Défi Wind and Défi Kite – The biggest sea marathon in south of France

by Press Défi Wind and Défi Kite on 28 Apr 2017 It says that wind makes us crazy… it’s undeniable because in Gruissan, from May 19 to 28 2017, 1800 “sliders” will challenge the “Tramontane” to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Défi Wind and the fifth of Défi Kite, the biggest race of modern nautical slide pro/am worldwide.

An extraordinary concept of nautical marathon
Initiated by Philippe Bru (PBO), Wind Magazine, and the tourism office of Gruissan, this atypical event is based on a simple idea : to gather at the same place, same moment, and on the same starting line the greatest number of modern times sliders, professionals and amateurs. For participants, to the pleasure to sail alongside specialists in the discipline is added to realize the best performance. This is the great strength of Défis, where fun and pushing oneself to the limits are playing at the same time. Participants will have to do two round trip Gruissan/Port La Nouvelle, a 40 km path, repeated 2 times per day during four days… until 320km of run.

A massive sports contest
Participants from any age and any level come to brave the “Tramontane”. From 13 to 72 years old, all are meeting in a festive, relaxed and solidary atmosphere, to live a crazy moment around common passions : wind and slide ! We come to Défis to achieve our own exploit, to measure to others, participate to this intense moment of emotions and extremes sensations.

An international notoriety
34 country that year. Spectacular images of Défis quickly rounded the world tour and charmed riders from Europe, but also Australia, Russia, New-Zealand or USA. That passionated people coming from all the blue planet spots, each year growing, don’t hesitate to travel thousands kilometers to participate to this big meeting never found abroad!

Gruissan and his exceptional natural stadium
Gruissan is a charming mediterranean village overhang by the Barberousse tower, an observatory post from Xth century, where we admire endlessly beaches and its famous cottages on stilts. This occitania commune has, inter alia, the particularity to have an exceptional natural stadium. Add to it an endless row material : wind, the famous Tramontane. With an extraordinary regularity and intensity, it works with the wild beach who has the perfect orientation for the practice of wind sports (side shore). This is exactly why Défis are uniques in the world, and can’t take place elsewhere.