Belgian Grand Prix: 2025
Event Final Results and Qualifying Results
Qualifying Results: Long sprint
The Long Sprint was created as a new format specifically for the needs of this event. With the event window only allowing for 1 full day an exciting qualifying event with applicable results were required.
The long sprint is an exciting shoulder to shoulder event with riders racing side by side on a parallel track.
The course measured 1000 meters long stretching from the beach to a large buoy on the outside and Return Finish line 80m from the beach.
The objective of the sprint is to get the best time possible from the beach. Riders are given a challenging Le Mans style start with efoils in the water on stand by. They have to run to their board, arm the motor, gain planning speed and accelerate to as high a speed they can and maintain for the first 500 meters.
Then while keeping enough speed make a 180 degree turn back toward the starting area 500m back.
The overall measure of this format was getting a good time. Having this event as a head to head pushes the riders faster, and adds a competitive element. Riders were encouraged to pick an opposing rider they wanted to challenge at a similar ability.
Top speeds of the day were made in this event and possibly for the whole 2025 Season in competition: 53 kph by Peit on a Lift 4 & Justin at 52 kph on his Flite Series 5. This format worked well for helping seed qualified riders to an equal ability in such a short amount of time. A format that we will repeat in future events!
Knockout Results: Technical Track
A high-speed course with challenging sections pushed riders to their limits. The asymmetrical design allowed competitors to reach record speeds on a technical track, forcing them to draw perfect racing lines to secure victory.
With more speed comes more responsibility: the adrenaline-filled course saw riders hitting 50 kph on the straights, with the majority clocking upwards of 45 kph. “This event was NEXT LEVEL,” said Justin Chait—who claimed the top podium spot, but not without a fierce battle.
The day was filled with triumphs and upsets. With 24 riders in the Men’s division and 6 in the Women’s, the knockout brackets had to overlap, giving some “best losers” a second chance to climb back into contention. In other cases, the structure placed extra pressure on top riders. One of the biggest upsets came when Belgian rider Fons De Prins, despite setting the fastest lap times for his nation, was matched against top Dutch racer Piet Varkevisser in the quarter-finals. Piet went on to finish 2nd overall, while Fons was knocked out by just a few seconds. It was a thrilling heat to watch between two fierce competitors.
Overall, Fons remains a force to be reckoned with and is sure to reach future podiums at European championship events.
In the Women’s division, Agnes Wicander of Sweden took 1st place. Following her strong mid-summer results in Italy and the Netherlands—where she not only placed as top female but also outperformed many men—Agnes once again delivered a powerful performance against some of the world’s best.
The rest of the Women’s podium was equally impressive: Censa Van Houtte in 2nd, An Neirunck in 3rd, and Laura K. in 4th. Despite only having a few years of eFoiling experience, these women are already at a competition level that puts them on track to be serious contenders for the world’s top 8 by 2026.
The Belgian Grand Prix was one for the history books. We’re calling it the best-organized eFoil race event to date. A huge thank you goes to Raf Claes, whose outstanding campaign made it all possible. We can’t wait for next year!
