2024 KiteFoil World Series Sardinia – Day 3
by Andy Rice, IKA 5 Oct 09:12 PDT
2-5 October 2024
A beautiful day in Sardinia – 2024 KiteFoil World Series Italy, Day 3 © IKA Media / Robert Hajduk
The third day of the Kitefoil World Series in Sardinia featured five distinct winners in six thrilling races, setting an exciting stage for Saturday’s final medal series.
Max Maeder claimed the first victory of the afternoon, fitting given that the 18-year-old from Singapore is expected to earn more wins today; he previously secured 11 out of 12 races at Kitefoil World Series Austria a few weeks prior.
Nevertheless, several emerging talents in the fleet showcased their skills. This represents a new era post-Paris 2024, with a vast selection of new-generation kites and foils showcased on Poetto Beach, indicating ample opportunities for leading the fleet.
New Champions
Seventeen-year-old Gian Stragiotti, exactly a year younger than Maeder and sharing his September birthday, trailed the older teen across the line in the first race after leading for much of the course. In the second race, Stragiotti overtook Maeder to clinch his maiden victory in the event. Both riders employed Flysurfer kites, while Greek competitor Cameron Maramenides triumphed with his Element kite before the lunch break in race three.
As the competitors returned to Poetto Beach for a short rest, the wind also notably strengthened. Most racers had earlier flown their medium 15-square-metre kites but transitioned to the 11-square-metre option as gusts reached 20 knots.
Increased Wind = Smaller Kites
Maggie Pescetto experienced a stark contrast while utilizing her older kites intended for her Paris 2024 campaign. “The new kites are more stable; they fly higher and faster upwind,” the Italian Olympic representative remarked. “I hope the increase in wind means we can all switch to smaller kites for the afternoon, as I believe the gap between the old and new won’t be substantial.”
Pescetto’s performance indeed improved with the stronger winds, as did fellow Italian Riccardo Pianosi, who won the day’s final race using his older generation Flysurfer kite. “I felt really fast downwind, it was exhilarating,” said Pianosi, who finished fourth at the Olympics weeks ago, “The conditions were excellent, and it was enjoyable to push myself hard.”
Maeder vs. Mazella
Axel Mazella, the French competitor wearing the leader’s yellow bib, was the only rider to win two races today. Following a poor showing in the early light winds, Mazella’s new Ozone 11-square-metre kite excelled on the racecourse in the afternoon. He was speedy upwind and unmatched on the downwind legs, reaching 39 knots while sailing at a shallower angle toward the leeward mark, using his distinctive upright body posture—definitely a contributor to his success.
After five races, Mazella recovered some ground against the consistent Maeder, leading to a tight finish in the final race. Heading into the last day with the leader’s bib is a significant advantage; winning the four-rider final requires three wins, but the first series victor gains two wins to carry forward. The contestant among Mazella and Maeder who crosses the finish line first will earn the yellow bib.
Ultimately, Maeder outperformed his competitors in the concluding race, almost claiming the winner’s title from Pianosi while finishing second. Mazella, placing behind the third-placed Maramenides, missed his chance to keep the yellow bib but still secured second place directly advancing to the final. Other riders must contend through knockout rounds to join Maeder and Mazella in the championship finale.
In the women’s event, Elena Lengwiler (SUI) narrowed the gap with Jessie Kampman (FRA), yet the French rider still leads the standings and advances to the final. Gal Zukerman (ISR), Pescetto, and the remaining women will compete in the knockout series for the opportunity to join the top two in the women’s final.
Single-elimination
The concluding day kicks off with a ‘Golden Ticket’ race featuring all competitors outside the top nine. The race winner earns a ‘Golden Ticket’ to join the remaining contenders in the medal series. This format, which has been successfully implemented in the Wingfoil Racing World Cup, marks only the second instance of the kitefoiling community experiencing the Golden Ticket, an innovative concept that allows any rider the chance to claim the title on the final day.
The medal series on Saturday will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.
Results Men
1. Max Maeder, SGP – 16.0p
2. Axel Mazella, FRA – 18.0p
3. Benoit Gomez, FRA – 28.0p
Results Women
1. Jessie Kampman, FRA – 189.0p
2. Elena Lengwiler, SUI – 195.0p
3. Gal Zukerman, ISR – 201.0p
Full results here
