Premiere Event in Ebikon
From 23 to 26 September 2026, Switzerland will become the center of the European rapid surf scene. On behalf of the European Surfing Federation (ESF), Swiss Surfing is organizing the first official Rapid Surf European Championship. The event will take place at OANA in the Mall of Switzerland in Ebikon.
Rapid Surfing – a young discipline experiencing rapid growth
The fact that the first continental championship is being held in Switzerland, a country without access to the ocean, marks an important milestone. Swiss Surfing Co-President Pascal Brotzer expresses his pride about hosting this international premiere:
“Having the very first Rapid Surf European Championship take place in Switzerland is a tremendous honor for us and a clear sign of how strongly the sport has established itself here.”
Event Slots and Categories
A total of 96 starting places will be available, divided into six categories:
- Open Men: 32
- Open Women: 32
- Junior Girls (U18): 8
- Junior Boys (U18): 8
- Master Women (Ü35): 8
- Master Men (Ü35): 8
Qualification through National Federations
All European federations that are members of the ESF can register their desired quota places until 14 January 2026. After review by the organizing committee, it will be determined how many fixed spots can be allocated. Any remaining open spots will be made available to ESF member federations starting 1 March 2026.
Important: Direct registration by athletes is not possible. Selection is made exclusively through the national federations.
Judging and Competition Format
Scoring will follow the newly developed CVE system (Commitment – Variety – Execution), created jointly by the DACH federations. Competitors will surf in 4-person heats, with each athlete riding four waves. The two best scores count toward the total score.
In all categories, a repechage follows the first round, offering a second chance to advance to the next stage. The Competition Direction may make adjustments depending on the number of participants or time conditions.
Organization and Team
Strategic leadership is provided by the Swiss Surfing Board, which has appointed Jeroen Kuijer as project manager. He is supported by Delphine Sauvant, Carlo Capitanio, and Dario Müller, who take on operational responsibilities.
