LEADING THE WORLD TITLE RACE
Severne’s elite roster with Lina Erpenstein leading the charge showcased a spectacular level of wave sailing in Tenerife.
Lina Erpenstein, riding Nano Pro and S-1, claimed the top spot in the Women’s Wave competition, solidifying her status as one of the world’s premier female wave sailors. This victory follows her maiden World Tour win in Chile earlier this year, paving the way for that coveted World Championship title.
Technical proficiency was the name of the game for Lina. She leveraged conditions and her gear to execute a significant number of deep rail turns that made heads turn on the beach (for both judges and spectators). She backed that up with well-timed back, and forward loops to raise her overall score above the competition.
THE WOMEN ON A MISSION
Not to be overshadowed, Iballa Moreno, another Severne rider, and a legend of the sport, fought her way to a second-place finish. Iballa’s comeback story is one for the books, climbing from fourth place in the single elimination to secure her podium spot. Her repertoire included radical one-footed forward loops, a high-risk move that paid off, complemented by her trademark fluid wave riding style.
Team Severne’s success story continued with Pauline Katz, who secured a notable fifth place. Pauline’s performance is particularly noteworthy given her marked improvement this season. Riding the Redback and Nano combo, Pauline has truly found her groove after an injury setback last year.
DOMINATING THE YOUTH
In the youth divisions, Sol Degrieck, riding the Pyro and Redback combo, has secured her place at the top of the U18 Girl’s podium. That is her second consecutive victory. Sol’s abnormally high level jumping and wave riding skills at such a young age set her apart from the competition and also put her in ninth position in the women’s pro fleet.
LIAM ON A ROLL
In the men’s division, Severne’s presence was felt with Liam Dunkerbeck clinching fifth place. While dropping one position from the single elimination, Liam’s consistent top-five performance underscores just how much he has improved in the matter of a season. Liam rides the Blade.
But Liam’s achievements didn’t stop there. He also stormed to victory in the U21 Boy’s single elimination. Liam threw down textbook double forwards and one-foot back loops, coupled with “ninja” level wave riding to leave the competition in the dust. This win cements Liam’s status as a rising star in the sport. Lennart also finished 21st in the mens pro fleet.
RYU IS ONE TO WATCH
Also finishing on the podium in the junior U18 fleet was Japanese rider Ryu Noguchi. Ryu is already known for going for the biggest moves in the biggest conditions so we’re sure to see more of him in the near future.
FREESTYLERS TAKE IT TO THE WAVES
Staying within the junior and youth fleets, Lennart Neubauer came in hot after an impressive performance in the previous Gran Canaria World Cup (and a victory at the freestyle World Cup in Fuerteventura), but a stacked fleet of rippers made Lennart’s competition much tougher as he only narrowly missed out on a spot in the U21 final and had to settle with a fifth place.
Rounding out the Severne contingent was Dieter Van der Eyken, who narrowly missed the top eight, finishing in ninth place. Coming back from an injury he sustained at the previous PWA World Cup in Gran Canaria, Dieter could not sail until the start of this contest. Yet, his local knowledge and snappy wave riding were an indication of his full potential.
Gear talk
The technical aspects of team Severne’s equipment played a crucial role in these achievements. From Lina’s precise turns to Iballa’s controlled one-footed loops, the responsiveness and performance level of Severne gear were on full display.
As the PWA World Tour progresses, Lina Erpensein is well on her way to securing her first-ever World Title, and on the men’s side, Philip Köster is locked in an intense battle to win his sixth title. But lurking in the rankings is also Liam Dunkerbeck who could cause more upsets as the season progresses.
Rider setups
Dieter van der Eyken
Board: Nano
Sail: S-1 4.4 / 4.8
Lina Erpenstein
Board: Nano Pro 82
Sail: S-1 4.4 / 4.8
Liam Dunkerbeck
Sail: Blade 4.7 / 5.0
Pauline Katz
Board: Nano
Sail: Redback 4.3
Iballa Ruano Moreno
Board: Stone 78
Sail: Blade 4.5 /4.7
Sol Degrieck
Board: Pyro
Sail: Redback
Lennart Neubauer
Sail: Blade 5.0
Womens top 5
- Lina Erpenstein G-3
2. Iballa Ruano Moreno E-63
3. Alexia Kiefer Quintana E-59
4. Sarah-Quita Offringa ARU-91
5. Pauline Katz SUI-678
Mens top 5
- Marc Paré E-334
2. Victor Fernandez E-42
3. Julian Salmonn G-901
4. Marino Gil Gherardi E-959
5. Liam Dunkerbeck Morales E-11
Junior and youth fleets: click here.
More Severne news
Defi Wind 2026: Severne brought the building
Four days at Gruissan. Tramontana 25-45 knots. 1,400 competitors. Blanca took silver, Antoine finished fourth in Foil Unlimited, and Monster and Fury hit the table publicly for the first time ever at Revolution HQ — voted best stand of the event.
Federico Infantino: Main Break and the Desert
Federico Infantino’s 2025/26 Western Australia season, filtered through the surf-style approach he has been refining: small sail, board-led, let the wave do the work.
Wildwest: Balz Müller Goes XXL at Famara
Balz Müller takes his R4D 4.4 and Psycho 86 into XXL conditions at Famara, Lanzarote. Wildwest is a reminder that nobody pushes the freestyle/wave crossover like Balz.
The Wolf Enters the Big League
Fabian Wolf has strengthened his collaboration with team SEVERNE for 026, stepping up to the international racing team. From national slalom to Olympic iQFOiL to PWA racing; the German finished 2025 as Vice European Champion and 5th at PWA Japan, and he’s targeting the top three in 026.
Lina Erpenstein: Ten Years on Team SEVERNE
Lina Erpenstein joined team SEVERNE in 2016 after growing up on flat water in inland Germany. Ten years, multiple podiums and victories at European, national, and international level, a Chile World Cup win, and a medical career later; she’s still chasing the Women’s World Title.
Pauline Katz: Five Years on the Redback
Pauline Katz has ridden the Redback since ’21. Five seasons across Pozo, Chile, and Maui; all on a sail built for riders her size. Here’s why she’s never switched.
Girls on Tour Goes European
Team SEVERNE rider Pauline Katz expands her Girls on Tour women’s windsurfing camp series to a full European calendar in 2026. Seven events across four locations covering waves, freestyle, and slalom; coached by top female pros including Daida Ruano Moreno and Maaike Huvermann.
Blanca Alabau Signs Eighth Year with SEVERNE
2023 PWA Slalom World Champion and women’s foil speed world record holder Blanca Alabau returns to team SEVERNE for her eighth consecutive season. The partnership that started when she entered Formula Foil competition has produced world titles, speed records, and consistent podiums across both fin and foil disciplines.
SEVERNE Margaret River Wave Classic 2026: Jaeger Stone back on top
Jaeger Stone reclaims Margaret River while 17-year-old Sarah Kenyon wins her first Pro Women’s event. Jake Ghiretti scores the highest wave of the competition. Team SEVERNE dominated every podium; all on the Stone.