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Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder switches coach; wins silver at Youth European C'ships
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – With an eye on the future, Singaporean kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder has switched up his coaching set-up and is now training with the Swiss team alongside his younger brother Karl, 16. The move sees him working under Swiss coach Matthieu Girolet, with their first unofficial training camp held about four weeks ago. In his first event since the switch, the 18-year-old clinched the men's silver at the International Kiteboarding Association Youth European Championships in Gizzeria, Italy, on July 6. Italy's Riccardo Pianosi claimed gold, while the bronze medal went to Switzerland's Gian Stragiotti. 'I'm in with a new team, which means I have a new coach, new training partners... It has felt like it's been really productive work,' said Maeder, whose father Valentin is Swiss and mother Hwee Keng is Singaporean. 'It's a new environment, there's some things to get acclimatised to. However, I feel like it's really good work and I feel like it has great potential for the future.' At Hang Loose Beach, Maeder led the opening series with 17 nett points to secure direct qualification into the grand final, entering with a match-point advantage. That meant he needed just one race win to seal the title, while Pianosi, who had finished second with 25 points, had to win twice. But on July 6, an in-from Pianosi, who finished fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, forced a decider after edging out Maeder in the first race of the grand final. He then carried that momentum into the second race, winning ahead of Stragiotti and Poland's Vojtech Koska. Maeder finished fourth, settling for silver. Maeder was previously coached by Ivica Dolenc, who had worked with him since he was 14. Under Dolenc's guidance, he rose to become a double world champion and won Olympic bronze at the Paris Games, making him Singapore's youngest medallist at the quadrennial event. Explaining the change in his coaching set-up, Maeder said: 'The (previous) set-up worked for a while and it was pretty good. 'The thing is, I felt there was more in the tank and I felt the team I was with had brought me so far but for the future, if I wanted to aim for even more Games, perhaps this team I had already was not the best choice. 'It was all right, but I saw the set-up that the Swiss had and how my brother was working and I thought that would be the long-term way to go.' Elaborating, he said he was drawn to the Swiss team's approach to improving performance. He added: 'I feel like there's a strong sense of performance in the way that you search for anything and everything that can bring you further in performance in a methodical and analytical way. 'I feel like having more minds put together on briefing, debriefing, analysing and the spirit that was in the team I felt was the right thing. 'That's the concrete difference – the spirit was different in the sense that the ambition and the aim, at least how it was manifested, and how analytical the whole set-up is.' Next on Maeder's schedule is the Sept 27-Oct 5 Formula Kite World Championships in Sardinia, Italy, where the two-time defending champion will be looking to retain his title. Feeling positive about his new training team, Maeder also acknowledged that it will take time for the changes to come through. He said: 'I'm pretty well tuned in (to the change). It's just about letting the set-up have its effect over time. 'It takes some time for things that are in place to have their effect, especially at this level... so one month, two months before you properly see the effects that the changes have and of course, there's a lot of things to get acclimatised to.'
New Paper
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
'Progress, not perfection': Max Maeder reflects after win streak ends
Maximilian Maeder's run of international kitefoiling triumphs, which started after the 2024 Paris Olympics, has stopped at five following his second-placed finish behind Italy's Riccardo Pianosi at the French Olympic Week event in Hyeres, France, on April 25. Once again showing maturity beyond his youth, the Singaporean teenager told The Straits Times: "I went in first into the medal series, which was the goal, so that was well done. "During the final, I just have to take my hat off to Riccardo, who had a wonderful execution... not making any mistakes and attacking aggressively. "There are lessons to be learnt, which is good motivation to improve for the future. "Also, the less you let the bad or good results affect you, the better you can have your consistency shine. So that's the goal, just to try and take whatever lessons we can from this event and continue training and improving. I'm aiming for progress, not perfection." The 18-year-old had looked set to continue his winning streak as he topped the 60-man field during the qualifying series with six wins in 15 races to progress to the Grand Final with one match point, which meant he needed just one more match point in the four-man finale to claim overall victory. But Pianosi, who was second in the qualifying series, stepped up to secure the two match points needed to take the gold by winning the first two races, in which Maeder placed third and fourth to finish second overall. Swiss Gian Stragiotti and Italian Lorenzo Boschetti were third and fourth respectively. Before the loss, Maeder had been in red-hot form as he won nine out of 10 events in 2024. After clinching an Olympic bronze, he won the KiteFoil World Series in Austria and Italy, the Asian Championships and the Youth European Championships, before another victory in Spain to kick off the 2025 season. At that event, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta on April 5, Pianosi, 20, had finished second behind Maeder. The Singaporean will look to get back to winning ways as he defends his Formula Kite European title in Turkey from May 11 to 19. In a previous interview, he told ST that his main goal for 2025 was to retain his title at the Formula Kite World Championships in Sardinia, Italy, from Sept 27 to Oct 5. But first, he will have to manage a sore right shoulder after injuring it during a crash in training on April 13. A physiotherapist from the High Performance Sport Institute was dispatched to attend to Maeder, who was fit enough to race. He said: "I crashed at surprisingly low speed, but something happened with my shoulder, and it felt like the joint wasn't in the right position, before it clicked into place and felt normal again 25 seconds later. "My shoulder moves normally and it's fine, but it's just that if I strain it at the end of its range of motion, I feel something. I can compete like normal but I haven't completely forgotten about it." Meanwhile, among the other Singaporeans at the event, Ryan Lo placed 31st out of 112 competitors in the ILCA 7, Jania Ang ranked 59th out of 72 sailors in the ILCA 6, and Elkan Oh was 63rd out of 75 athletes in the men's iQFoil.
New Paper
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Max Maeder overcomes setbacks to retain European C'ships crown
Described as a surgeon by his peers, Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder was able to put aside his emotions and operate with clinical precision to retain his Formula Kite European Championships title on May 19, following an eventful week of racing. The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist had finished second behind Riccardo Pianosi at the French Olympic Week event in April, but insisted he did not set out to avenge that loss as he beat the 20-year-old Italian in Urla, Turkey. Maeder told The Straits Times: "This win is less about defending the title or gaining revenge, because as satisfying as it is, it can cloud your judgment sometimes during racing. So, it was a great learning experience that I was able to detach myself from that. "This surgical precision sometimes eludes me, and I'm very happy and flattered that this compliment is going around and I was able to bring it out today." Pianosi had dominated the opening series, winning 11 out of 16 races to qualify for the medal series in first place as the only athlete with one match point - which means he needed to win only one race in the grand final to claim gold. Maeder, meanwhile, met with difficult conditions to reach the medal series in second place and would need to win two races in the grand final to overhaul Pianosi. In race six of the opening series, a crash ripped off his tracker and tore his wetsuit. He then missed the next race after a line tangle at the start damaged his kite. In the penultimate race, a plastic bag got caught on his hydrofoil (underwater wing), sending him into the water and inverting his kite as he finished last. The drama continued in the four-man grand final on a "phenomenal day of racing". Needing to win to stay in the hunt and prevent Pianosi from claiming the title at the first attempt, both men's kites made contact as they led the first race, and the Italian was penalised after he was adjudged to have touched Maeder's kite on a jibe in the first downwind leg. The 18-year-old Singaporean then kept his focus to capitalise on Pianosi's poor start in the second race to record his first triumph of the year. Gian Stragiotti of Switzerland and Greece's Cameron Maramenides finished third and fourth respectively. Maeder added: "To focus after winning or losing a race is part and parcel of being a racer, because we have to try and do it again and again. To know that the job isn't done, to recalibrate and reset yourself is a skill of a racer, and I've built that experience over time. "I was also pushed to focus and pushed to my limits by the competitors around me. They bring out the best in me, and I hope I bring out the best in them as well." Pianosi paid tribute to the champion, saying: "Max had an amazing day. He did everything clear in the first race, and especially the second one. I made an error at the start, but it was a very nice day for him and I'm happy for him." Maeder will return to Singapore on May 25 to take a couple of weeks' break before heading to Europe again for training. In the women's final, Frenchwoman Lauriane Nolot took gold, while Briton Lily Young, Lysa Caval of France and Argentinian Catalina Turienzo placed second, third and fourth respectively. Meanwhile, at the May 10-17 Ilca 6 Women's and Ilca 7 Men's World Championships in Qingdao, China, Singapore's Ryan Lo ended 14th for Asia's best men's finish, while compatriot Jarrod Toh was 123rd out of 138 sailors as Dutchman Willem Wiersema took gold. In the women's event, Singapore's Jania Ang finished 57th among 99 sailors.
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Revenge not on his agenda as Maximilian Maeder overcomes trials to retain European C'ships crown
SINGAPORE – Described as a surgeon by his peers, Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder was able to put aside his emotions and operate with clinical precision to retain his Formula Kite European Championships title on May 19, following an eventful week of racing. The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist had finished second behind Riccardo Pianosi at the French Olympic Week event in April, but insisted he did not set out to avenge that loss as he beat the 20-year-old Italian in Urla, Turkey. Maeder told The Straits Times: 'This win is less about defending the title or gaining revenge, because as satisfying as it is, it can cloud your judgment sometimes during racing. So, it was a great learning experience that I was able to detach myself from that. 'This surgical precision sometimes eludes me, and I'm very happy and flattered that this compliment is going around and I was able to bring it out today.' Pianosi had dominated the opening series, winning 11 out of 16 races to qualify for the medal series in first place as the only athlete with one match point – which means he needed to win only one race in the grand final to take gold. Maeder, meanwhile, met with difficult conditions to reach the medal series in second place and would need to win two races in the grand final to overhaul Pianosi. In race six of the opening series, a crash ripped off his tracker and tore his wetsuit. He then missed the next race after a line tangle at the start damaged his kite. The drama continued in the four-man grand final on a 'phenomenal day of racing'. Needing to win to stay in the hunt and prevent Pianosi from claiming the title at the first attempt, both men's kites touched as they led the first race, and the Italian was penalised after he was adjudged to have touched Maeder's kite on a jibe in the first downwind leg. The 18-year-old Singaporean then kept his focus to capitalise on Pianosi's poor start in the second race to record his first triumph of the year. He said: 'To focus after winning or losing a race is part and parcel of being a racer, because we have to try and do it again and again. To know that the job isn't done, to recalibrate and reset yourself is a skill of a racer, and I've built that experience over time. 'I was also pushed to focus and pushed to my limits by the competitors around me. They bring out the best in me, and I hope I bring out the best in them as well.' Pianosi paid tribute to the champion, saying: 'Max had an amazing day. He did everything clear in the first race, and especially the second one. I made an error at the start, but it was a very nice day for him and I'm happy for him.' Maeder will return to Singapore on May 25 to take a couple of weeks' break before heading to Europe again for training. In the women's final, Frenchwoman Lauriane Nolot took gold, while Briton Lily Young, Lysa Caval of France and Argentinian Catalina Turienzo placed second, third and fourth respectively. David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore kitefoiler Max Maeder aiming for progress, not perfection as he places second in France
Singapore kitefoiler Max Maeder aiming for progress, not perfection as he places second in France SINGAPORE – Maximilian Maeder's run of international kitefoiling triumphs, which started after the Paris 2024 Olympics, has stopped at five following his second-placed finish behind Italy's Riccardo Pianosi at the French Olympic Week event in Hyeres, France on April 25. Once again showing maturity beyond his youth, the Singaporean teenager told The Straits Times: 'I went in first into the medal series, which was the goal, so that was well done. During the final, I just have to take my hat off to Riccardo, who had a wonderful execution... not making any mistakes and attacking aggressively. 'There are lessons to be learnt, which is good motivation to improve for the future. 'Also, the less you let the bad or good results affect you, the better you can have your consistency shine. So that's the goal, just to try and take whatever lessons we can from this event and continue training and improving. I'm aiming for progress, not perfection.' The 18-year-old had looked set to continue his winning streak as he topped the 60-man field during the qualifying series with six wins in 15 races to progress to the Grand Final with one match point, which meant he needed just one more match point in the four-man finale to claim overall victory. But Pianosi, who was second in the qualifying series, stepped up to secure the two match points needed to take the gold by winning the first two races, in which Maeder placed third and fourth to finish second overall. Swiss Gian Stragiotti and Italian Lorenzo Boschetti were third and fourth respectively. Before the loss, Maeder had been in red-hot form as he won nine out of 10 events in 2024. After clinching an Olympic bronze, he won the KiteFoil World Series in Austria and Italy, the Asian Championships and the Youth European Championships before another victory in Spain to kick off the 2025 season. At that event, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta on April 5, Pianosi, 20, had finished second behind Maeder. The Singaporean will look to get back to winning ways as he defends his Formula Kite European title in Turkey from May 11-19. In a previous interview, he told The Straits Times that his main goal of the year was to retain his title at the Formula Kite World Championships in Sardinia, Italy from Sept 27 to Oct 5. But first, he will have to manage a sore right shoulder after injuring it during a crash in training on April 13. A physiotherapist from the High Performance Sport Institute was despatched to attend to Maeder, who was fit enough to race. He said: 'I crashed at surprisingly low speed, but something happened with my shoulder, and it felt like the joint wasn't in the right position, before it clicked into place and felt normal again 25 seconds later. 'My shoulder moves normally and it's fine, but it's just that if I strain it at the end of its range of motion, I feel something. I can compete like normal but I haven't completely forgotten about it.' Meanwhile, among the other Singaporeans at the event, Ryan Lo placed 39th out of 112 competitors in the Ilca7, Jania Ang ranked 59th out of 72 sailors in the Ilca6, and Elkan Oh was 63rd out of 75 athletes in the men's iQFoil. David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
