Historic Day at the Aloha Classic: Masters Shine, Juniors Crowned, and Finals Await

DAY 3, ALOHA CLASSIC GRAND FINAL
Presented by WINDSURF AI
Ho‘okipa Beach, Maui | October 16, 2025

The Biggest Masters Field in Windsurfing History, Junior Champions Crowned, and a Massive Finals Day Ahead

Day 3 of the Aloha Classic Grand Final delivered a spectacular showcase of windsurfing talent across generations, from the rising stars of the Junior and Pro Junior divisions to the legendary Masters. The beach was electric as over 36 of the world’s best Masters hit the water. This was the largest field in Aloha Classic history and any 5 Star event around the world, alongside a new generation of youth riders demonstrating that the future of wave sailing is in very good hands.

Tomorrow brings the long awaited Men’s and Women’s Professional Finals, with large surf in the forecast, and a lineup of global stars set to battle for the unified World Wave Championship titles.

JUNIORS (U18): A Glimpse Into the Future

The Junior Boys (U18) final delivered a thrilling glimpse of the next generation. Jaka Stroj from Slovenia proved unstoppable, combining power and smooth control to claim victory with a 7.00-point heat total, ahead of Spain’s Javier Escribano Toribio (ES-91, Goya), Belgium’s Sol Degrieck (B-5, Severne), and Greece’s Jason Papanikolaou (GR-4111, Neil Pryde) .

This was one of the most internationally diverse Junior lineups ever seen at Ho‘okipa, featuring riders from Europe, Japan, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, all under 18 years old. While the Pro Junior (U21) division now stands as the globally recognized pre-proving ground, these Juniors showed extraordinary potential — a wave of future world-tour athletes is clearly on the rise.

PRO JUNIORS (U21): Japan’s Ryu Noguchi Leads a New Global Era

In the highly prestigious Pro Junior (U21) division, Japan’s Ryu Noguchi (J-39, Starboard/Severne) emerged victorious after a dramatic final showdown with Gregory Stathopoulos (GRE-73, Goya). Noguchi’s clean vertical turns and confident rail work earned him an 8.27 heat total to seal the win.

The podium reflected a true global spread, with Gregory Stathopoulos (GRE-73, Goya) in second, Samuele Ferraro (ITA-505, Patrik) in third and Jake Ghiretti (AUS-99, Severne) in 4th. The U21 category continues to serve as the elite gateway to the professional tour, and this year’s performances proved the depth of upcoming talent is stronger than ever.

MASTERS: Legends Return to the Lineup

The Masters division — traditionally one of the most beloved of the Aloha Classic — exploded this year with 36 entries, including Francisco Goya (Argentina), Josh Stone (Hawaii USA), Kai Katchadourian (USA / Finland), Keith Teboul (Madagascar/USA), Paul Karaolides (Cyprus), Chris Freeman (UK), Michi Schweiger (Austria), Jason Prior (Hawaii USA), Sean Ordoñez (Hawaii USA), Brian Talma (Barbados), Craig Yester (Hawaii USA), Angela Cochran (Hawaii USA), Jane Seman (Australia), and world ranking leaders Michael Friedl (Spain) and Charlie Rovira (Puerto Rico)!

Ho‘okipa served up flawless sets for the veterans, and the results didn’t disappoint. Francisco Goya recorded one of the day’s highest heat totals (11.67), Josh Stone looked reborn with smooth lines and flowing turns, while Kai Katchadourian and Keith Teboul impressed with modern power and precision. The Masters bracket will conclude tomorrow morning ahead of the professional finals: a showcase of timeless skill and spirit.

TOMORROW: THE GRAND SHOWDOWN: WORLD TITLES DECIDED

The stage is now set for the Men’s and Women’s Pro Finals, where the 2025 World Wave Champions will be crowned. Expect fireworks as Marc Paré (current men’s rankings leader), Marcilio Browne (reigning world champion), Bernd Roediger, and Sarah-Quita Offringa (current women’s rankings leader) take on building surf in what promises to be one of the most spectacular finals in years.

This is the biggest broadcast day in professional windsurfing — a true Super Sunday of wave sailing. Fans around the world can watch it live at the unified digital hub for the World Wave Tour and the PWA website.

Photos by Fish Bowl Diaries