Wind- & Kitesurfing

With a leap in performance after the winter training sessions in Central America, Elena Lengwiler SUI confidently secured an Olympic Nations starting place last week and is even among the medal candidates after finishing 4th at the European Championships a month earlier. Lengwiler, who plays National League A in ice hockey, only started kiting in 2019! The TV portrait.

Fresh easterly winds of up to 40 kn prevented the medal races of the Olympic dinghy classes yesterday. The classifications therefore remain as they were after the qualifications. ----- The victories go to Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA (470), Diego Botin/Florian Trittel ESP (49er) Odile Van Aanholt/Annette Duetz NED (49erFX), Michael Beckett GBR (ILCA 7) and Charlotte Rose USA (ILCA 6). Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta SUI were the only Swiss to qualify for a Medal Race, finishing the series in 9th place in the 49ers. The iQ windsurfers and Formula kiters completed their Medal Races already on Friday, the Nacras 17 were not at the start. ----- All rankings and the final report.

The Last Chance Regatta came to an end yesterday with the Medal Races, meaning that the last Olympic nation starting places have been allocated. Turkey won 4 of the 50 places, Switzerland, Germany and Austria each won two starting berths. El Salvador (ILCA 7) and India (ILCA 6) will also be in Marseille - the qualification overview and the report.

The already qualified nations finished their QUalifications for today's Medal Races yesterday. The Formula kiters and the iQ windsurfers already completed their series the day before yesterday, as we reported. In the 470 Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA and 6 points behind them Anton Dahlberg/Lovisa Karlsson SWE will decide the winner today. Martin Wrigley/Bettine Harris GBR and Diego Botin/Nora Brugman ESP are tied on 3rd place. Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI finish the series in 15th place. 17 points ahead, Diego Botin/Florian Trittel ESP are unlikely to be caught in the 49er Medal Race today. Dominik Buksak/Szimon Wierzbicki POL follow in 2nd place. Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta SUI in 9th place are in the Medal Race as well. In the 49erFX there is a duel between Odile Van Aanholt/Anette Duetz NED and Vilma Bobeck/Rebecca Netzler SWE, who are 3 points behind. In ILCA 6, Charlotte Rose USA has taken the lead, only Marit Bouwmeester NED, who is 3 points behind, can still displace her from the top spot. Anja Von Allmen SUI is 27th, Rosine Baudet SUI follows in 42nd place. In ILCA 7 there is a duel today between Michael Beckett GBR and Matthew Wearn AUS, who is one point behind. Philipp Buhl GER follows in 3rd place. All rankings and the report.

Yesterday, the first classes finalised the selections for the last Olympic starting places with the Medal Races. ----- Elena Lengwiler SUI also dominated the final in the women's Formula Kite and won by a clear margin. The other nations to qualify were POL, TUR, AUT and POR. ----- Connor Bainbridge GBR won the men's Formula Kite, with POL, USA, GRE and ISR taking the other starting places. Bruce Kessler SUI missed out on qualifying (5th place) by 18 points in 8th place. ----- The iQ-Foil windsurfers also sailed their medal races: In the women's event, there was a Czech double victory by the Svikova sisters. As some of the continental starting places were not claimed, the contingent of Olympic starting places increased, with Elena Sendera SUI on 22nd place qualified as well ! The other starting places go to SWE, AIN (Russia), TUR, SLO, AUT and EST. ----- Makoto Tomizawa JPN won the iQ-Foil men's medal race, ahead of Noah Lyons USA and Vyron Kokkalanis GRE. Other nations taking part in the Olympics are Lithuania, Hong Kong, Finland, and Slovakia. ----- The Medal Races are on the program for all other classes today. In 6th place, 22 points behind 4th place, Gauthier Verhulst SUI in the ILCA 7 just missed out on qualification. The two Nacra 17 teams also have no chance of securing a qualification place in the Medal Race. ----- All rankings and the report.

Auch gestern gab es in Hyères frische Winde bis 22kn. Als erste Klassen schlossen die iQ-Windsurfer und die Formula-Kiter die Semaine Olympic ab. Max Maeder SGP blieb im Formula-Kite auch in Hyères ungeschlagen, der Singapurer mit Schweizer Wurzeln geht als grosser Favorit auch in Marseille an den Start. Toni Vodisek SLO und Axel Mazella FRA belegen die Ehrenplätze. Im Formula Kite der Frauen gelang es Jessie Kampman FRA im Finale, Eleanor Aldridge GBR noch von der Spitze zu verdrängen, Lauriane Nolot FRA wurde 3. Eine Überraschung gabe es im iQ-Foil der Männer: Der als 8. für die Medal Races qualifizierte Ethan Westera ARU (Aruba) schaffte es bis ins Finale der besten 4, wo es im gelang, auch den die ganze Woche über dominierenden Grae Morris AUS zu bezwingen. Auf Rang 3 folgt Nacho Baltasar ESP. Elia Colombo SUI verpasste als 11. das Medal Race nur knapp. Im iQ-Foil der Frauen siegte Tamar Steinbeck ISR vor Mina Mobekk NOR und Palma Cargo CRO. Mit einem weiteren Laufsieg behaupteten sich Anton Dahlberg/Lovisa Karlsson SWE an der Spitze der 470er. Nur 2 Punkte dahinter lauern Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA. Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI konnten sich mit den Tagesrängen 11 und 12 auf Rang 16 verbessern. Neu an der Spitze der 49er nun DIego Botin/Florian Trittel ESP. Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta SUI sind als 9. auf Medal Race-Kurs. Trotz eines Frühstartes behauptete sich Marit Bouwmeester NED an der Spitze der ILCA 6. Dank 2 Laufsiegen rückte Emma Plaschaert BEL auf Rang 2 vor. Anja Von Allmen SUI ist 28., Maud Jayet SUI hat die Serie abgebrochen. Im ILCA 7 hat Olympia-Sieger Matthew Wearn die Führung übernommen, Michael Beckett GBR liegt aber nur 2 Punkte zurück. Philipp Buhl GER rückte auf Rang 3 vor. Alle Ranglisten und die Berichte.

Even before today's Medal Races, Elena Lengwiler SUI, the dominator of the Formula Kite women, has already been confirmed as an Olympic participant: the top two in the qualifications have qualified directly for the final of the Medal Race and are therefore guaranteed one of the 5 Olympic starting places. In addition to the Swiss rider, Julia Damasiewicz POL, 2nd in the qualification, will also be competing in Marseille, while Connor Bainbridge GBR and Maksymilian Zakowski POL are in the men's final. ----- The first winners are also emerging in other classes, which are sailing their final qualifications today: In the Mixed 470 (4 Olympic Nations starting places), the two Italian teams Giacomo Ferrari/Alessandra Dubbini ITA and Elena Berta/Bruno Festa ITA are well ahead. ----- In the Nacra 17 (4 Olympic places), Natacha Saouma/Mathias Bruun DEN are already 31 points ahead, and in the 49erFX (5 Olympic starting places), Aleksandra Melzacka/Sandra Jankowiak POL are 22 points ahead. ----- In the 49er (4 Olympic starting places), there is a three-way German lead with Jakob Meggendorfer/Andreas Spanger GER at the top. ----- In the ILCA 7 (4 Olympic places), Jeemin Ha KOR is leading, while Gauthier Verhulst SUI is 5th, tied on points with Sebastian Kampe BER in 4th place ... it remains exciting! ----- Noah Lyons USA has a 26-point lead in the iQ Foil Windsurfer, while Katerina Svikova CZE and Anastasya Valkevich AIN/RUS are well ahead in the women's event. ----- In the Nacra 17, Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI are in 8th place, 15 points behind the 4th national starting place. ----- All rankings and the report.

With shifting winds, the Mistral could only partially prevail, but all classes could sail at least 2 races. ----- In the 470, Anton Dahlberg/Lovisa Karlsson SWE took the lead with 1st and 2nd place on the day. Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI had to accept another early start disqualification in the second race, and again, they lost a 2nd place. This dropped them back to 20th place. ----- In the 49er, Bart Lambriex/Floris Van de Werken NED are now one point ahead of Dominik Buksak/Szymon Wierzbicki POL. Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta SUI follow in 11th place. ----- Odile Van Aanholt/Annette Duetz NED now lead the 49ersFX by 9 points ahead of Vilma Bobeck/Rebecca Netzler SWE. ----- In the ILCA 6, Marit Bouwmeester NED has taken the lead. Maud Jayet SUI did not compete yesterday and is now 40th behind Anja Von Allmen SUI (32nd). ----- In ILCA 7, Michael Beckett GBR is just one point ahead of Matthew Wearn AUS. ----- The Nacra 17s were not competing. ----- In the Formula Kite, Max Maeder SGP is now the sole leader after another three race wins. ----- Eleanor Bainbridge GBR is now one point ahead of Jessie Kampman FRA in the women's kite. ----- The iQ-Foil windsurfers sailed the double-counting marathon: Mina Mobekk NOR took the lead in the women's race thanks to her victory on the day. ----- The previous leader Grae Morris AUS extended his lead to 10 points by winning the men's marathon. Elia Colombo SUI is now 11th and will fight for a place in the medal race today. ----- All rankings and the reports.

Fresh winds also on the third day of the Last Chance Regatta. ----- Elena Lengwiler SUI continued her women's kite foil series with three race wins. Gauthier Verhulst SUI, 5th in the ILCA 7, is now also in a qualifying position. The two Swiss Nacras are only just behind: Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI are now 8th (6th nation), Andrea Aschieri/Anja Camusso SUI follow in 10th place. The Swiss kiteboarders are also not too far behind the 7 nations starting places with in 11th (Bruce Kessler SUI) and 13th (Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI). Only Manon Berger SUI, 17th among the iQ-Foil windsurfers, will likely miss out on qualification. ----- All rankings, the reports and the Facebook page.

Full program yesterday for the nations that have already qualified: ----- In the 470, Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA are now the sole leaders. Bad luck for Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI, who lost a 2nd place in the race due to an early start and dropped back to 17th place. ----- On the other hand, Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta SUI improved to 10th place in the 49ers, with Bart Lambriex/Floris Van de Werken NED in the lead. ----- Odile Van Aanholt/Annette Duetz NED are now first in the 49erFX. ----- An Australian double lead through Casey Imeneo AUS and Mara Stransky AUS in ILCA 6. Maud Jayet SUI has moved up to 10th place. ----- In the ILCA 7, Michael Beckett GBR leads ahead of Herrmann Tomasgaard NOR and Matthew Wearn AUS. ----- Max Maeder SGP and Toni Vodisek SLO are now tied on points at the top of Formula Kite men. ----- Eleanor Aldridge GBR is in the lead in the women's kite, with Jesse Kampman FRA and Lauriane Nolot FRA in pursuit. ----- In the iQ-Foil Windsurf, Grae Morris AUS is on top. Elia Colombo SUI is still in 10th place. Tamar Steinberg ISR is 11 points ahead in the women's windsurfing rankings. ----- There is still no ranking list for the Nacra 17. ----- All rankings, the reports and the Facebook page.

On the second day of qualifications for the last Olympic starting places, another full program was sailed in inconsistent winds between 12 and 15 knots. ----- Elena Lengwiler SUI extended her lead in the women's kite foil with 3 race wins. ----- Connor Bainbridge GBR is the clear leader in the men's Formula Kite. Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI moved up to 10th place (6th nation). ----- Khairulnizam Mohd Affendi MAS has taken the lead in ILCA 7. Gauthier Verhulst SUI was one of the best of the day and is now 6th and therefore in the running for an Olympic starting place. ----- The two Swiss Nacra17 teams in 9th and 10th place are close behind a nation's berth. ----- In the 49er, Yannick Lefèbre/Jan Theuninnck BEL and Max Stingele/Linoy Scheel GER are tied for the lead. ----- All rankings and the Facebook page.

While some classes sailed their first races at midday in moderate, inconsistent winds, a fresh mistral brought up to 25 knots in the late afternoon. ----- This was the case for the 470s, where a trio led by Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA are tied on points after two races. Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI had to accept a capsize in the second race and are 15th. ----- In the 49ers, Jack Ferguson/Max Paul AUS lead ahead of Bart Lambriex/Floris Van de Werken NED. Joshua Richner/Nilo Schärer SUI are 17th, Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta follow in 19th place. ----- An Australian lead also in the 49erFX by Laura Harding/Annie Wilmot AUS. ----- In the ILCA 7, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA won the only race of the day. ----- Just one race each for the iQ-Foil windsurfers: Zhen Yang CHN leads the women's race, while Grae Morris AUS, Nicolas Goyard FRA and Tom Reuveny ISR are now tied for the lead in the men's race. ----- The ILCA 6, the Kite-Foilers and the Nacra 17 did not compete. ----- All rankings and the Facebook page.

The participants who have already qualified for the Olympics are sailing the Semaine Olympique, with the Formula Kites and iQ Foil windsurfers being the first to compete yesterday. ----- Max Maeder SGP once again dominated the Formula Kite with 3 race wins in 5 races, followed by Toni Vodisek SLO in 2nd place, 3 points behind. ----- Lauriane Nolot FRA also had three race wins in the Kite Foil Women. Ellie Aldridge GBR follows in 2nd place, tied on points. ----- In the iQ Foil Windsurfing Men, Grae Morris AUS and Tom Reuveny ISR share the lead, with Nicolas Goyard FRA one point behind. Elia Colombo SUI also got off to a good start in 9th place out of the 35 participants. ----- Zheng Yan CHN took the lead in the women's race, followed one point behind by Mariana Aguilar MEX. ----- All rankings and the daily report.

The Hyères World Cup is the last big test of strength for most classes before the Olympic Games in July. Only the nations already qualified for the Olympics are taking part, including Switzerland in 4 classes (470, 49er, ILCA 6, iQ-Windsurf). All entry lists. Moderate winds are forecast for today, then it should freshen up in the course of the week - the forecasts. First starts today at 12h, the races can be followed via Live-Ticker. The event website.

Together with the Olympic World Cup, but sailing in separate fleets, the nations that have not yet qualified will be fighting for the last Olympic starting places in Hyères. Switzerland will be competing in 4 disciplines: As the rising star of the season, kiteboarder Elena Lengwiler SUI is also named in the official preview as the favourite for one of the 7 starting places. Bruce Kessler SUI, Karl Mäder SUI and Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI have usually come close in the past major series. This also applies to Gauthier Verhulst SUI in the ILCA 7, along with his brother Martin Verhulst SUI. The two Swiss Nacra 17s Andrea Aschieri/Anja Camusso SUI and Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI also still have a good chance of securing one of the 4 Olympic starting places. All entry lists and the preview.

The first Big Air World Cup of the year was held on the French Mediterranean coast. Kiteboarding's most spectacular discipline benefited from fresh winds, with the Tramontana blowing at around 30 knots on the final day. The Dutch provided the surprises: In the women's event, Pippa Van Iersel NED made an impressive comeback with a victory after a 2-year injury break. In the men's event, 18-year-old Jamie Overbeck NED achieved his first World Cup victory. ----- The results and the report.

On the occasion of last week's Mondial du Vent, held in very strong winds sometimes exceeding 40 knots, the Wingfoilers sailed another Worldcup Act. ----- The 16-year-old Nia Suardiez ESP won both the women's freestyle and the slalom. ----- In the men's event, Christopher Macdonald USA won the freestyle and Francesco Capuzzo ITA the slalom. ----- The rankings, the event website and the Facebook page with more videos.

The Medal Races were decided yesterday in very light winds. The 470s and the 49erFX didn't sail at all. ----- Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA won the qualification of the 470 by a narrow one-point margin over Jordi Xammar/Nora Brugman ESP. Malte and Anastasyi Winkel GER follow in third place. ----- Michael Beckett GBR was already the winner of the ILCA 7 before the Medal Race. Philipp Buhl GER and Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA took the places of honor. ----- In the ILCA 6, Maria Erdi HUN took victory ahead of Zoë Thompson AUS and Matilda Nicholls GBR. Maud Jayet SUI improved to 7th place. ----- Diego Botin/Florian Trittel ESP won the 49ers, while Hernan Umpierre/Fernando Diaz URU moved up to 2nd place thanks to their victory in the Medal Race. ----- The 49erFX medal race was also canceled: Jana Germani/Giorgia Bertuzzi ITA narrowly won by one point ahead of Helen Naes/Marie Ronningen NOR. ----- In the Nacra 17, Tito Ruggero/Caterina Banti ITA also remained unbeaten in Palma. Gian-Luigi Ugolini/Maria Giubilei ITA and John Gimson/Anna Burnet GBR completed the podium. ----- In the Kite Foil, Max Maeder SGP was also unbeaten in Palma. Ricardo Pianosi ITA and Denis Taradin CYP followed in 2nd and 3rd place. ----- In a dramatic medal race, Briana Whitehead AUS managed to oust Daniela Moroz USA from the top spot in the Kite Foil women's. The Australian also won the overall trophy as the best individual winner. ----- In the iQ Foil Windsurf, the victories went to Pawel Tarnowski POL and Nina Mobekk NOR. ----- All rankings and the daily report.