Please select your home edition
Edition
Haven Knox-Johnston Commercial

Meet Switzerland's rising 29er duo: Ikke and Liam

by International 29er Class 25 Mar 11:11 GMT
Swiss sailors Ikke Huber and Liam Berger © World Sailing

Swiss sailors Ikke Huber and Liam Berger have been climbing the ranks in the 29er class, currently sitting in third place overall in the 29er Eurocup.

With years of dedication, countless training hours on Lake Thun, and a strong partnership built on trust and ambition, the duo has proven themselves as one of the top young teams in the fleet. In this Q&A, they share insights into their journey, training routines, and future ambitions—offering a glimpse into what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Q: Can you both introduce yourselves? How old are you, and where are you from?

Ikke: My name is Ikke Huber, I'm 18 years old and I'm from Oberhofen at Lake Thun in Switzerland.

Liam: My name is Liam Berger, I'm 17 and im from Spiez at Lake Thun in Switzerland.

Q: How did you get into sailing, and what drew you to the 29er class?

Ikke: I got into sailing because of my father, who was also a sailor. My parents signed me up for sailing school when I was six, and I've been hooked ever since. I always want to improve after each training. I moved into the 29er class because of my brother, who was part of its early expansion in Switzerland.

Liam: My dad is a boat builder, so sailing was always a part of my life. As a kid, I spent summers at Optimist sailing camps, which is actually where I first met Ikke. He was in a more advanced group, but after a year, I caught up, and we quickly became friends.

Q: How did you team up as a sailing duo?

We had already known each other from sailing camps, and as we both progressed in the sport, teaming up in the 29er just felt like the natural next step.

Q: You're currently sitting in 3rd place overall in the 29er Eurocup with two events down—what's been working so well for you this season?

Consistency, trust, and always pushing each other to improve. We've also put in a lot of training hours to refine our technique and communication on the water.

Q: How often do you train, and where do you do most of your training?

We train several times a week, mostly on Lake Thun, but we also travel to different locations to prepare for varying conditions.

Q: What's your favorite venue to sail at, and why?

Definitely Hyères. There's always a good breeze and challenging conditions, which keeps things interesting.

Q: What's the most challenging aspect of racing a 29er, and how do you overcome it?

The 29er is a physically demanding boat, especially in strong winds. It takes a lot of coordination and quick decision-making to keep everything under control. The key is working together and trusting each other's instinct, when that happens, everything just flows.

Q: What's your favorite thing about sailing a skiff?

The speed and adrenaline! It's such a dynamic and exciting boat to race.

Q: What previous achievements in your sailing careers are you most proud of?

We've won the 29er Swiss Championship twice, which was a huge milestone for us. But our biggest achievement so far is definitely the 2024 29er Eurocup Final in Riva, where we finished 3rd and secured 3rd place overall in the Eurocup ranking

Q: What are your goals for the rest of the Eurocup series?

We want to keep improving and stay as consistent as possible. Of course, finishing on the podium would be great, but our main goal is to keep learning and refining our performance.

Q: Do you have ambitions to move into the 49er class or other sailing disciplines in the future?

Yes! We're already working with our club to gradually transition to the 49er, but we're still figuring out the right timing for a full switch. For now, we're focusing on getting as much experience as possible in the 29er while preparing for the next step.

Q: Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines?

Ikke: I always make sure to go to the toilet right before heading out!:)

Liam: I don't really have a specific pre-race routine, but I always drink something before the race and have a quick chat with our coach about the game plan.

Q: What's one piece of advice you'd give to younger sailors looking to compete in the 29er class?

Stay patient and keep learning! The 29er can feel difficult at first, but the more you sail, the more natural and easier it becomes. Focus on the big things like boat handling and communication first and after that you can work out the small things.

Q: If you weren't sailing, what other sport would you be doing?

Ikke: Probably basketball, but honestly, I can't imagine doing anything other than sailing.

Liam: I'd probably be skiing more, and maybe even boxing!

Check out the full 2025 EuroCup Results HERE

Related Articles

29er EuroCup Slovenia Day 1
Fierce winds challenge sailors in Koper The opening day of the 29er EuroCup Slovenia in Koper proved to be a true test of skill and endurance, as competitors battled intense wind conditions on the Adriatic. Posted on 28 Mar
29er GP5 at Warsash
Varied conditions and tactical racing The 29er GP5 took place over the weekend of March 22nd-23rd, 2025, at the prestigious Warsash Sailing Club. It was a competitive event that saw varied conditions and tactical racing, especially on Sunday. Posted on 25 Mar
Entry open for NEYYSA event at Ullswater
North Region Youth & Junior Championship is in June North East & Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA) is pleased to announce that entry to the North Region Youth & Junior Championships is OPEN! The event will be held at Ullswater Yacht Club on 21 & 22 June 2025. Posted on 14 Mar
Entries open for the 29er Worlds and Europeans
Hosted at Porto, Portugal and Riva del Garda, Italy The countdown has begun for the 2025 sailing season, and entries are now officially open for the 2025 World and European Championships! Posted on 11 Mar
US Sailing Youth Team qualification update
Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify have now earned their spot on the team Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify for the Youth National Team in 2025 have now earned their spot on the team based on top finishes at class association Midwinter Championships. Posted on 7 Mar
29er GP4 at Datchet Water
Extremely light winds made for a frustrating event The 29er GP4 took place over the weekend of 1st & 2nd March 2025 at Datchet Water Sailing Club, but extremely light winds made for a frustrating event, with racing only possible on Saturday. Posted on 2 Mar
Oceanbridge Sail Auckland 2025 Day 3
A new top 49er crew give masterclass on Day 3 of Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Plenty of hard work and a touch of Olympic inspiration has propelled one of New Zealand's most promising double-handed crews to success at the country's premier domestic sailing event. Posted on 2 Mar
Oceanbridge Sail Auckland 2025 Day 2
Set for a thrilling conclusion at Torbay Sailing Club The 2025 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland is set for a thrilling conclusion, with little separating the leaders in most fleets as they battle it out at Torbay Sailing Club. Posted on 1 Mar
Battle for the Bar
The unofficial name for the Capel Sound Invitational, from the stellar waters and the drinks By their own admission, this is the unofficial name for the Capel Sound Invitational. Yes, it pays reference to the location where they serve drinks, but it is also for the stretch of water it is named after. Posted on 24 Feb
29ers at Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week
Local siblings Tiffany Mak and Raphael Mak dominated The 29er class at Hong Kong Race Week 2025 was action-packed, and local sailors stole the show! Posted on 17 Feb