Youth Worlds promote climate action through sport

• Groundbreaking event to highlight sustainability through the world’s best young wingfoilers

• Young athletes will be equipped to become ambassadors for conservation of the oceans

GWA Youth Wingfoil World World Championship Costa Brava
30 June-6 July, 2025 | Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre, San Pere Pescador

The title races for the upcoming GWA Youth Wingfoil World Championships in Spain will serve as a springboard to promote sustainability and climate action through sport for the first time.

The groundbreaking initiative sees the GWA team up with Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre for the weeklong event which will debut at San Pere Pescador on the historical Costa Brava coast.

Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre is to join with the GWA and Sailors for the Sea, Powered by Oceana, (SfS) to ensure the wingfoil Youth Worlds 2025 adhere to the highest environmental standards. The event will align with the Clean Regattas programme by SfS, which is backed by World Sailing.

‘Force for positive change’

The Clean Regattas certification programme will ensure the championship minimises its environmental impact through the reduction of single-use plastics, encouraging as much recycling as possible, and utilising renewable energy sources.

The collaboration underscores a shared vision of empowering young wingfoilers to become ambassadors, promoting sustainability and climate action as they showcase their talents on the international stage.

“Sailing has a unique connection to the environment, and we believe it is our responsibility to protect the oceans and ecosystems that make our sport possible,” said Lai Gainza, president of Club de Vela la Ballena Alegre. “By partnering with the GWA and Sailors for the Sea we are taking a significant step toward making sailing a force for positive change.”

Unique opportunity

The Youth Worlds 2025 will attract the best young talent from around the globe to battle for Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom crowns in the U14, U16 and U19 divisions. It is a unique opportunity to combine top-level competition with the important message of environmental conservation.

The championships will be a chance to inspire a new generation of watersports’ athletes to become leaders in the drive for sustainability. During the event the young athletes will take part in workshops and initiatives focused on environmental stewardship, clean energy and ocean conservation.

“The GWA Youth World Championship is about more than winning trophies, it’s about empowering young riders to become advocates for a healthier planet and to promote this going forward in their professional careers,” said Liam Dredge, GWA Youth World Tour Manager. “We want these athletes to leave not only as better competitors, but also as promoters for sustainability and climate action.”

Be sure to follow all the action here.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Lucas Tosi

Spot Info: San Pere Pescador

Wind

Sant Pere Pescador, particularly Platja del Cortal de la Devesa, offers consistently favourable conditions for winging during late June and July. This period is characterised by reliable thermal winds and sea breeze, making it a prime location for wingfoil events and recreational winging.

The prevailing thermal sea breeze, known locally as Garbí blows from the south-east and develops daily during this season. Starting around midday, it builds through the afternoon before dropping in the early evening.

The steady side-onshore direction ensures winds of 12 to 14 knots, with occasional peaks reaching up to 18 to 20 knots. A passing cold front can occasionally bring some Tramontana wind from the north. This gusty shoreward wind averages 16 to 18 knots, introducing more variable and dynamic conditions for wingfoilers looking to go big.

Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre

The club is located in the southern part of the Bay of Roses, close to Sant Martí d’Empúries and L’Escala. The competition area is sheltered by a southeastern point approximately three nautical miles offshore from the venue.

This location provides specific conditions for winging, though this natural protection minimises waves near the coastline even during strong sea breezes. But windward areas deeper in the bay may encounter more chop.

To sum up, the combination of steady Garbí winds, and occasional north winds, makes Platja del Cortal de la Devesa on Roses Bay an exceptional destination for watersports during late June and July. Over the years, this location has become synonymous with many successful world-class sailing events.

Event Information

• Location: Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre, San Pere Pescador
• Dates: 30 June-6 July April, 2025
• The official Race Notice and event schedule can be found here.
• All event information is here.

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A written report will be posted to the website at the end of the competition.