Formula Kite World Championships Quartu Sant'Elena: the first major step towards Los Angeles 2028
by Formula Kite World Championships 24 Sep 2025 03:14 AEST
28 September - 5 October 2025
Italy's Riccardo Pianosi, 2025 European champion © Robert Hajduk / IKA media
Next September 28th to October 5th, the Poetto beach will host the event that crowns the new World Champions. Among the top contenders: Maeder, Vodišek, and Pianosi in the men's fleet; Nolot, Aldridge, and Kampman among women
The city of Quartu Sant'Elena (Cagliari, Sardinia) is ready to host the 9th edition of the Sardinia Grand Slam - Formula Kite World Championships, featuring the high-speed foil boards that made their Olympic debut at the Paris Games, next September 28th to October 5th. It's the event that crowns the World Champions of the Olympic kiteboarding discipline. It's the first major milestone on the road to the Los Angeles Games. And it's a celebration of the enduring bond between kiteboarding and the Gulf of Cagliari, where the sport's Olympic journey first took flight.
The 9th Sardinia Grand Slam was officially presented on Tuesday, September 23rd, in Cagliari, during a press conference hosted by the Department of Tourism, Commerce and Handicrafts of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia.
From Cagliari to Quartu Sant'Elena, Poetto beach once again proves to be a prestigious and beloved venue for top kiteboarding events. Organized by GLEsport with the technical-sporting collaboration of Chia Wind Club, the competition will be held under the aegis of World Sailing, the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA), and the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV). The event headquarters will be set up near the Blue Sky beach club along the Poetto shoreline.
During the press conference, organizing committee president Gian Domenico Nieddu and IKA President Mirco Babini presented the event alongside Regional Assessor of Tourism Franco Cuccureddu, Quartu Sant'Elena Deputy Mayor Tore Sanna, City Sports Councillor Cinzia Carta and Bruno Perra, president of Italian Olympic Commitee for Sardinia.
Maeder and Nolot defend their titles - Aldridge, the Olympic champion, joins the line-up
Defending their World Championship titles will be Singapore's Maximilian Maeder and France's Lauriane Nolot. Maeder, the Olympic bronze medalist, will face fierce competition from Slovenia's Toni Vodišek, silver medalist at Paris 2024 and former World Champion in Cagliari three years ago. Italy's Riccardo Pianosi, 2024 European Champion in Urla, Turkey, is also among the frontrunners.
France will be well represented with former Grand Slam champions Axel Mazella, Théo de Ramecourt, and Benoit Gomez, while up-and-comers such as Gian Andrea Stragiotti (U21 World Champion) and Cameron Maramenides are expected to make waves. Unfortunately, reigning Olympic champion Valentin Bontus will miss the event due to injury.
On the women's side, in addition to Nolot - a frequent victor in the winds of the Gulf of Angels - all eyes are on Britain's Ellie Aldridge, the first ever crowned Olympic champion. This rematch of Paris 2024, where Nolot claimed silver, will be a highlight of the event. Also competing are 2023 Sardinia Grand Slam winner Jessie Kampman, Argentina's U21 World Champion Maria Catalina Turienzo, European Youth Champion Derin Atakan, European Championship finalists Lily Young (UK) and Lysa Caval (France), and Spanish legend Gisela Pulido, the former kiteboarding prodigy.
Format: Medal series set on Sunday, October 5th
Following athlete check-in, registration, and free practice sessions, the competition officially begins on Tuesday, September 30th, with the first day of Open Series races. Riders will then be split into Gold and Silver Fleets, leading up to the Medal Series finals on Sunday, October 5th, where the 2025 Formula Kite World Champions will be crowned.
Live streaming
On Saturday, October 4th, and Sunday, October 5th, the Formula Kite World Championships will be streamed live on the event's official Facebook and YouTube channels, as well as those of the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA). Racing is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM local time, weather permitting. Global viewers will be able to follow the action via live coverage, highlights, and daily recaps posted across digital platforms.
Quotes from the conference
Gian Domenico Nieddu (President, Organizing Committee): "We're ready and excited for this major test, which for the Sardinia Grand Slam proudly coincides with hosting the World Championships in the Olympic kiteboarding discipline. I want to thank the Region of Sardinia's Department of Tourism for supporting the event, the IKA for entrusting us once again with the Worlds, the Italian Sailing Federation, and the Municipality of Quartu Sant'Elena, which enthusiastically took up the baton from Cagliari as host city — not just this year, but also for years to come."
Mirco Babini (President, International Kiteboarding Association): "Cagliari and its surroundings continue to be a global hub for kiteboarding. These waters hold a special place in the heart of the entire kiteboarding community, with many athletes having trained here for over a month. For the first time, the racecourse will be on the Quartu Sant'Elena side of Poetto, reflecting the growth and outreach of our sport. Sardinia is always ready to welcome international events that showcase the island and its sea in such a positive light."
Franco Cuccureddu (Regional Councillor for Tourism, Commerce and Handicrafts): "Sardinia is once again a benchmark for world-class sporting events that attract World and Olympic Champions. Hosting the Formula Kite World Championships at Poetto beach confirms not only our appeal to international federations, but also our organizational excellence in staging top-tier global competitions. We wish fair winds to all the athletes taking part."
Tore Sanna (Deputy Mayor, Quartu Sant'Elena): "The Formula Kite Worlds are a tremendous opportunity for our city and the entire region. We are proud to host such a prestigious sporting event — an international showcase for Quartu, which is ideally suited to becoming a 'City of Sport' thanks to its strategic location, stunning coastline, and a gulf perfectly suited to wind and sea sports. The Poetto is already buzzing with activity, with race setup under way and training sessions beginning on our natural arena for sport and spectacle."
Cinzia Carta (Councillor for Sport and Education, Quartu Sant'Elena): "We are confident this event will leave a positive mark on our community, promoting the values of sport and inclusion. Over 130 athletes have already arrived in the city, accompanied by coaches, families, and organizers. The impact will be felt throughout the city: in hotels, restaurants, and local businesses, as well as in schools. In particular, the Porcu-Satta School - with its sports-focused curriculum - will play an active role, from the opening ceremony to daily interactions with athletes. For the students, this will be a unique experience, both educational and deeply human."
Bruno Perra (President Italian Italian Olympic Committee - Sardinia): "I am particularly happy because I know very well how important it is for our island to host events of this kind. We are talking about an Olympic discipline that brings together the world's top athletes and looks ahead to Los Angeles 2028. All the ingredients are here for this event to be confirmed as one of the most remarkable in Sardinia. I would like to thank Regional Councillor Cuccureddu and his team for their great teamwork. We strive to collaborate in identifying the most significant events, both from a sporting and cultural perspective — our goal is to grow through collective effort. My thanks also go to Mirco Babini, who believed from the very beginning that Sardinia could host events of this calibre and convinced the International Federation to recognize Sardinia as one of the key hubs for kiteboarding."