Thanks to the punctual Maloja wind every day at 11 o'clock, the lake region in the Upper Engadin is a popular place for many water sports activities including windsurfing and sailing which are ideal for such conditions.
The wind force 4-5 Beaufort even attracts internationally known faces of the surfing scene to the lakes of Silvaplana and St. Moritz. The event "Engadinwind" is one of the most famous water sports events worldwide and is also the oldest windsurfing event in the world. In recent years, world championships and European championships have taken place on the Engadine lakes with 250 athletes from over 35 nations. During one week, the world's best water sportsmen surf for the world championship title in the Olympic class.
In 1977, the first Engadin Surf Marathon took place, making it the oldest event still held in this category. For the 40th anniversary, the "Legends Race" was organized, in which all winners of the last 40 editions participated. Among them were Karin Jaggi from Bern, who is considered the fastest female windsurfer in the world as well as 29 times world champion; the Swiss Jan Bonga, who participated in the 1988 Olympics in the discipline Division II; as well as the two Olympic champions and record holders of the Engadinwind Timm Stade and Matthias Bornhäuser from Germany, who won the marathon four times between 1988 and 1999.
he so-called iQFoil is also used for the races on Lake Silvaplana and is at the forefront of windsurfing innovation. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, the RS:X equipment used so far will be replaced by the iQFoil, thus steering into a new future of windsurfing. A future that promises more excitement and sustainability for future generations.
The sport of Wing Foil has only recently been added to the water sports event programme and combines tradition with the latest trends. The Wing Foil World Cup in the disciplines of slalom/racing and freestyle promises breathtaking sport in the wonderful water sports world of the Engadine.
More information on the event: www.engadinwind.com