The 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup in Silvaplana has concluded after four days of intense alpine racing, showcasing the sport’s top-tier talent and confirming new names to watch. Among the standouts was 23-year-old Sean Herbert of New Zealand, who, in his first appearance at the Worlds, delivered a performance that could signal a new era for Kiwi wingfoiling.
Held on the glacial waters of Lake Silvaplana, high in the Swiss Alps, the event brought together 54 men and a strong women’s fleet to compete under typically brisk Maloja winds. With challenging conditions and a technical course layout, the regatta tested both speed and tactical finesse.
France’s Mathis Ghio, a dominant force in the class, clinched his third consecutive Silvaplana title in the men’s division. Ghio rebounded from an early loss to Herbert on Day 1 and finished strong, holding off late challenges in the Medal Series final to secure his win. It’s a crucial step toward what could be his fourth World Cup crown.
In the women’s side, Italy’s Maddalena Spanu retained her Silvaplana crown with a calm, calculated performance in the final. Czech rider Kristyna Chalupnikova also impressed with a semi-final win, but Spanu’s consistency saw her take control in the decider.
Set one of the most talked-about story of the event was that of Sean Herbert, the Manly Sailing Club product who stunned the fleet on Day 1 with back-to-back wins—including a photo-finish against Ghio. Racing with the America One development programme, Herbert carried that momentum into Day 2 with solid finishes in third and fourth, holding onto a top-three position.
Day 3 saw Herbert contest eight fleet races in gusty alpine conditions, claiming four race wins and consistently finishing in the top five. His ability to stay in the mix with the world’s elite under pressure set him up for a berth in the Medal Series.
In the finals, Herbert again delivered. Advancing through the repechage and semi-final rounds, he lined up in the medal race against Ghio, Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki, and Great Britain’s Freddie Strawson. Ghio ultimately took the win in the final race, but not without a strong push from Herbert, who finished third overall—a podium finish in his first World Cup regatta.
A former O’pen BIC World Champion and National Wingfoil Champion, Herbert is no stranger to top-level racing in New Zealand. His success in Silvaplana now positions him as a serious international contender. Combining technical insight from his engineering role at Rocket Lab with on-water intuition, Herbert’s rise has been as methodical as it is meteoric.
His showing also highlights the potential of New Zealand’s emerging wingfoil scene. Still in its early stages compared to Europe and North America, the Kiwi programme has found in Herbert a front-runner who can bridge domestic success with global competitiveness.
The Wingfoil Racing World Cup now shifts to Istanbul in August, where Herbert is expected to return, carrying both experience and momentum. For New Zealand, his breakthrough signals that the country is no longer just watching the evolution of wingfoiling from afar—it’s now helping to actively shape the narrative.
