Japan World Cup 2025 – My Most Intense Trip So Far
Published: January 2026 – Read time: 6 minutes
Why Japan?
Japan was the third and final stop of the 2025 PWA World Tour — the biggest and most prestigious windsurfing tour in the world.
It was also my first time in Japan, and definitely not the last. I’m already planning my return this year 2026.
The Trip & First Impressions
Traveling to Japan was intense. I flew alone, halfway across the world, with 8x 23 kg windsurf bags, not fully knowing who would pick me up or where I would stay.
After a 13-hour flight from Copenhagen to Tokyo, the jetlag hit hard.
But Japan immediately impressed me — the culture, the food, the people, the discipline. Everything felt clean, respectful, and exciting.
From the airport, we drove to Kaneda Beach, where the event would later be held.
My teammate Alexandre Cousin arrived at the same time, just as destroyed by jetlag as I was.
Training Before the Event
This trip was nothing like my usual pre-event routine.
Instead of dialling in my race gear, I spent five full days testing prototype PATRIK foil sails for 2026.
The new equipment felt extremely promising — faster and more stable — but the downside was the workload. Long days on the water, too little food, and sleep that never really hit deep.
After six days, I realized I had lost a few kilos.
In foil slalom, that’s not helpful — especially when you rely on bodyweight for power in choppy and light winds.
The Event – Solid Consistency, No Peak Performance
I knew after 5 brutal testdays that the competetions would be rough. So Instead of chasing maximum speed and risky starts, I aimed for solid consistency racing.
- Qualified into every B-final
- Some heats felt great, others frustrating
But overall, I managed to keep my racing stable
Japan Outside the Competition
Even beyond the windsurfing, Japan was unforgettable.
The food 🍜
Japan is a world of its own — ramen, sushi, rice bowls, street snacks, everything.
But after 16 days, I’ll admit… I missed Danish portions 😂
The people 🙏
Everyone I met was incredibly polite and helpful.
You instantly feel welcome, even if you don’t speak the language.
Tokyo ⚡
I spent two days exploring Tokyo:
Shibuya crossing, Akihabara, temples, neon streets, small alley restaurants…
Every corner felt like a new movie scene.
Final Thoughts & What’s Next
Japan 2025 was one of the most intense and meaningful trips of my career so far.
Not everything went my way — but I learned more from this event than from many of my better results.
The goal now is straightforward:
Arrive at the 2026 season ready to take a big jump forward.
This website will be the place where I share the full journey —
not just the quick snapshots from Instagram, but the real story behind the results, the travel, the clinics, and the training.
Japan was just the beginning. Stay tuned.
👉 Follow me on Instagram (@noahvinther)
👉 Sign up for updates on my website
— Noah Vinther