Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 TOP

iQFoil International Games at Campione, Lake Garda - Day 1

by Rachele Vitello 21 Oct 2020 18:14 NZDT 19-24 October 2020

Fierce competition on Day one of the iQFoil International Games in Campione, Lake Garda, for the almost 200 riders coming from 29 nations, at what it was supposed to be the first IQFoil World Championship for the Paris 2024 Olympic sail board.

A revolution for Olympic windsurfing, now foiling over the waves instead of surfing them, faster and with a new format: not just the windward-leeward racecourse, still run when the wind is above 10 knots, but a Sprint Slalom - very familiar to athletes coming from the PWA and foiling generation - and even a Marathon. Two worlds are converging here in the IQFoil; the very tactical, technical and light weighted RS:Xers and the powerful, strong and skilled riders from the PWA circuit. The level of energy is sky-high, with everyone thrilled to see who, from both worlds, will better perform in a big fleet, and with everyone just excited to be back racing.

Four Course races finished for both men and women - with the men divided into two 59 board fleets - in the morning with a nice 15-20 knots 'Peler', the local AM wind from the North, and choppy water state. Four bullets for Nicholas Goyard (FRA), third at the Europeans in August in Engadin, in the men blue fleet, closely followed by Sebastian Koerdel always second, and second at the European Championship. Whilst the yellow fleet is more open, with Pierre Le Coq (FRA), European champion Kiran Badloe (NED) and Nicolas's brother, Thomas Goyard (FRA) alternating in the lead. In the provisional men overall the top three are Nicholas Goyard, Sebastian Koerdel and Pierre Le Coq.

The Women European champion Helen Noesmoen (FRA) won three out of today's four races and is leading at the end of the day, but fellow countrywoman Delphine Cousin isn't far behind in second overall, and the very young and talented Islay Watson (GBR), who was the runner-up at the Europeans, in third.

After a short wait ashore for the 'Ora' to fill in from the South, the 184 athletes headed back on the water for an afternoon session of Sprint Slalom with 6-8 knots. One round of qualifications and one of finals, with Sebastian Koerdel (GER) winning in the blue fleet and Bruno Martini (ITA) in the yellow.

"I am really happy of my first day here in Lake Garda - comments Nicholas Goyard (FRA) - I did better in the Race Course than the Slalom, even though coming from PWA I am more accustomed to Slalom, even though I do like the Course; it's got different tactics and a different way of sailing, they are complementary and I don't prefer one or the other.

"I have been sailing against my brother for about a year as he has joined some of the PWA events, and we will be preparing together for the qualification to the Paris Olympic Games."

"Long day today, it was wavy and hard, both morning and afternoon - says Sebastian Koerdel (GER) - but it's great we could get in so many races and we had lots of fun. I am happy about my speed in the slalom, more than my gybes, I've had a good fight with Matteo (Iachino) and looking forward to tomorrow."

Tomorrow, Day two of the IQFoil International Games organised by the iQFoil Class and Univela Campione, the first signal is scheduled to blow at 9am with the long distance race planned for the 184 competitors who will race on Lake Garda until Saturday October 24th when the Medal Series among the best 12 boarders of the week will take place.

Results from the iQFOiL International Games can be found here.

More information on the event website at internationalgames.iqfoil.org

Related Articles

iQFOiL U23 Worlds at Portimão day 5
Patience, power, precision: Day 5 tests every skill in the book After four days of intense and varied conditions in Portimão, the iQFOiL U23 World Championship has already tested the sailors on every front: from strong northwesterlies and flat-out racing in the opening heats Posted on 12 Sep
iQFOiL U23 Worlds at Portimão day 4
Light breeze delivers perfect window for Slalom Racing After three intense days of racing marked by shifting conditions and reshuffled leaderboards, Day 3 closed with a Gold fleet ready to enter its decisive phase and a women's fleet as tightly packed as ever. Posted on 12 Sep
iQFOiL U23 Worlds at Portimão day 3
Tactical Twists and Podium Moves After two days of powerful north-westerlies and full-throttle racing, the men's qualifying series has wrapped up with plenty of movement on the leaderboard. From today, the intensity rises another notch as the fleet splits into Gold and Silver groups. Posted on 10 Sep
iQFOiL U23 Worlds at Portimão day 2
Today, attention once again turns to the unique race area in front of the Santa Catarina fortress. Yesterday, the opening day of the U23 World Championships set the tone for a high-level competition in Portimão. Strong northwesterly winds of 15-18 knots allowed the Race Committee to launch four Course Racing starts. Posted on 9 Sep
iQFOiL U23 Worlds at Portimão day 1
Portimão becomes the epicenter of youth windsurfing, hosting 143 competitors representing 30 nations The Algarve region, famous for its golden beaches, rugged coastline, and year-round sunshine, welcomes the future stars of windsurfing to Portimão for the 2025 iQFOiL U23 World Championships. Posted on 8 Sep
Morris Returns to Action at iQFOiL U23 Worlds
Set to feature a mammoth 20 races in Portimão, Portugal Grae Morris returns to competition this week in Portimão, Portugal, for the iQFOiL Under 23 World Championships. The regatta runs from 8-13 September and is set to feature a mammoth 20 races over six days on the Atlantic Ocean. Posted on 8 Sep
Townsville turbocharges Australia's Foiling Future
An intensive training camp for the Australian Sailing Team's iQFOiL squad in Townsville The Australian Sailing Team's iQFOiL squad has wrapped up an intensive training camp in Townsville, harnessing the region's world-class sailing conditions and setting their sights firmly on the future, including Brisbane 2032. Posted on 21 Aug
Rory Meehan crowned iQFoil Youth World Champion
Brest, France hosted 400 competitors from 36 countries The Youth World Championship in Brest, France hosted 400 competitors from 36 countries - 150 in my U19 Men's fleet. Posted on 6 Aug
2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior Worlds, overall
Thrilling finishes, surprise comebacks, national pride Thrilling finishes, surprise comebacks, and national pride highlight the final day of the 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships. Posted on 31 Jul
2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior Worlds, day 6
Medal Series line-up locked in With just one day to go before the champions are crowned, Day 6 at the 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships delivered high-stakes racing and emotional turning points. Posted on 30 Jul
Sea Sure 2025TNI Pindar SW Ads_728x90px-3 BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOM