NEWS 2025.11.19

Fly! ANA Windsurfing World Cup YOKOSUKA MIURA Japan 2025 – Foil Slalom Results & Event Highlights

From Thursday, November 13 to Monday, November 17, 2025, the “Fly! ANA Windsurfing World Cup YOKOSUKA MIURA Japan 2025” was held at Tsukuihama Beach in Yokosuka City.

The event enjoyed fine weather throughout the five days. On Thursday and Friday the races were held in light wind, on Saturday and Sunday in moderate wind, and on the final Monday in strong wind conditions with gusts exceeding 15 m/s. Under these varied conditions, exciting races unfolded. In total, four men’s races and five women’s races were completed, and the event welcomed around 38,000 visitors in total over five days.

The competition brought together around 70 top riders from 31 countries and regions. From Japan, 33 riders ranging from a third-year junior-high school girl to experienced veterans took part.

Contents

Race Results – Yokosuka–Miura
PWA World Tour Overall Ranking (Foil Slalom – 2025 Season)
Looking Back on the Event
Event Information
Discover More in Yokosuka

Race Results – Yokosuka–Miura

Men’s Foil Slalom (Event Results)

1. Johan Soe (Denmark)
2. Matteo Iachino (Italy)
3.Pierre Mortefon (France)

The best-performing Japanese rider was
Makoto Tomizawa (Toyota Motor East Japan Inc. / 41),
a five-time consecutive Olympian, who finished 20th overall.

Women’s Foil Slalom (Event Results)

1. Blanca Alabau (Spain)
2. Lina Eržen (Slovenia)
3. Justine Lemeteyer (France)

The top Japanese finisher was
Rina Niijima (Elleair / 26),
who returned to this event for the first time in two years and placed 10th overall.

Comment from Rina Niijima

“I had a lot of confidence in my board speed, so to be honest I feel I couldn’t show everything I’m capable of. I haven’t had much training in strong-wind conditions like today, so I was happy just to make it to the finals. In the moderate winds over the previous days I could hold my own against the top riders, so it’s frustrating that troubles and mistakes kept me out of the finals. Next time at this event, I want to be on the podium.”

PWA World Tour Overall Ranking (Foil Slalom – 2025 Season)

This event served as the final stop of the 2025 PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association) World Tour in the foil slalom discipline. Based on the results of the Yokosuka–Miura event, the season’s overall rankings were decided as follows.

Men’s Foil Slalom – Overall Ranking

The men’s overall ranking for the 2025 foil slalom season was as follows: first, Matteo Iachino (Italy); second, Pierre Mortefon (France); and third, Maciek Rutkowski (Poland).

Women’s Foil Slalom – Overall Ranking

The women’s overall ranking for the 2025 foil slalom season was as follows: first, Justine Lemeteyer (France); second, Blanca Alabau (Spain); and third, Lina Eržen (Slovenia).

Looking Back on the Event

Throughout the event, wind conditions at Tsukuihama changed from light to strong from day to day, creating the perfect stage for the high-speed action that foil slalom is known for. On the final day in particular, the strong wind produced powerful racing on rough seas, drawing loud cheers from spectators as the riders attacked the course.

From Japan, 33 riders, from a third-year junior-high school girl to seasoned veterans, lined up against the world’s best. Competing on the same course as the top international athletes offered valuable experience that is sure to help them in the next stages of their careers.

Around the venue, visitors could also enjoy a food area, merchandise stands, and kids’ activities, as well as SDGs-related programs such as cycle tourism content, upcycling workshops, and zero-waste challenges. Many guests spent a relaxing day by the sea, combining world-class windsurfing with the coastal atmosphere of Yokosuka and the Miura Peninsula.