TEAM NEWS: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE 2025 SURF-FREESTYLE CHAMPION

Reflecting on an incredible 2025 season with Benjamin Castenskiold.

2025 has turned the Surf-Freestyle World Tour on its head with the victory of a 14-year-old rider. A changing of the guard far sooner than anyone expected. Let’s break down this incredible season with the young man himself and hear how he experienced it.

You got off to a good start with a 4th in Leucate, then you reached for a new gear and were unstoppable. What happened?

Coming into the 2025 season, I wasn’t sure how I would perform since it was my first time competing at the international level. At the first stop of the season in Leucate, France, I felt I had done a good job finishing in 4th place, but I still wasn’t satisfied.

It also happened to be when my contract was ending, so I was looking for the best partnership for pushing me to the top of the sport. That’s when I took the opportunity to join the GONG Team. I had tested the gear before singing and felt confident it would take me to the next level, and as it turns out, that’s exactly what happened. At the second stop of the season in Tarifa, Spain, I went from 4th place in France to 1st place.

Wing foiler: Benjamin, GONG team rider, with his Hyperloop FSP Pro, Droid Aramid X, HM85 mast and Ypra Freestyle front wing and stab. Photo: GWA. Tarifa 2025.

Are there specific skills or techniques you had focused on improving for the 2025 campaign?

Coming into the 2025 season, the judges were looking for high-technical tricks instead of low-technical ones. I realized that with these wings, I was able to go higher than ever, easily, while still doing super-technical spins and flips. But I also had to learn how to control that height without getting injured, especially on the landings.

The top guys and girls are all pretty young. You won your first event days before turning 14 years old and went on to win the title. Do you see youth as a strength on tour ?

Winning my first event ever, just days before turning 14, was a dream come true for me. But I wasn’t the only youngster going for the title; most of the riders in the top 10 are under 20 years old. I really see the youth taking over the tour and becoming the best in the world.

What was the most pivotal moment for you during the 2025 season?

For me, the most pivotal moment in the 2025 season was when I made my brand switch. That’s when I felt I could really show my talent to the world and become world champion.

Benjamin Castenskiold, GONG team rider, with his Hyperloop FSP Pro.

Can you share insights into your training routine?

When it comes to training in wingfoil, for me it just means going out and having fun in the water with my friends.

How do you mentally prepare before heats? Do you have a game plan?

Before every heat, my father and I come up with a trick list depending on the wind conditions. That way it’s much easier on me, because I don’t have to make up tricks in the water. I know exactly what I have to do, and that I need to land it.

Which heat do you feel showcased your best performance this year, and why?

My best heat this season was at the last event in Gran Canaria, Spain. In my first heat there, I landed 6 out of 7 tricks and earned the highest score of the competition, a 29.30. It was also where I was crowned world champion.

Wing foiler: Benjamin, GONG team rider, with his Hyperloop FSP Pro, Droid Aramid X, HM85 mast and Ypra Freestyle front wing and stab. Photo: GWA. Gran Canaria 2025.

Which was your worst heat this season?

My worst heat this season was in Leucate, France, in the final, when I only landed 4 out of 7 tricks, putting me in 4th place. I was disappointed because I had put down solid scores in every heat before that, so I really believed I could win.

What were the biggest challenges on tour this year?

The biggest challenges on tour this year were during the first two competitions, when I had a back injury. I was competing in a lot of pain, and it made me doubt whether I’d be able to reach my goal. But I decided I couldn’t let something like that take away my dream.

How is life on tour? Who are the riders you look up to?

Life on tour is quite hard, with all the traveling around the world, especially with all the board bags we travel with. We’re flying almost every week. But after a while, you get used to it. And on the bright side, I get to visit so many new places and ride new spots, which I love. Plus, I get to meet so many riders I look up to, like Chris McDonald and Malo Guenole.

Are there any standout innovations or equipment that made a key difference for you in 2025?

The biggest difference in gear development for me this year was the new Ypra Freestyle, which allowed me to land super-high tricks. The Droid Aramid X made them feel clean and gave me extreme re-pop for combos.

How has being part of the GONG team influenced your approach to training, competition, or even your overall mindset?

Being part of the GONG team showed me how important teamwork is for making dreams come true. It gave me way more confidence going into competitions, knowing I had a whole team behind me supporting my goals.

What are your 2026 goals?

My goals for 2026 are to be world champion once again and to get the first-ever max score of 30 in a heat, which I believe I can do.

Wing foiler: Benjamin, GONG team rider, with his Stunt FSP Pro, Droid Aramid X, HM85 mast and Ypra Freestyle front wing and stab.

What’s in your life outside of competing? Any other sports, specific training?

Outside of competition, my life is basically just going back to training and having fun, which is the most important thing to me.

What’s planned for the off-season?

For the off-season, my plan is to make sure I have all my tricks fully dialed for the 2026 season, and to try to land as many world-firsts as possible to bring into competition.

Best of luck for next season! We’re all looking forward to what’s to come.