Wissa 2023 / Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships & 'X' Games in Estonia - Wing Skating on ice

Wing SkaterMag caught up with Triina Trei to ask her about the epic Wissa & 'X' games that are held annually in Estonia - here's what she had to say..

About Wissa: "We have been really lucky in Estonia because the WISSA - World Ice and Snow Sailing Association held their World Championships in our country for 2 consecutive years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oujXPZZLbg

I attended on both and did really well, a lot of podium places in both, wing and kite and this year I was also invited to help run and judge the kite freestyle competition. It was a great experience! Thanks to competitions like that the winter time activities have gained a lot of popularity here."

IG: @triinatreikite

CLASSES and DISCIPLINES

1. Sleds - with handheld sails (including mast and boom), i.e. standard windsurfing rigs:

1.1. Course race (for open class);

1.2. Short Track Slalom/STS (for HIBOARDS - a sled with a tilting deck);

1.3. GPS Speed;

1.4. Fun open slalom (dedicated to those with cource race boards and not being able to

attend STS slalom races.

1.5. Marathon (reserve).

2. Wings:

2.1. Course race (for open class);

2.2. Short Track Slalom/ STS (for wing with skates);

2.3. GPS Speed;

2.4. Marathon (reserve);

3. Kites:

3.1. Course race;

3.2. Freestyle;

3.3. GPS speed;

3.4. Marathon (reserve).

About WISSA

The World Ice and Snow Sailing Association [WISSA] Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships [ISSWC] is the longest running international competition in the sport of windsurfing - ironic given that windsurfing is a water sport.

The ISSWC got started in 1980, and WISSA officially formed at Worthsee, Germany in 1987. Originally, the organization was about windsurfing on ice and snow with various sleds powered by windsurfing rigs.

Estonia 1991 saw the first hand held sail, and Poland 1993 was the first official start for kites. Those two milestones make the WISSA ISSWC the longest running international competition for both hand held and kite sail racing as well as windsurfing!

WISSA defines “International” as having competitors from at least 5 countries.

The WISSA mission is to provide an international racing venue for the three classes:

1. Open Class: Any sled powered by a windsurfing rig

2. Hand Held: Any hand held sail such as kite wing or skate sail

3. Kite Class: all sails tethered with lines

The further mission is to welcome all, to keep alive the wonderful tradition of international competition, friendship, and communication.

About our X Games:

I´m actually a kiteboarder myself and this is my 4th year of organizing competitions in Estonia which of last 2 years competitions in the winter as well.

Kite has been my focus mainly but this year me and our local surfclub decided to organize some kite+wing competition series - calling it "Pärnumaa Iks Mängud 2024" which translates to X Games.

In the beginning we werent sure about the turn out but as the series advanced we had more and more participants.

We planned the competitions in a way that the kiteboarders could also participate in both - wing and kite.

Believe it or not in the end most of them ditched the kite and just rode the wing because it was new and exciting.

The wing use really exploded in Estonia. So far we have done two slaloms and one course race.

Marathon, short track slalom for skates, speed and big air for kites are still waiting their turn.

This weekend we can probably do the speed and big air. If the winter continues hopefully marathon as well.

The author is Katrin Merirand, IG: @kataryn777

Thanks to Katrin & Triina for your time and contribution to this article!