The U17 class is one of the most competitive categories in youth slalom racing — often seen as the gateway toward elite Men’s divisions.
In 2024, Luca Pires delivered a level of control and race awareness far above his age, winning the U17 world title with authority.
Event highlights:
IFCA’s official report listed him as the clear leader of the U17 fleet.
Sail: CHS Aero Fin
Sizes used: approx. 6.2 / 5.8 (Youth U17 range – adjustable per conditions)
Board: Future Fly or equivalent Youth slalom board
Fin: 34–38 cm race fin
Wind range: 10–18 knots
Focus: Start-line acceleration + predictable power delivery
CHS Aero Fin’s balanced pressure point and low-end drive allowed Luca to stay focused on tactics instead of rig handling — a decisive advantage for young athletes.
“For U17 racing, the sail must feel light and reactive.
The Aero Fin was tuned for Luca with a slightly softer leech release and a very stable profile in the lower section.
This helps young riders keep control even when the wind shifts or gusts hit hard.
Precision and comfort translate directly into speed.”
Luca Pires’ victory confirms CHS as one of the most reliable performance choices for youth athletes aiming at international success.
With CHS Aero Fin, Luca transformed potential into a world title — and opened the door to a promising competitive future.
From youth world titles to a World Cup victory and two wingfoil world records, this has been the most successful season in CHS history.
Here is a quick recap of the milestones achieved by athletes competing with CHS sails and wings in 2024–2025.
In 2025, the CHS Ikaros S1 became the first CHS wing to power an athlete to two official WSSR world records:
the 500-meter wingfoil speed record and the nautical mile wingfoil speed record.
This article recaps how the Ikaros S1 was engineered for speed — and why it set a new benchmark in the sport.
