Spanish riders Julia Castro and Manel Arpa began the 2026 Surf Foil World Tour with a second-place and a first-place finish in Nador, Morocco.
The 2026 Surf Foil World Tour kicked off this weekend in Marchica, Nador, Morocco, with an outstanding performance from the Spanish delegation. Julia Castro and Manel Arpa both reached the podium at the first stop of the e-foil world championship, confirming the strong momentum of this emerging discipline within foil sports.
The rider from Fuerteventura achieved a brilliant second place in the women’s category after delivering a very solid performance from start to finish. Castro remained among the top riders throughout the event and began the season positioning herself as one of the main contenders for the world title, beaten only by Sweden’s Agnes Wicander.
Castro’s podium finish also had a distinctive technical aspect. While most participants competed with conventional e-foils, the Canary Islands rider opted for a Foil Drive system, a form of foil assist with electric assistance that allows riders to use lighter and more customizable boards and foils.
The difference is significant. Traditional e-foils integrate batteries into much heavier boards, while the system used by Castro considerably reduces the total weight of the equipment and offers sensations closer to pure foiling. In addition, she was the only female participant to use this setup during the Morocco event.
In the men’s category, Spanish dominance was even greater thanks to Manel Arpa’s victory. He claimed first place and began the championship as the leader of the world ranking with 3,200 points. The Spanish rider finished ahead of American J. Chait and Austrian C. Kresser in an event marked by a high competitive level and the changing conditions of the Moroccan lagoon.
The e-foil world circuit is entering its second official season in 2026 and will continue its calendar over the coming months with events scheduled in Munich, China and France. The discipline continues to grow steadily in both participation and international impact, and Spain has started the season in a leading position.
Translated in english, original post : https://as.com/deportes_accion/surf/julia-castro-y-manel-arpa-arrancan-el-mundial-de-e-foil-por-todo-lo-alto-f202605-n/
