GWA Wingfoil World Tour FreeFly-Slalom at Mondial du Vent 2025
by GWA Wingfoil World Tour 24 Apr 22:20 NZST
16-21 April 2025
GWA Wingfoil World Tour FreeFly-Slalom © Lukas K Stiller
The iconic Mondial du Vent returned to La Franqui, Leucate, for six action-packed days of wind, waves, and wingfoiling. Known for its vibrant mix of watersports and family-friendly entertainment, this legendary event once again delivered an unforgettable experience—blending elite competition with sunshine, stormy skies, and the trademark Tramontana winds reaching up to 40 knots.
Beyond the competition, the beachside festival atmosphere thrived with skateboarding, BMX shows, exhibitions, and interactive stands, making it a true celebration of outdoor culture for all ages.
The FreeFly-Slalom division saw 30 men and 18 women take to the water, battling through seven high-intensity elimination rounds across four days for a coveted spot in the main finals.
To ensure fairness for both regular and goofy-footed riders, the slalom course was redesigned several times during the event. The stage was perfectly set for the final day, with 8 men and 6 women—top-ranked after the qualifiers—ready to fight for the first podium of the 2025 season.
GWA Wingfoil World Cup France
16-21 April, 2025 | Mondial du Vent, Leucate-La Franqui
Men's showdown: Cappuzzo reigns supreme
Italy's Francesco Cappuzzo dominated the men's division, winning four of the seven eliminations in the qualifier round and securing direct passage to the final alongside France's Bastien Escofet, who made every final in the qualifiers.
Alessandro Tomasi and Riccardo Zorzi advanced directly to the semi-finals, while Julien Rattotti, Oscar Leclair, Tom Pansard, and Alan Fedit began their push from Round 1 after their top 8 results from the qualifier round.
With the Tramontana wind blowing 15 to 18 knots and the beach packed with spectators, the men's heats launched in perfect conditions. In Heat 1, Alan Fedit overtook early leader Oscar Leclair and cruised into the semis. Leclair, Pansard, and Rattotti got another shot in Round 2.
Heat 2 was a tactical masterclass from Julien Rattotti, whose smart choices earned him a clear win and a semi-final spot.
Tomasi opened the semi-final with a strong start, followed closely by Riccardo Zorzi and Rattotti. The latter snatched second place, leaving Zorzi and Fedit behind. Rattotti carried his momentum into Heat 4, eliminating both Zorzi and Fedit to secure the final spot in the main event.
In the grand final, the energy was electric. Cappuzzo launched with full power and never looked back. Escofet held second until the pump section, where Rattotti surged ahead in a stunning move. Escofet fought hard to regain ground but ultimately had to settle for third, with Tomasi finishing fourth.
Francesco Cappuzzo, the reigning 2024 FreeFly-Slalom World Champion, started his 2025 season in top form—clinching victory in style.
Final Men's Results FreeFly-Slalom:
1st Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA)
2nd Julien Rattotti (FRA)
3rd Bastien Escofet (FRA)
4th Alessandro Tomasi (ITA)
Women's showdown: Suardiaz sets the pace
The women's division saw its top six athletes advance from the qualifiers to face off in the finals, with Nia Suardiaz and Kylie Belloeuvre seeded directly into the final. The remaining four—Mar de Arce, Bowien van der Linden, Viola Lippitsch, and Manon Dupe—had to earn their way through the early rounds.
Round 1 was dramatic, with Bowien van der Linden going down at the start, allowing Mar to take an early lead. But it was Viola Lippitsch who capitalized during the pump section, overtaking Mar and advancing to the final.
In Heat 2, Mar de Arce made no mistakes, securing the final spot in the showdown with a clean and confident performance.
The women's final brought together a powerful lineup: Nia Suardiaz, Kylie Belloeuvre, Viola Lippitsch, and Mar de Arce. Kylie had the fastest start, but Nia was quick to respond, overtaking her by the second mark and maintaining the lead to the finish. The 2023 and 2024 champion looked as strong as ever, claiming her first FreeFly-Slalom win of the new season. Kylie followed in second, Mar took third, and Viola finished in a respectable fourth.
Final Women's Results FreeFly-Slalom:
1st Nia Suadiaz (ESP)
2nd Kylie Belloeuvre (FRA)
3rd Mar de Arce (ESP)
4th Viola Lippitsch (AUT)
A festival of wind and sport
The 2025 Mondial du Vent was another standout success on the GWA Wingfoil World Tour calendar. Thanks to a wide range of wind conditions across the week, all disciplines were completed without compromise. Huge crowds filled the beach throughout the event, culminating in a lively awards ceremony at the buzzing event village.
With a perfect blend of elite competition and coastal culture, Mondial du Vent once again proved why it's one of the most anticipated stops of the season.