Two Podiums at GKA Youth World Championships

September 8, 2026 / Kite

Tommy Borgi claims the U16 World Championship, while Maja Ceran takes 2nd in U19 Girls.

The next generation of twintip riders descended on St Peter-Ording, Germany, for the 2026 GKA Youth Twintip World Championships – and two Ozone riders finished on the podium.

The pioneering five-day event brought together 61 young athletes from 18 nations, with a new format combining Big Air, Airstyle and Freestyle. With the North Sea delivering everything from challenging chop to 20–25 knot winds, riders had to adapt their approach to the conditions.

For Tommy Borgi, that meant taking the U16 Boys World Championship, while Maja Ceran took 2nd place in the U19 Girls category.

Tommy in 1st place for the u/16 boys category. Photo by GKA Daniel Pankoke.

Tommy Borgi — U16 World Champion

At just 14 years old, Tommy has already made remarkable progress in his five years on the water. A dedicated Ozone rider across his setup, he arrived in St Peter-Ording with a clear goal: to win.

Riding the Ozone Vortex V2 12m² for most of the competition, Tommy posted the highest U16 score of the event in his semifinal with 25.33 points, including a single trick worth 9.23 points.

Then, just minutes before the super final, the wind became unstable, fluctuating between 18 and 27 knots. After consulting with his father, Tommy made the call to switch to the Ozone Mach1 13m².

“We had some doubts about this choice because the gusts were strong and rain was moving in, but we went through with it, and it turned out to be the winning decision.”

The decision paid off. Tommy dominated the super final, scoring another 25.33 points to secure the U16 World Championship title.

For Tommy, the result marks another milestone in a rapid progression that has taken him from beginner to World Champion in just five years.

“In 5 years, I went from being a beginner to a U16 World Champion. All of this is fantastic, and it is only the beginning.”

And he isn’t planning on slowing down. His next big goal is the King of the Air.

“My dream is to win it.”

Tommy in action. Photo by GKA Daniel Pankoke.

Maja Ceran — 2nd in U19 Girls

For Maja, the Youth Worlds were about gaining experience at a new level of competition. She and her father entered with the goal of experiencing the event, doing their best and preparing for the future.

That experience quickly turned into a podium.

Maja rode exclusively Freestyle throughout the competition, taking on strong wind and waves that pushed her outside her previous experience. Rather than being intimidated by the conditions, she embraced the challenge.

“I enjoyed every trick because I had never done freestyle in such strong wind before, so every trick I landed felt like a win.”

Maja ultimately claimed 2nd place in the U19 Girls, the oldest and most advanced girls’ category, with Bulgaria’s Aya Kasabova taking the title.

For Maja, the result is another step towards her next goal: competing on the GKA Freestyle Tour and gaining more experience at the highest level.

“You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain, so just do your best and you’re going to be fine.”

Maja in 2nd place for the u/19 women’s category. Photo by Daniel Pankoke GKA library

With two young Ozone riders on the podium, and very different paths to getting there, the 2026 Youth Twintip Worlds offered an exciting glimpse at the future of competitive kiteboarding.

Congratulations Tommy and Maja!

Read the full GKA event report