2026 Defi WIND

Jordy Vonk and Jenna Gibson tame ferocious 45 knot Tramontana to lead Defi after opening race

What a race! The Defi WIND 2026 started in explosive manner with a strong Tramontana in fury, with some gusts up to 45 knots minutes before the rabbit boat opened the start line. On fin, Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) made a solid statement claiming first place while speed expert Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) leads the ladies division. On a foil, Alexis Mathis (Tabou / GA Sails) and Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK SAILS / PATRIK Foils), the 2025 PWA Foil World Champion, secured first positions in what we can easily call an uncomfortable, stormy race.

Jordy Vonk strikes first blood

1,350 racers entered this year’s Defi in Gruissan, South of France. The Defi is a unique format of racing where amateurs and professionals compete together, all on the same fleet, all on the same course. It is a mix of parties, boat show on the beach, serious racing for many, or the challenge to complete the 40km long distance race for others. Tramontana is the local wind, well known for its intensity. Today, lady Tramontana showed her most fierce face under dark threatening clouds in the last minutes of the countdown…

Proper Defi WIND conditions on the opening day

After a start sharp on time, the rabbit-boat opened the 900 metre long starting line. The conditions eased a bit to a solid 35 knots all over the course with bright sunshine. Defi was blessed by the gods of wind. While some competitors wisely decided to stay safe on the beach, 1199 racers tried to challenge an angry Tramontana. That first race turned into a Barkley race on the water, extreme, where only 622 competitors reached the finishing line.

It took 32 minutes for Vonk to finish his race, 45 seconds ahead of world champion Matteo Iachino (Starboard / NeilPryde). Two and a half hours later, as a real gentleman racer, Vonk was welcoming the last finisher back on the beach, fulfilling the spirit of the pro-am competition that the Defi Wind represents.

The next couple of days show an interesting forecast with plenty of Tramontana on offer, 30 knots everyday, all we need for a good bunch of exciting races, more accessible for all.

The forecast for the next couple of days

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 1 Race - Men’s

1st Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)

2nd Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / NeilPryde)

3rd Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)

4th Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing / North Sails)

5th Bruno Martini (ITA | I-99 / S2Maui)

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 1 Race - Women’s

1st Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)

2nd Mae Davico (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

3rd Marion Mortefon (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

4th Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

5th Femke Van Der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 1 Race - Men’s

1st Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)

2nd Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils)

3rd John Soukos (GRE | WeOne / Challenger Sails / PATRIK Foils)

4th Colin Hérmitant (FRA | Exocet / Loftsails)

5th Antoine Albeau (FRA | Severne Windsurfing)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 1 Race - Women’s

1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

2nd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)

3rd Lola Brotschi (FRA | RRD)

4th Caroline Spinner (FRA | FMX Racing / S2Maui)

5th Sophie Persine (FRA | GUNSAILS)

Tramontana continues to deliver which results in a couple of changes at the top after 70km of racing

The Tramontana didn't disappoint again in Gruissan for the largest windsurfing race in the world, Defi WIND. After 3 races, Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) sits firmly on top of the Women’s Fin division

Jenna Gibson (left) leads the Women's

Meanwhile event leader Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) failed to repeat yesterday’s dominant performance, leaving the command to Matteo Iachino (Starboard / NeilPryde).

Reigning Slalom world champion - Matteo Iachino assumes control of the lead

In the unlimited ranking, where racers can adjust their gear according to the conditions, foil or fin, Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) signs a hat-trick using both fin and foil, while newly crowned Foil Speed world champion, Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils), showed impressive speed on his foil despite struggling with seaweed to take first place in the provisional ranking.

Amado Vrieswijk hits the front on the foil

The morning marathon was held in an easy going 25-28 knots and equipment choice was once again paramount in determining success as some clouds disturbed the Tramontana’s routine. The afternoon race showed a different face, with the wind cranking up an extra knot to 30-35 knots. Unfortunately, with big wind shifts that made the course tricky for the second half of the fleet - meaning tight reaches and tacks were needed on their demanding evolution, which was not what amateurs wanted, or needed, after 70km of gruelling racing today.

Among 1,350 entrants, 40 riders fought against the Tramontana on a Windsurfer LT, the classic windsurf longboard, upgraded with a special 4.7m Defi Sail edition. Former PWA Foil racer Luca Guiraud leads the old school class battle with former speed champion Christophe Pringuenon.

A sea of sails at the Defi

The Defi is also the occasion to see equipment from all kind of generations. If top racers are on the latest high tech designs, you can see sails and boards all the way from the 90’s, freeride boards, wave gear, 2.5-6.2sqm! The Windsurfing Woodstock is both a museum and a laboratory of future gear.

The PWA announced a closer partnership with Defi to support the youth on tour, which means the top three of the Under 20 division and Under 17 division, Boy’s and Girl’s, will get a wild card to compete at either the PWA Fuerteventura Slalom World Cup this summer (22nd-26th July), or at any of the PWA youth slalom events this year.

Saturday’s forecasts in Gruissan are still promising to potentially complete two more races, meaning their could still yet be a discard on the cards.

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 3 Races - Men’s

1st Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / NeilPryde)

2nd Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)

3rd Bruno Martini (ITA | WeOne / S2Maui)

4th Lohan Jules (GPE | AV Boards / S2Maui)

5th Jimmy Thieme (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails)

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 3 Races - Women’s

1st Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)

2nd Mae Davico (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

3rd Femke Van Der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)

4th Marion Mortefon (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

5th Kit De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 3 Races - Men’s

1st Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils)

2nd Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)

3rd Antoine Albeau (FRA | Severne Windsurfing)

4th John Soukos (GRE | WeOne / Challenger Sails / PATRIK Foils)

5th William Huppert (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 3 Races - Women’s


1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

2nd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)

3rd Lola Brotschi (FRA | RRD)

4th Camille Moulin (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)

5th Caroline Spinner (FRA | FMX Racing / S2Maui)

Defi WIND Ranking - Windsurfer LT

1st Luca Guiraud

2nd Christophe Pringuenon

3rd Leerdam Arjan

Defi WIND

Winners are shaping up after 200km of courses

Gruissan, South of France, is the centre of the windsurfing world this week with the Defi WIND. For the third day in a row, a solid Tramontana powered more than a thousand excited windsurfers on the famous 40km courses. Who’s the current leader after five races? WINDSURFING!

In the morning race, on a fin, Bruno Martini (WeOne / S2Maui) squeezed in a powerful win in between the event leaders Matteo Iachino (Starboard / NeilPryde) and Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde). In the afternoon, Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing / North Sails) eventually woke up to claim a first place on home waters. Kevin Grosjean, first amateur, sneaked his way through in the last race of the day to claim second position amongst the pros, between Mortefon and Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) who stated: “I never overtook anyone the way Grosjean overtook me!”. Germany’s Nico Prien now sits on top of the leaderboard, while on the ladies side, Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) kept her dominance on a roll with five bullets out of the five races completed.

In the unlimited category (Foil or Fin), both Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) and Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils) didn’t leave a single chance to their opponents. Lemeteyer played on a fin ahead of Blanca Alabau [WeOne / Severne Sails), while Vrieswijk completed all of his races on a foil. So did Alexis Mathis (Tabou / GA Sails) and John Soukos (WeOne / Challenger Sails), who flew at high speed to complete the top three after five races and a discard.

In the Windsurfers LT league, the french showdown turned into Luca Guiraud’s advantage against Christophe Pringuenon.

For the fun of it, fully within the spirit of Defi WIND, three riders decided to share their passion on the same board, a « tridem », with three rigs on a longboard. For the last race of the day, the three friends even invited a fourth passenger onboard! Together, the Motley Crew arrived at mark one together with Amado Vrieswijk who, on his side, was completing his second lap - obviously at a different speed.

The penultimate day of the Defi concluded in a high, smiles everywhere, with another wild concert that will be remembered as much as the five rabbits starts of the 2026 edition.

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Men’s

1st Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)

2nd Matteo Iachino Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / NeilPryde)

3rd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing / North Sails)

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Women’s


1st Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)

2nd Mae Davico (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

3rd Femke Van Der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Men’s

1st Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils)

2nd Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)

3rd John Soukos (GRE | WeOne / Challenger Sails / PATRIK Foils)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 5 races (1 discard) - Women’s


1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

2nd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)

3rd Lola Brotschi (FRA | RRD)

Defi WIND Windsurfer LT after 5 races (1 discard)


1st Luca Guiraud

2nd Christophe Pringuenon

3rd Leerdam Arjan

No wind to conclude an

amazing edition

The Tramontana played no favourite at the 2026 Defi WIND in Gruissan and tested the world’s best windsurfer’s grit as well as the thousand of amateurs. Foilers and slalom fin addicts enjoyed fighting over 200km of racing. German Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde) and UK sailor Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) on fin, 2025 world champion Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) and Island Boy from Bonaire Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils) in the unlimited category, left France with a well deserved win.

All the winners on stage to cap a great edition of Defi WIND

Fin Category

Top PWA pro slalom sailors delivered epic battles over five long distance courses, approximately 40km each in raging Tramontana. With four different winners (Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing), Martini (WeOne / S2Maui), Prien (JP / NeilPryde) x2, Mortefon (FMX Racing / North Sails)) the fin category, really is the spirit of funboarding, claiming victory on the 24th edition was a serious mission. The most consistent of all was Matteo Iachino (Starboard / NeilPryde) (3x 2nd and a 4th), but that wasn’t enough against Nico Prien’s speed.

On the ladies side, Jenna Gibson won every single race in style. The British speed lover dominated a brilliant Mae Davico PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) and Dutch racer Femke Van Der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails).

Unlimited Category

The Unlimited category allows you to adjust your gear between fin and foil, according to the conditions, wind strength & angle, and sea-state. Bonairean Amado Vrieswijk, French Alexis Mathis (Tabou / GA Sails) and Greek John Soukos (WeOne / Challenger Sails / PATRIK Foils) opted for foil only. In that high adrenaline and mental energy consuming discipline, Vrieswijk showed no fear against the angry Tramontana, winning four out of five races. On the women's side, Justine Lemeteyer and Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails) decided to enjoy both fin and foil on the day. In the end, it was the foil world champion who took the event victory.

But the good thing about Defi WIND, is it's not only about the top athletes, world champions, and elite. Amateurs play a key role in the largest windsurfing PRO/AM event in the world. Defi in French means challenge. You first have to challenge the local Tramontana wind, you then challenge your opponents, challenge yourself or challenge the distance. Some may only complete one race only, happy to complete the long run. Others are here to beat their friends, brother, sister or parents. One thing is sure, everybody leaves exhausted but with a large smile.

The real success of the event combines serious racing and parties, concerts, exhibitions show with the latest windsurfing gear on the market, and a moment of magic. The 2026 edition will remain in everyone’s memories with plenty of wind and stories to tell, both on and off the water. This was just a teaser of what next year will deliver for the 25th anniversary of Defi WIND.

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Men’s

1st Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)

2nd Matteo Iachino Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / NeilPryde)

3rd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing / North Sails)

Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Women’s


1st Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)

2nd Mae Davico (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

3rd Femke Van Der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Men’s

1st Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils)

2nd Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)

3rd John Soukos (GRE | WeOne / Challenger Sails / PATRIK Foils)

Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 5 races (1 discard) - Women’s


1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)

2nd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)

3rd Lola Brotschi (FRA | RRD)

Defi WIND Windsurfer LT after 5 races (1 discard)


1st Luca Guiraud

2nd Christophe Pringuenon

3rd Leerdam Arjan

Defi WIND U20 Girls / PWA Wild card

1st Lola Brotschi-Eibel

2nd Charline Lemaitre

3rd Jade Boyer-Gibaud

Defi WIND U20 Boys / PWA Wild card

1st Ulysse David

2nd Jean loup Francis

3rd Diederik Leemans

Defi WIND U17 Girls / PWA Wild card

1st Bobby-Lynn De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

2nd Kit De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

3rd Lone De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

Defi WIND U16 Boys / PWA Wild card

1st Gaetan Obin

2nd Alexandre Levalois

3rd Alexis Litou