Presentation of the third edition of the Lanzarote Foil Challenge, the first ultra-marathon regatta
by Nora Perez Sanchez 29 Nov 2023 01:44 AEDT
Lanzarote Foil Challenge presentation © Víctor Hdez
The third edition of the Lanzarote Foil Challenge was presented yesterday at a press conference held on the Islote de Fermina and attended by organisers and sponsors of the sporting event, which has already established itself as one of the most attractive regattas for windsurfing lovers.
The Lanzarote Foil Challenge is the first international regatta around the island of Lanzarote in Windsurf Foil in a single day in which 20 participants are already registered and will cover 200 kilometres of coastline on a surfboard in 9 hours without stops. The best national and international riders will once again take part in this unique event, the first ultra regatta of its kind in the world.
The presentation ceremony was attended by Juan Monzón, Sports Councillor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote; José Juan Lorenzo, Managing Director of Canary Islands Tourism; María Martín, Head of Marketing and PR of Lanzarote European Sport Destination; Rafael Lasso, CEO of Marina Rubicón, and Esteban Nieto, Vice President of Los Charcos Windsurfing Club.
Lanzarote is looking to host another year of this race organized by Los Charcos Windsurfing Club together with the Canary Islands Sailing Federation and Marina Rubicón. This race will once again be an opportunity to show Lanzarote as a destination for the practice of water sports, promoting the tourist value of the island, which in recent years has been the place chosen by athletes from all over the world to train for international championships and the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
Everything is ready for this third edition
Riders of 11 nationalities are already preparing to face this challenge that will test their own limits. The race will take place in the Windsurf Foil and Kite Foil modalities and its final date will depend on the wind conditions during the week.
The Lanzarote Foil Challenge will consist of 6 scoring legs. The first leg will start at 8am from Marina Rubicón to go up the coast of Janubio to El Golfo. The second leg will last about two hours until reaching La Santa, from where the third leg will begin to La Graciosa, with an estimated arrival time of around 14h. Costa Teguise will be the destination of the fourth leg to continue the downhill to Playa Honda. At around 5pm, the riders will finish the regatta in Marina Rubicón.
Among the participants, the German Nico Prien, who reached eighth place in the recently concluded Foil Windsurfing World Championship held in Japan, where the Swedish Hugo Sjöberg also competed. They will change the waters of the Sea of Japan for those of the Atlantic Ocean on this occasion.
Among the participants are Germany's Nico Prien, one of the world's top PWA riders, as well as Sweden's Hugo Sjöberg, Hungary's Máté Bors and Poland's Michal Polak and Pawel Tarnowski. All of them with France's Adrien Mestre will be rubbing shoulders with the youngest surfers in the regatta, Italians Diego Gargallo and Luca Conforti. Among the locals, Esteban Nieto, Rafael Lasso and Federico Morales will also take part.
It highlights the presence of the only girl, Marion Mortefon, who achieved 3rd Place in Women's Slalom in Japan, and is sure to play a great role in this regatta.
Lanzarote Foil Challenge is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands through Promotur-Tourism of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Lanzarote through the Ministry of Tourism (SPEL-Tourism of Lanzarote with its brand European Sports Destination) and the Insular Sports Service, as well as the Sports Department of the City Council of Teguise. Also collaborating are the Hotel Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada Resort & Spa, Cicar Canary Islands Car, Salinas de Janubio and the Centers of Art, Culture, and Tourism of the Cabildo of Lanzarote.