Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

"King" Mazella triumphs at Sardinia Grand Slam

by Sardinia Grand Slam 11 Oct 2021 06:55 UTC
Axel Mazella si è aggiudicato per la seconda edizione consecutiva il Sardinia Grand Slam © IKA Media / Markus Hajduk

IKA KiteFoil World Series' leader withstood the attack of his rivals in a day marked by light and shifty wind. Lauriane Nolot was the "queen" among Women, U19 Riccardo Pianosi the best-ranked Italian. Cagliari's Major Paolo Truzzu took in awarding ceremony.

Stronger than the tricky wind: there's no adversary to hold for Axel Mazella, able to keep Sardinia Grand Slam's lead and to secure the win of IKA KiteFoil World Series round 3 on Sunday, October 10th.

Despite some imperfect choices and a racing day with shifty and gusty wind, the 23-year-old Frenchman completed the race with 30 points, preceding countryman Theo De Ramecourt (42 p.) and Brit Connor Bainbridge (47). Hundreds of spectators crowded the Poetto beach to support the protagonists of the event, organized by GLESport in collaboration with the Chia Wind Club and with the technical support of the Yacht Club Cagliari, under the aegis of World Sailing and IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association.

Winner of six out of 14 races in the first three days, Axel Mazella opened the Sunday placing sixth in Race 15 (score discarded), then settled for fifth and 20th (discarded) to secure the overall success. "Today I haven't taken the right decisions with my strategy. I knew I had some points ahead of the other competitors and I took it easier. I'm really unhappy about the last race because the wind was really tricky and coming from everywhere. Anyway, now it's time to celebrate", Mazella commented.

The final racing day, October 10th, started with a brand new podium, topped by Russian Denis Taradin ahead of French Benoit Gomez and Theo De Ramecourt. The latter was absolutely on fire in Race 16: after a tough battle with Taradin, Theo claimed the win going up to second position overall, ahead of Connor Bainbridge.

After a runner-up spot in Saturday's last race, Italian U19 Riccardo Pianosi went on collecting good displays, including two third positions in Race 16 and 17 that pushed him up to sixth overall. German Jannis Maus won the final run, ahead of Antigua's Tiger Tyson. "I'm pretty satisfied with my display, considering that the racing week didn't start as I wished. I was leading the last race, but I couldn't stand up to Jannis", Pianosi said.

Lauriane Nolot (232 points) topped the fully French-speaking podium ahead of Poema Newland (249) and Jessie Kampman (300). "I feel exhausted, I gave my best on every race, it was also good training for the Worlds. I'm super happy to take the first position. With Poema we are pushing each other to the best level: she's super strong and super fast, but in Cagliari, I made better choices", Nolot stated.

"Sardinia Grand Slam has really shone this year - the IKA President Mirco Babini commented - recording great success in terms of international participation. Hosting athletes from 19 countries and all continents is more than an arrival point: it's a valuable transition point that leads us to renew the agreement concerning the international class: I'm personally involved in supporting Cagliari's event also in the future years. Everyone can see the success of Sardinia Grand Slam: local authorities are really satisfied and the feedback from the competitors was absolutely rewarding. The athletes loved competing here for the weather conditions, hospitality and spaces the Poetto reserved for them".

"After last year's stop, Cagliari could welcome the KiteFoil show back, hosting World's best specialists. We're very proud of this and we're satisfied with the high technical level, the media coverage and the institutional support. A special thank you to the Tourism Department of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Cagliari", OC President Gian Domenico Nieddu stated. Cagliari's major Paolo Truzzu took part in the awarding ceremony.

The IKA KiteFoil World Series' updated ranking will be available in a few hours on the IKA official website.

Sardinia Grand Slam Final Classification:

Men
1) Axel Mazella (FRA) points 30
2) Theo De Ramecourt (FRA) p. 42
3) Connor Bainbridge (UK) p. 47
4) Denis Taradin (RYF) p. 49
5) Benoit Gomez (FRA) p. 56

Women
1) Lauriane Nolot (FRA) points 232
2) Poema Newland (FRA) p. 249
3) Jessie Kampman (FRA) p. 300

Full results at www.kitefoilworldseries.com.

Related Articles

2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 2
Thrills and spills - with the speed came plenty of racing incidents Day 2 of the Youth European Championships in Gizzeria saw fantastic conditions that gave the racing added pace. With the speed came plenty of racing incidents. Posted on 3 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 1
Rising stars shine at Youth Kitefoil Euros kickoff Some of the world's best young kite foilers started racing today in southern Italy aiming to become Youth European champions. Posted on 2 Jul
World Sailing announces split venues for LA28
The boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port World Sailing has said it welcomes the confirmation of sailing venues for the Olympic Games LA28 the boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port. Posted on 30 Jun
Sail Canada introduces Canadian Sailing Team
21 athletes were selected based on the Canadian Sailing Team Sport Canada Carding Criteria Sail Canada is pleased to announce the list of sailors who will be part of the 2025-2026 Canadian Sailing Team. Posted on 26 Jun
2025 IKA Youth Europeans Oreview
Italy set to host the future of kitefoiling in Gizzeria, Calabria The Hang Loose Beach Club in Gizzeria, Calabria is once again poised to welcome kitefoiling's rising stars as the IKA Youth European Championships return to southern Italy. Posted on 25 Jun
Registration now open for GKA Youth events
Germany and Spain events will have U14, U16 and U19 divisions Registration is now open for the two upcoming GKA Youth events of the 2025 season. First up is the GKA Youth Big Air Kite World Championship in St. Peter Ording, Germany. Posted on 9 Jun
Whitehead finish 9th at Formula Kite Europeans
A confident return to international competition in Urla, Türkiye Australia's Breiana Whitehead has made a confident return to international competition, finishing ninth overall at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 20 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla overall
Nolot and Pianosi reclaim European Titles, and Maeder wins Open Trophy Racing couldn't have been more dramatic in the medal series day of the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships. With too many passes to count, a steady eight knots and smooth, turquoise water provided a perfect playing field in Urla. Posted on 19 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 5
Momentum shifts as 16 riders head to the Medal Series Fortunes were won and lost as five days of racing came down to the last minutes of Sunday's racing to determine which women and men would head to Monday's top-eight medal series. Posted on 19 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 4
Despair and dominance define chaotic day Scrappy racing in mixed up breeze kicked off the next stage of the championship as the leaders gave a masterclass in consistency while others dropped kites and places heading towards the medal series. Posted on 18 May
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst GT 1456x180px BOTTOMRooster 2025Switch One Design