Pianosi to target the Worlds: “The Sardinia Grand Slam is my rainbow dream”

Riccardo Pianosi is ready to contend the Formula Kite World Champs © Formula Kite World Championships

At the Formula Kite World Championships (Olympic Class) in Cagliari, the 17-year-old Italian World ranking leader aims to improve the third place held in the 2021 Worlds and the 2022 European Championships. The first regattas are to take place on Tuesday, October 11th, whilst the finals are scheduled on October 16th.

The Formula Kite World Championships (Olympic Class) started in Cagliari on Saturday, October 8th with the registrations of the 150 participants, opening the 2022 king event whose regattas will kick-off on Tuesday, October 11th to end with the finals scheduled on October 16th. Italian Riccardo Pianosi, 17, European Championships bronze medallist a few days ago, one of the most awaited competitors at the Sardinia Grand Slam, doesn't hide his ambitions: "The favorite for the Worlds is Maeder but I won't settle for a podium spot: I aim to fight for the most important medal".

Seventeen years, a natural talent and a veteran awareness, Pianosi is not only aspiring to add more bronze medals to his precious collection built up at the 2021 World Championships, 2022 Kite Worlds Youth and European Championships. "I have high expectations because I come for a good performance at the European Championships, where I stood up to the strongest rivals, with the possibility of preceding them. I hope to do better than the third place I held at the European Championship and at the 2021 World Championship. Of course, sailing with the goal to improve the bronze of last year's edition could make me a little anxious, but I'm confident of performing a good race" Pianosi says.

Number 1 in the Men's World Sailing Ranking, Pianosi arrived in Cagliari several days ago, together with a very rich patrol of athletes come, day after day, to a total number of 150 participants (92 men, 58 women) from 44 countries of 6 Continents. "Italians like me will play at home, we trained a lot and we know the location. I like the Gulf of Angels a lot, I'm actually trying some boards to choose the best but for sure I have good feelings with this place", Pianosi words.

Riccardo has no doubts about who the main rivals will be: "There is more than one rider who can aim for gold, above all Max Maeder, actually the fastest of us and the man to beat. Also, the French guys have good chances, as well as Taradin and Boschetti: Sardinia Grand Slam will be a great show". In view of an event where the details can make the difference, Pianosi entrusts a wish to the sea breeze: "I'm the lightest man in the top ten, so I prefer to compete in light wind conditions, which allow me to express myself at my best".

The Sardinia Grand Slam is the traditional sailing event organized in Cagliari by GLEsport, with the financial support of the Tourism Department of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Cagliari, under the aegis of World Sailing (the International Sailing Federation) and IKA (the International Kiteboarding Federation), as well as FIV - Italian Sailing Federation and CKWI, Italy's Kiteboarding and Wingsport Class, and with the collaboration of the Chia Wind Club.

The Formula Kite World Championships will have its first official moment with the press conference scheduled on Monday, October 10th at 11.00 am at the Sardinia Grand Slam Village, at the sixth stop of Poetto beach (entrance from Il Nilo kiosk). The regattas schedule will start on Tuesday, October 11th at 10.00.

For more information visit www.sardiniagrandslam.com/en.