IFCA Fin Slalom European Championship 2026
Nico Prien and Jenna Gibson win the European Championship title in Hvide Sande, Denmark
On Saturday, the IFCA European Championships in the fin slalom discipline came to a close in Hvide Sande, Denmark, with Nico Prien (GER-7) and Jenna Gibson (GBR-96) taking home the 2026 European Championship titles.
Fifty-nine athletes from 13 countries competed in the six-day European Championship. The women’s and men’s races were held simultaneously under widely varying conditions. Throughout the week, the competitors had to adapt to challenging weather conditions - ranging from strong winds to light breezes - which resulted in a fiercely contested European Championship.
In the men's division, a new qualification format was introduced at this IFCA European Championship, aimed at creating more evenly matched heats and giving windsurfers more opportunities to qualify for the main rounds. As the week progressed, the competition became increasingly exciting, with every result playing a crucial role in the overall standings.
On Saturday, the last day of the event, the wind picked up to about 12–16 knots in the afternoon, allowing the final races to be completed. After the final results were confirmed, the 2026 IFCA Fin Slalom European Champions were crowned in Hvide Sande.
All in all, Nico Prien delivered the best performance. The windsurfer won 19 of his 21 heats, consistently set the pace from the start, and ultimately secured the European championship title.
Taty Frans (NB-9) fought his way to second place, while Sacha Fortune (FRA-655) rounded out the podium. Brendan Lorho (FRA-113) took fourth place, followed by Jimmy Thiémé (FRA-888) in fifth.
In the women’s competition, Jenna Gibson maintained her lead throughout the event. Thanks to her consistent performance throughout the European Championships, she secured the European championship title ahead of Justine Lemeteyer (FRA-171) and Mae Davico (FRA-203). Femke van der Veen (NED-2251) finished in fourth place, while Charlotte Philip (FRA-1194) took fifth place.
September 15, 2026 © DAILY DOSE | Text: IFCA, Jürgen Schall | Fotos/Grafiken: IFCA / Lukas K. Stiller | translation: DE
