XPEL on RTL during prime time
As the team sponsor for Renata and Valentin Lusin at the first “Jetski Star World Championship”
On August 29, 2026, the Duisburg regatta course became the stage for speed, skill, and spectacular showdowns: At the first “Jetski Star World Championship,” 16 celebrity participants competed against each other in eight teams of two. Among them were the “Let’s Dance” pros Renata and Valentin Lusin—supported by XPEL as their team sponsor.
Our team was on site, watching the races right by the course and sharing real-time impressions and insights from the Lusins’ performance on social media.
From the dance floor to the jet ski
Renata and Valentin Lusin are best known for their precision, body control, and expressive performances on the dance floor. At the “Jetski Star World Championship,” however, a completely new challenge awaited the couple.
While the two usually compete with different dance partners on “Let’s Dance,” in Duisburg they were called upon to compete as a team. Instead of choreography and a sense of rhythm, this time the focus was on speed, courage, technical control, and good coordination on the water.
Eight celebrity teams compete for the win
A total of eight two-person teams took to the starting line:
Stefan Raab and Ralf Schumacher
René Casselly and Fabian Hambüchen
Dagi Bee and Sophia Thiel
Gustav Schäfer and Joel Mattli
Renata and Valentin Lusin
Knossi and Joey Kelly
EMMVEE and Stefano Zarrella
Ann-Kathrin Bendixen and Alexander Kumptner
Host Laura Wontorra led the live show. Frank “Buschi” Buschmann provided commentary on the races, while Jana Wosnitza and Mitja Lafere reported directly from the action on the track and from the paddock.
In front of an audience of about 2,000 spectators, the Duisburg rowing course was transformed into a summer motorsports arena. Close races, technical challenges, and spectacular maneuvers kept the excitement going right up to the end.
Three Disciplines, Three Winners
The “Jetski Star World Championship” consisted of three separate competitions. There was no overall champion—instead, a separate title was awarded in each discipline.
Speed Duel
In the Speed Duel, the stars competed individually in head-to-head elimination races. Renata Lusin prevailed over Dagi Bee in her first round—thanks to a driving error by her opponent—and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Valentin Lusin engaged in one of the most thrilling duels of the evening against Ann-Kathrin Bendixen. Due to technical issues with Bendixen’s jet ski, the race had to be restarted. Even at the second start, the outcome remained uncertain until the finish line—with Valentin edging out a razor-thin victory.
In the quarterfinals, he then faced René Casselly. Casselly set a new best time, prevailed over Valentin, and went on to win the entire Speed Duel.
René Casselly took the victory ahead of Ralf Schumacher.
Team Challenge
In the Team Challenge, both team members rode together on a jet ski. In addition to speed, this event required, above all, balance, coordination, and teamwork.
Gustav Schäfer and Joel Mattli completed the fastest and most successful run. They secured the victory in the evening’s second event.
Relay Duel
The evening concluded with the Relay Duel. In this event, both partners had to navigate the water one after the other and work together to achieve the fastest possible overall time.
In the decisive race, Knossi and Joey Kelly prevailed over Gustav Schäfer and Joel Mattli. A mistake at a buoy cost Mattli and Schäfer valuable time and paved the way for the winning team.
31.08.2026