The 2026 Filippi Lido Trophy Final

Filippi invited World Rowing writer Johnny Luk to the final leg of the Filippi Lido Trophy, held in Marina di Castagneto, a picturesque town on the Tuscan coast near Filippi’s manufacturing headquarters in Italy.

When I arrived for the three-day event, which began on 5 June, I was met by the larger-than-life Raimondo Bongini. With decades working for Filippi, his enthusiasm was infectious as we raced down the road lined with international flags of participating regions.

This coastal rowing event was clearly a major moment, with rowing posters spotted in local shops and train stations. Even the President of Tuscany Eugenio Giani, flanked by police, attended in person, greeting David Filippi, son of the company’s founder, like an old friend.

The beach had the air of a festival. Young volunteers and supporters mingled with elite athletes, while coaches, technicians, life guards, and representatives from the Italian Rowing Federation worked busily behind the scenes. The weekend was the culmination of a four-stage series that began in Mondello in March, continued in Lido di Fano in April and Bacoli, Naples, in May before reaching its conclusion in Marina di Castagneto.

Organisers were managing a dual competition structure with both the National Club Circuit, now in its fifth edition, and the International Circuit, which was running for the second time. The latter included athletes collecting points at each regatta in pursuit of overall honours and a share of a €20,000 prize fund.

There was however a challenge to contend with: rowing’s eternal adversary, the wind. Unusually strong gusts whipped up sizeable waves, prompting officials to postpone racing till Saturday. The atmosphere nevertheless remained upbeat, helped by a DJ providing a lively soundtrack, stalls selling souvenirs and an active beach volleyball court. Throughout, organisers also involved the local community, inviting children and parents to foam parties, while a charming turtle mascot, designed through a local youth competition, proved a popular selfie attraction.

On Saturday, after a brief aborted start caused by persistent winds, racing finally got under way following safety assessments and an amended schedule. The beach sprang into life as crowds cheered, music boomed and sun and sea drenched athletes sprinted from the start line towards their waiting boats.

Many categories began with time trials before moving to gladiator like duels. Boat handlers and umpires meticulously marshalled a constant flow of rowers, launching them into the sea where they rowed furiously towards the turning buoy. After rounding the marker, athletes raced back to shore for the dramatic foot finish that has become a hallmark of Beach Sprint rowing. Throughout the competition, drones tracked the action overhead, delivering sublime coverage both to a giant screen and to their YouTube livestream.

After a furious weekend of racing, points were tallied and overall winners crowned. Highlights included Austria’s Magdalena Lobnig securing the overall Women’s Solo title. Great Britain’s Laura McKenzie finished second overall after winning the final leg in Marina di Castagneto, while China’s Wenjie Zhu claimed third as part of a sizeable Chinese contingent.

The Germans secured a one two finish in the Men’s Solo standings, with Franz Werner taking overall victory ahead of Moritz Wolff. Italy’s Lucio Fugazzatto completed the podium. In the Mixed Double Sculls, Lithuania dominated, with Raminta Morkunaite and Zygimantas Galisanskis claiming the overall title. Their compatriots Martyna Kazlauskaitė and Dominykas Jančionis finished third, separated by Italy’s Federico Ceccarino and Federica Cesarini in second. The PR3 Mixed Double was won by USA’s Elise Hill and Romeo Mednis.

Youth rowing was also well represented, illustrated by the presence of Mamadou Diallo, the manager of the upcoming Youth Olympic Games to be held in Dakar, Senegal this November. Italy’s Carlotta Savona won the Women’s Solo event, while Czechia’s Lukas Krizek took victory in the Men’s Solo. China claimed both first and second place in the Mixed Double Sculls through the crews of Zhao Xu and Liu Lili, and Su Juntao and Li Lele, with Austria’s Alexander Rittenbacher and Elena Schalk taking bronze. In the National Circuit, Rowing Club Peloro was the club winner for the third consecutive year.

David Filippi, the owner of Filippi boats says, “The Filippi Trophy was an extraordinary success, with over 300 athletes from 30 nations represented compared to 17 last year, spanning all five continents. We invested significantly in the event, including the provision of 32 fully equipped boats and we were rewarded with an exceptionally high level of competition. As encouragingly, several teams have already decided to return here for training camps in the coming months, with opportunities also being discussed for 2027.”

With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games set to feature Beach Sprint rowing for the first time, elite level competitions are essential proving grounds for aspiring Olympians. Through its four-stage series, the Filippi Lido Trophy has firmly established itself as one of the key fixtures of the international coastal rowing calendar.