Heineken Wins US Wingfoil Championship on the Fusion

August 13, 2024 / Race Wing

Ozone’s groundbreaking, patent-pending, double surface wing design with Ram-Air tech made a spectacular debut in San Francisco, where it not only led the way in various race formats and distances, but also showcased its unmatched performance across diverse fleets. Fusion riders took the spotlight, capturing 10 out of the 15 podium spots—a thrilling testament to the wing’s game-changing innovation!

Report: adapted from USSailing.org
Images: Simone Staff

The 2024 U.S. WingFoil Championship was a thrilling event that underscored the rapid rise and excitement of wingfoil racing. Held for the first time, the championship spanned three days of intense competition, drawing top wingfoil athletes from across the nation, all eager to claim the inaugural U.S. WingFoil Championship title.

Across the fleets of pro and amateur racers, the Fusion helped many achieve their best possible performances. If you’d like to know more about the design, click the link below:

Fusion FAQs and more

Set against the scenic backdrop of San Francisco, California, the event took place at the renowned St. Francis Yacht Club, beneath the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The Bay’s famous strong winds provided the perfect range of conditions, from 10 to 34 knots across the three day event.

FORMATS

Over the course of 14 races, athletes were tested on various aspects of wingfoiling, with formats challenging the riders’ speed, manoeuvrability and endurance.

The ‘Overall’ title came from a combined points total, consisting of course racing on day one, slalom racing and the ‘Bay Challenge’ on day two and, finally, more course racing on day three.

The ‘Bay Challenge’ counted for double points, with racers taking on a longer distance course from the Yacht Club, all the way down to the Berkeley Pier and back.

HEINEKEN – THE HOTSHOT ONCE MORE

The regatta was fiercely contested, with several standout performances. Ultimately, Johnny Heineken emerged as the champion, showcasing exceptional skill throughout the event.

Johnny used his custom coloured Fusion to devastating effect! (Did you know you can order any of our wings and kites in your own personal choice of custom colour combinations? Play with the chooser in the ‘colours’ tab on any of our product pages on this site.)

OVERALL RESULTS:

1 Johnny Heineken (Ozone Fusion)
2 JP Lattanzi (Ozone Fusion)
3 Jacob Rosenberg (Ozone Fusion)
4 Kai Mirel (Ozone Fusion)
5 John Subranni (Ozone Fusion)

In his awards speech, newly crowned U.S. National Champion Johnny Heineken said,

“The competition at the top of the fleet was incredibly tight, and the racing was really mixed up, which made it awesome. I’m super glad you all came. I’m exhausted and ready to sleep! Thanks to everyone who made this regatta happen, from the race committee to the volunteers and parents. I can’t wait for next year.”

DIVERSE AND FAST FLEETS REFLECT HEALTHY PARTICIPATION

The championship drew a diverse range of participants, from seasoned veterans to emerging talent across all age groups. 13 of the 51 competitors were under the age of 19. Additionally, 11 competitors participated in the 50+ GrandMasters division.

John Pearce, US Sailing’s Youth Racing Manager, praised the event, saying,

“The level of competition, athleticism, sportsmanship, and community here was outstanding. The front of the fleet was incredibly tight, and everyone showed tremendous grit and determination, particularly during Saturday’s long-distance race to the Berkeley Pier and back. A huge thanks to St. Francis Yacht Club for hosting a world-class regatta, both on and off the water. This new National Championship has a very bright future!”

Additional awards were given to top performers in various categories, including Youth (U-19), Female, Masters (35+), and Grandmasters (50+):

YOUTH (U-19)
1 Makani Andrews (Ozone Fusion)
2 Kailan Robinson (Ozone Fusion)
3 Morgan Headington

FEMALE
1 Fiona Wylde
2 Avala Warner
3 Yuri Namikawa

MASTERS
1 Johnny Heineken (Ozone Fusion)
2 John Subranni (Ozone Fusion)
3 Billy Ackerman

GRANDMASTERS
1 Chip Wasson (Ozone Fusion)
2 David DuPont (Ozone Fusion)
3 Jason Morton (Ozone Fusion)

The 2024 U.S. WingFoil Championship was an overwhelming success, celebrating the fast-paced and dynamic nature of WingFoiling. The event not only crowned new national champions but also highlighted the sport’s rapid growth and the burgeoning community of dedicated athletes.

As WingFoiling continues to evolve, this championship has set a high standard for future competitions and showcased the thrilling potential of this exciting sailing discipline.

US Sailing extends its gratitude to local sponsors Simba, Sunski, Ozone, Cabrinha, Dermatone, F-One, and Manera for their support of the 2024 U.S. WingFoil Championship.