let's go to Defi Wind/Wing/Kite

Don’t Get Caught in the Headlights and Miss the Now Legendary Rabbit Start

The largest windsurfing race of the world mixing 1,400 amateurs and pros is on schedule for this long weekend. Famous for its mass rabbit start in howling wind, DEFI WIND is a unique experience gathering windsurfers from all around the world. This year, besides a solid contingent of European’s, the colourful international fleet shows riders from South Africa, Australia or New Caledonia, from Mexico, Canada, USA and China, and many more. Besides a strong local French representation, the main fleet is made up of speed lovers from the Netherlands with 185 Dutch windsurf addicts in attendance.

40km long distance courses are the mission along the beautiful shores of Gruissan, region Occitanie, South of France. The 10km stretch of wide open beach is swept by the infamously ferocious Tramontana wind, which are the two key ingredients enabling the giant full fleet starts.

Who’s going to get their name engraved on the famous steel trophy this year? Will event title holder Nico Goyard (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) on foil, and Lohan Jules (AV-Boards / S2Maui) on fin, keep their yellow jerseys? Shall we expect Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails) or Marion Mortefon (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) to take victory? Or will current PWA Foil Slalom leader Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails) and Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) stay in command?

The DEFI WIND trophy

The DEFI WIND is not only a serious race, it is a large open air exhibition showcasing all the major brands that matter most in the windsurfing industry. Last, but not least, the DEFI parties are certainly ones to remember, and there, again, pros and amateurs share the unmatchable vibes of the surf culture together.

Visit the official DEFI website @ https://defiwind.fr/en/ for more information.

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Fin or Foil? That's the Question

Summertime has arrived in the south of France. After 8 days of non-stop Tramontana, the spot of Gruissan well known for high octane blasting on flat water became silent. Amateurs and pros still hope for some breeze to battle over the long distance runs. but today was a day of rest.

The crowds gather in Gruissan

This year at Defi the focus is on the comeback of fin slalom sailing even if the foil will without a doubt will dominate the races. The organiser’s have decided to celebrate two winners, one for the Fin category or Unlimited (riders are free to adapt their gear accordingly to the wind strength between fin or foil), for both men and women. As seen on the market, the cards are redistributed: yes, Fin Slalom is back! The Defi which is run in windy condition is a guaranteed place for a solid competition at max speed on a fin - if the Tramontana shows up. Out of the 1,402 registered entrants, 1,014 are on Fin, 348 are Unlimited, and 40 are ready to complete the course on a Windsurfer LT. Let’s see what the professional windsurfers choose.

It is interesting to see that top PWA riders such as Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails), Pierre Mortefon (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils), Alexandre Cousin (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) and Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing), all top four in the current foil ranking, have chosen to compete on fin! This choice is not only tactical, but it shows how much love those guys have for an unleashed ride on a fin.

In the ladies division, surprisingly, the top four chose to go Unlimited. Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils), Lina Eržen (Starboard / S2Maui), Blanca Alabau (WeOne /Severne Sails) and Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails) opted for foiling as long as they can hold it in strong wind. The option is wise for the comfort the foil gives in the low end of the wind range on a course that can be tricky in gusty, shifty conditions. While in nuclear conditions, they can adjust their gear to feel safer and under control on a fin.

On the other hand, the equipment choice decision will be simple for riders like Nicolas Goyard (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) or William Huppert (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils), who didn’t even bring fin gear to Gruissan. Those riders will have to hold on to their tiny foil sails, Goyard only having a 4.5m sail as his smallest, but claiming: “It’s stable enough even in 40 knots!”

This Friday in Gruissan, it was more like boardshorts & T-Shirt dress code with a thick layer of sunblock to hang out in the Defi Village and visit all the windsurfing brands.

Indulging in the party scene as the wind machine takes an ill-timed break

Visit the official DEFI website @ https://defiwind.fr/en/ for more information.

Also if you don’t already, follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing

- Instagram: @pwaworldtour

- X: @pwaworldtour

- YouTube: @pwaworldtour