Andy Brown Adds Strength and Size for His 2026 iQFOiL World Title Defense

Scottish windsurfer Andy Brown will return to Weymouth, England, from September 4–12, 2026, to defend his iQFOiL World Championship title. Facing a field featuring European and Olympic medalists, the reigning champion has increased his body mass and refined his strength program to meet the event’s demanding high-speed and light-wind conditions.

Key takeaways

• Brown is preparing to defend his 2025 world title in Weymouth.
• His training includes about 25 hours per week on the water.
• He has targeted a daily calorie surplus of roughly 600 calories.
• iQFOiL racing combines hydrofoil speed, endurance, balance, and power.
• Brown is also targeting qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The preparation reflects how physically demanding modern windsurfing has become. Although iQFOiL athletes appear to skim effortlessly across the water, the sport places sustained pressure on the legs, core, back, shoulders, and forearms.

Why iQFOiL demands exceptional athleticism

iQFOiL is the hydrofoil-based windsurfing format introduced at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Its foil lifts the board above the surface, reducing drag and allowing competitors to reach approximately 35 knots, or 40 mph.

The championship format adds tactical pressure. Competitors must survive a multi-stage qualifying series and finish among the top 10 before entering a one-day elimination contest that determines the champion. More than 40 nations are expected to compete in Weymouth.

Brown’s strategy for the Weymouth conditions

Light winds can be especially punishing because sailors must repeatedly pump the sail to generate momentum manually. Brown compares the movement to rowing while standing: the legs drive the effort as the arms pull and stabilize.

To handle that workload, Brown has combined extensive on-water practice with general strength work and rowing-machine sessions. He says the sport generally favors athletes weighing around 88 to 90 kilograms, or roughly 194 to 198 pounds, although equipment settings allow for a broad range of body types.

How the champion is building strength

Brown has aimed to consume about 600 additional calories each day, with carbohydrates providing fuel for long sessions on the water. The goal is not simply to gain weight, but to add useful strength without compromising speed, movement, or endurance.

Strength and conditioning coach Will Barnes has emphasized full-body training. Lower-body exercises such as Romanian deadlifts, back squats, split squats, and belt squats develop the power needed for each pumping motion. Weighted pullups and bench pulls support the upper-body pulling demands.

As the championship approaches, the program shifts toward maintaining strength while protecting time for quality sailing. Sessions typically use low repetitions—about three sets of three to six reps—with athletes keeping approximately two repetitions in reserve.

Brown’s record and ambitions

Brown’s recent résumé includes winning the 2022 Trofeo Princesa Sofia, receiving the 2025 Scottish Sports Awards Athlete of the Year honor, and capturing the 2025 iQFOiL World Championship. He is now pursuing another world title on home waters while working toward a place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

He also mentors emerging windsurfers through the Royal Yachting Association. For now, however, his attention is on Weymouth, where physical preparation and race execution will determine whether he can remain at the top of the sport.