Terms & challenge rules

Version 2026-10-15-v2 · Effective 15 October 2026

Upwind is operated by Samuel Müller, Switzerland. Questions, technical problems, or concerns about a result can be sent to support@upwind.community.

1. Scope and participation

These terms govern entry into Upwind’s free windsurfing challenges and use of the recording, upload, and ranking features for those challenges. Participation requires a verified personal account and acceptance of these terms when joining. One entry per person per month is permitted. Demo accounts, fabricated activity, duplicate accounts, and manipulated recordings are not eligible. No purchase or entry fee is required.

The challenge page specifies the month, currency, starting prize amount, increase per entrant, maximum amount, and scoring rules. Entries close at the end of that calendar month in the time zone stated on the challenge page. Only entrants are ranked for that challenge. Qualifying days from earlier in the same month may count.

2. Best-effort service and technical difficulties

Upwind is provided on a best-effort basis. We aim to keep it working, but do not guarantee uninterrupted availability, error-free operation, accurate GPS measurements, successful uploads, data recovery, or that every activity will be recorded or counted.

Device or battery problems, GPS errors, connectivity interruptions, incompatible files, software defects, storage failures, maintenance, or third-party outages can cause recordings and uploads to fail, be delayed, become incomplete, be duplicated, or be lost. Data may also be rejected or reprocessed during validation. These issues can affect scores, rankings, and the ability to enter or complete a challenge.

Keep original recordings where possible, upload in good time, and check that your session appears correctly. Report problems promptly with relevant details, without sending passwords or access tokens. We will make reasonable efforts to investigate, but cannot promise recovery, a correction, an extension, or a particular response time. A failed or missing upload does not automatically entitle you to points, a prize, or compensation, subject to mandatory law.

3. Prizes are provisional until verified

Prizes and rankings are provisional until eligibility, recordings, and the final result have been verified. A displayed prize pool or “on track to win” message describes the current potential award, not a completed verification. Joining, inviting friends, uploading activity, or appearing in first place does not by itself establish the final result.

After verification, we will confirm the eligible winner and prize amount using the published formula and arrange payment directly with the recipient. Tied eligible winners share the confirmed pool equally. No qualifying entrant means no prize is awarded. Payment is arranged manually; Upwind does not automatically transfer money.

A prize or challenge may be cancelled only for the specific reasons in section 4. A lack of funding or a change of mind is not a reason to withhold a valid prize. We will not arbitrarily reduce a prize or refuse payment after verification.

4. Review, corrections, and specific cancellation reasons

Rankings may change when recordings are uploaded, corrected, replaced, deleted, or reviewed. We may investigate suspected abuse and correct calculation errors. Before cancelling an award or challenge, we will make reasonable efforts to resolve the issue fairly. Cancellation is limited to:

• Fraud or ineligibility: an entrant used fabricated or manipulated recordings, duplicate accounts, or otherwise failed the published eligibility rules. The affected entry may be disqualified and the remaining eligible entrants ranked again. The whole challenge may be cancelled only if the compromised data prevents a reliable result.
• Material technical failure: lost or corrupted recordings, significant upload or processing failures, or calculation defects prevent a fair and reliable final result, despite reasonable attempts to recover or correct the data. A minor or recoverable error is not by itself a reason to cancel.
• Legal prohibition: an applicable law, binding court order, or regulatory restriction prevents the challenge or payment to the recipient.

Verification or payment may be delayed while a specific issue above is investigated. We will communicate the reason for a material delay, disqualification, or cancellation on the challenge page or directly to affected entrants, and explain its effect on the result and prize. You may contact us to provide supporting information or dispute an error. Decisions must be reasonable, in good faith, and consistent with mandatory legal rights.

We will not silently change a published scoring or prize formula. Updated terms will be dated and presented for future entries; they do not automatically remove rights arising under terms already accepted.

5. Safety and responsibility

Windsurf within your ability, assess local conditions, and follow local rules. A challenge is never a reason to take unsafe risks. Upwind’s recordings, rankings, and spot information are not a navigation, rescue, or safety service.

6. Liability and mandatory rights

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Upwind does not accept liability for losses caused by service interruptions, inaccurate or unavailable rankings, lost recordings, upload failures, or reliance on an unconfirmed prize. This limitation does not exclude liability for intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or any liability or consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited. The best-effort and provisional-prize provisions are subject to those same limits.

7. Personal data

Our privacy policy explains how account and recording information is used. For new challenge entries we record the version of these terms accepted and the acceptance time. Public rankings show your profile name and qualifying score; raw GPS tracks remain private. Payment details, if required for a confirmed prize, are arranged privately and must not be posted publicly.

8. Applicable law and contact

Swiss law applies, subject to mandatory protections available under applicable law, including any mandatory consumer protections in your country of residence. These terms do not restrict a court or dispute process that applicable law makes available to you. Contact support@upwind.community first if you believe your entry, result, or payment has been handled incorrectly.