomas Acherer].
Q: How did you reach such a high level so early?
BC: It was me and Chris MacDonald together training, that’s what pushed me to get better. We had a lot of competition the whole season. When we were training, it wasn’t so much like training. It’s ‘let’s go out and have fun’. Let’s see what we can do. It’s not going out and winning.
Q: At the final event in Gran Canaria, what made the difference?
BC: I think it’s about how it goes on the day when it comes to the final. But like in La Ventana, if someone lands a new trick, then the other goes out and tries to do it too. In Leucate [the first event] I was a little bit cold and nervous.
Q: What does winning the title mean to you?
BC: To me it means being the best at what I do and trying to get more good results.
Q: Tell us about your background?
BC: My father is Danish and my mother’s Colombian. I’ve grown up all over the place. We’ve travelled all around he world. We lived in Colombia for two or three years. My dad had been kiting for years. I was into kiting and I saw wingfoiling for the first time in 2021 or 2022. Winging is a much nicer feeling.
Q: Have you had any injuries, or do some tricks worry you?
BC: I haven’t had any bad injuries. But the Palau Frontflip, that’s one of the scariest tricks to do, since the GWA changed to an emphasis to height, and not so much on technical.
Q: What are your goals now?
BC: My goal is to keep having fun for many more years. I’m here in Tarifa until the end of October and then I go to Mexico again to train the whole winter. I want to be in the water the whole year, training every single day.
Marie Schlittenbauer | 2025 GWA Surf-Freestyle World Champion
Question: How did feel to win in your first season, completing only three of the four stops?
Marie Schlittenbauer: Obviously, it was my first year. I was really happy and I didn’t expect it for a moment. Nia [Suardiaz] and Mar [de Arce] are very good. I didn’t think I would win it with them there.
Q: Where do you train?
MS: I train in Lake Garda, in Italy, where I am now. In Germany, about one hour from Munich where I live there are lakes, but the wind is not very strong. So we come to Garda.
Q: How long have you been wingfoiling?
MS: It’s about three years that I’ve been wingfoiling. I train with the guys, including my brother Franz. I was kitesurfing before. Training with the guys helps a lot as I see them doing tricks and I give it a try as well. At home we have a trampoline and sometimes I go on the trampoline [which helps with rotations and inversions].
Q: Did you get nervous for the last event of the season with the title on the line?
MS: Obviously, I get nervous. But I just try my best and try to not put too much stress on myself.
Q: How did you progress so quickly to such a high level?
MS: I just try to learn new tricks when I see the people I ride with landing them. It inspires me to do the same. Also, if I see the likes of Nia or Mar doing tricks in their reels, that pushes me on.
Q: How was the first competition?
MS: Tarifa was my first competition. There was so much wind and I’m not used to it. Most of the time I ride a 4.5m and 5m wing. I was on a 3m there. It was strong wind and I was overpowered and I couldn’t land anything.
Q: Will you move to somewhere for stronger wind?
MS: I will stick with Garda for now. I still go to school and Garda is four hours from my home. So that will be it for now.
