Bob van de Burgt (PATRIK / Point-7): "(The R&D) Behind the Sails & Can I keep up with this Vice World Champ? | S1 EP6

In episode 6 of Behind the Sails we're still in Lake Garda. Training with the Italian crew consisting of: last years vice World Champ Daniele Benedetti, PWA Worldtour podium finisher Bruno Martini, Andrea Cucchi and Matteo Della. 

Afterwards we have a visit to the Point-7 Headquarters to discuss the R&D process and show what the Point-7 headquarters look like. 

Enjoyed watching? Leave a like, comment and subscribe to join my journey as a pro windsurfer. See you in the next one!

My sponsors: 
air up, Brightsourcing, Brightforward, Howden, Brouwersdam, Prolimit, Point-7, Patrik Windsurfing. 

Produced by: Zoom Productions & Courtside Studios. 

Got a question for me or want to see something specific in an upcoming video? Reach out to me on Instagram @bob_vandeburgt or send me an email: info@bob-vandeburgt.nl 

For business inquiries or collaborations, please reach out to info@no-spam-pleasebob-vandeburgt.nl / bas@no-spam-pleaseblt-consultancy.nl"

You can see episode five of 'Behind the Sails' @ https://youtu.be/lo57VEwqqq4?si=pH3dkul9Urg5NESr

Fin Slalom

One word can describe all of this week’s winners - perfection - as Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7)(U15), Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7) (U17), Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) (U21 Girls) & Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui) (U21 Boys) all won every single one of their races this week, which is an unbelievable feat.

In the U21 Boys, it was a back and forth battle for second place between young up and coming local Storm Nicolai (Starboard) and a proven champion, Thijs Hanemaaijer (FMX Racing / North Windsurfing). Ultimately, experience won over youth and Hanemaaijer took second ahead of Nicolai in third. Ibrahim Ali Donmez made a late charge for the podium, but his early results hampered his chances. 

In the U17 Boys, it was a fresh face who shook up the rankings from Aruba - Alexandre Levalois from Guadeloupe, who finished second and looks like a talent for the future, while Olivier van Sisseren completes the podium in Bonaire. 

The U15 Boys was a close fought battle for the podium, with Victor Schulz Jakobsen applying pressure to the unstoppable Arxon Gomperts at times. Thomas Michael, representing the next generation from Curacao finished third after some great battles with Kenny Abrahamsz and Joey Ross. 

The U13 Boys belonged to local boy Julien Blom, but he was challenged at times by Noah Coates and Reef De Kanter. These guys might be small, but they sure are determined and we are excited for what the future holds with them. 

The U21 Girls was a family affair as the De Jong sisters fought amongst each other. Bobbi-Lynn claimed a deserved victory ahead of Kit (Starboard / NeilPryde) and Lone (Starboard / NeilPryde), who finish second and third respectively. 

Foil Slalom 

The final day started with three eliminations on foil, and heading into last eliminations of the event, there was all still to play for…

In the U21 Boys, Kasper Nielsen (Duotone Windsurfing), Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui) and Thijs Hanemaaijer (FMX Racing / North Windsurfing) looked like they had all guaranteed themselves a spot on the podium, but the question was… in what order? Nielsen came flying out the blocks and looked like he meant business. Without any hesitation the young Dane rattled off a quick fire hat-trick to not only secure the event victory, but also cement his place at the top of the Youth rankings with two wins from the opening two events. 

Lorho sailed very consistently to take home second place, while, Hanemaaijer, who will forever be known as Mr. Photo Finish after his battles continued to go down to the final metres on multiple occasions, completes the podium. Both had to be reviewed under a video replay, and on both occasions mere centimetres split riders!

In the U21 Girls, Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) put in a solid challenge against Bobbi-Lynn (Starboard / NeilPryde) today, capitalising on her mistakes, but it wasn’t enough to overhaul her in the event rankings and it finished with Bobbi-Lynn in first, Kit in second and Lone in third. 

The U15 Boys took it to the final day to decide who would be the champion in Bonaire between Pedro Grubissich and Ashton Reid. An over early in the first race for Reid made things a lot easier for Grubissich and ultimately handed him the event win. Alp Ozer finishes in third, also a shoutout to Jaden Reid, who had a great day today and whilst it wasn’t enough to put him on the podium, he should be proud of his results. 

Our solo U13 rider, Noah Coates, showed tenacity and determination in getting around the course, and is a kid to watch out for in the future! 

Where’s Next on the PWA World Tour?

After back-to-back events in Aruba and Bonaire they’ll be a couple of weeks break before the Tour heads back to Europe for the Canaries leg of the Tour. First up will be the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, which starts on 5th July and runs until the 13th. 

You can see Day 4's highlights @ https://youtu.be/SMYtWiU1re4?si=w4rSJonCz7FfnKRk

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

Foil

The morning kicked off with foiling in a perfect 18-22 knots. With blue skies and turquoise waters, it was truly paradise out there. 

Event leader, Kasper Nielsen (Duotone Windsurfing), had a turbulent day, leaving the door open for other riders to capitalise. Almost nothing could separate Thijs Hanemaaijer and Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui) with battles going all the way to the finish line in race three & four of the day. Hanemaaijer took the photo finish in the first instance, whilst Lorho immediately exacted revenge, making it one a piece. Nielsen’s still holds a 3.5 point lead over Lorho heading into the final day, but with Hanemaaijer only two points behind him, it’s going to go down to the wire. 

Another event leader who couldn’t find her form today was Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde). Flawless and untouchable have been the only words to describe her until now, but today she faltered and Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) capitalised by claiming three bullets. Whilst Bobbi-Lynn maintains a substantial lead, it’s clear to see the fight between these sisters is going to be one we write about for many years to come. 

In the under 15 Boys, the tight battle between the boys from Miami continued and the lead of the event returns to Pedro Grubissich, who claimed four out of the five eliminations completed today. Ashton Reid drops back to second, but if the racing this week is anything to go by, nothing is secure until the final race is completed. 

The plan for tomorrow is a further three foil races in the morning, where the battles will commence to decide who becomes champions of Bonaire 2025.

Fin Slalom 

After lunch, the battles commenced on fin. The most exciting battles of the day were undoubtably within the under 21 Boys. Whilst on paper the podium is quite well secured by Brendon Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui), Thijs Hanemaaijer and Storm Nicolai (Starboard), the action has been far closer. Ibrahim Ali Dönmez came charging out of the blocks today and redeemed yesterday‘s uncharacteristically poor performance, which sees him jump up into fourth place. 

Tycho Smits, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong and Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7) all maintained their perfect score sheets today with an unprecedented 18 wins from 18 races for all three riders. Julien Blom also took home a perfect score today after a slightly rocky day yesterday. 

A special mention should go to the battle between the under 13 boys, who have improved beyond belief this week. I could write a story about each of them, but their determination and tenacity is unmatched. Whilst obviously the slowest fleet of the lot, it’s amazing to see the battles, overtakes and defence happening at such a young age amongst these little rippers. Every single one of them comes off the water with a story to tell and a smile on their face and it’s safe to say the future of windsurfing is very much alive.

The plan for tomorrow is two more races on the fin where the podium places will be locked in, but with battles being close right down to the back of the fleets, everyone will be keen to put on their best performance for the final day.

You can see Day 4's highlights @ https://youtu.be/SMYtWiU1re4?si=w4rSJonCz7FfnKRk

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

With the contest now at its halfway point, the competition is tightening across all divisions, promising a nail-biting finish as the event progresses.

Fin Slalom

In the U13 category, it was a battle of young talent as Noah Coates and Reef De Kanter each secured wins today. However, consistency remains key, and Julien Blom continues to hold onto the top spot overall.

The U15 division delivered one of the day’s most thrilling showdowns. Victor Schulz Jakobsen came dangerously close to ending Arxon Gomperts’ (Future Fly / Point 7) unbeaten run, but Gomperts held firm in the final reach, extending his perfect record to an impressive 13 wins from 13 races. The fight for the final podium position remains fierce, with just a single point separating third from fifth place (Thomas Michael, Kenny Abrahamsz & Joey Ross) - everything is still to play for.

In the U17 fleet, Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point 7) continues to dominate, remaining untouchable at the front of the pack. Meanwhile, Alexandre Levalois and Olivier van Sisseren (WeOne) are locked in an intense battle for second place, adding plenty of drama to the division.

The U21 Boys fleet is witnessing a masterclass from Frenchman Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2 Maui), who remains undefeated and is looking increasingly comfortable out in front. But the race for the remaining podium positions is wide open with Thijs Hanemaaijer (FMX Racing North Windsurfing) holding second and Storm Nicolai (Starboard) sitting in third as the pressure builds.

Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) leads the charge in the U21 Girls, but her sister Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) is closing the gap fast. That first win for Kit seems just around the corner, promising more excitement as the event continues.

Foil Slalom

During the afternoon, attention turned to foil and a further two eliminations were completed. 

In the U15 boys, many of them said it was more survival conditions, and about who could stay on the foil, with event leader, Ashton Reid, admitting it was as windy as he has ever sailed in.

The U21 Girls remain unchanged with Bobbi-Lynn De Jong on top followed by her sister’s Kit and Lone.

The U21 Boys is also hotly contested. Kasper Nielsen (Duotone Windsurfing / F4 Foils) is out in front of the pack and has developed a convincing lead ahead of a consistently second place Brendan Lorho.

Stay tuned for more action as we head into the backend of what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable Bonaire Youth & Junior Slalom World Cup.

You can Day 3's highlights @ https://youtu.be/buOCkG4Byvw?si=ibJOD49dvDlbHdqL

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

The leaders remain the same, and have all extended their leads, but behind them it’s all to play for. 

In the U21 Boys it’s Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui) out in front with eight wins from eight races - a truly flawless performance, but in second place, Thijs Hanemaaijer (FMX Racing / North Windsurfing) has replaced Storm Nicolai (Starboard) showing consistency over the local youngster despite carrying an injury. Elias Wallden Jespersen (JP / NeilPryde) showed a big improvement in the early races and climbed up the leaderboard into fifth place behind Ibrahim Ali Donmez (Duotone Windsurfing). 

The U21 Girls have been racing with the U17 Boys and the battles here have been relentless. Tycho Smits (U17 Boys - Future Fly / Point-7) and Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (U21 Girls - Starboard / NeilPryde), whilst leading their respective age groups have been trading blows and pushing each other to the max. Smits put on a stellar performance today, winning all of the races, but De Jong was on his tail ready to capitalise on any mistakes. Alexandre Levalois, Olivier van Sisseren (WeOne) and Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) have also been battling hard today. Kit got the better of the boys on a number of occasions, but Levalois also shone today and overtook Van Sisseren into second place. 

The U15 hometown hero - Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7) AKA Taty Frans (Future Fly / Point-7) 2.0, has been simply untouchable and won every race today once again by a considerable margin. Victor Schulz Jakobsen put in a consistent day to maintain his second place whilst the battle between Thomas Michael, Joey Ross (Starboard / Severne) and Kenny Abrahamsz was a true spectacle as the three of them went head to head and had multiple photo finishes. The battle for the final spot on the podium is far from over with 3 days to go. 

In the U13s, Julien Blom has really stepped up his game on his home turf this week and is walking around with his head held high and rightly so - today he was faultless taking all five victories and cementing his position at the top of the leaderboard. Reef De Kanter is also looking steady - consistently in second place, whilst Noah Coates and Daan Gootjes are fighting for third place. The matchups go all the way down in this fiercely determined fleet and the improvement race on race from all the boys has been monumental this week - the future of windsurfing is looking bright! 

Foil Slalom

With no races completed yesterday on the foil, it was priority number one this morning and in a perfect 16-20 knots of breeze, action got underway with four eliminations. 

The U21 Boys and Girls are racing together and put on a show of the highest level of foiling! Kasper Nielsen (Duotone Windsurfing / F4 Foils) laid down the hammer - taking three out of four wins, but showed his true speed in elimination 3, where an early error put him behind, and on the final reach, he passed by Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui) like a rocket! Whilst it’s early days, he’s looking like the one to beat, not only this event, but for the season title… Lorho and Thijs Hanemaaijer (FMX Racing / North Windsurfing) went head-to-head, exchanging blows, but with a win in elimination 4, Lorho has edged ahead at this stage. 

In the Girls, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) was unstoppable - even challenging some of the U21 Boys and pushing herself to her limits. As last year’s PWA Youth Champion, and at only 15-years-old, we are truly excited to see her progression to the top of the sport over the coming years. Snapping at her heels are her 13-year-old twin sisters - Kit and Lone (Starboard / Neilpryde / Neilpryde Foils). Kit made it 3-1 this morning in the battle of the twins, but with Lone getting the better of the two in the last, she can take confidence into tomorrow. 

The U15 Boys saw the Blue Angels take to the water on force. These guys are a young team from Miami - and all riding for Team Tillo! With their blue sails the battled hard, and the top three were almost inseparable. Pedro Grubissich (Tillo) is ahead with two wins, but with a win a piece, Ashton Reid (Tillo) and Alp Ozer (Tillo), are ready to pounce on any mistakes from their team mates. Special mention to Noah Coates (Tillo) - the only U13 rider but he was battling strong this morning and improving with every race.

We’ll be back for more action tomorrow so stay tuned!

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

The U21 Boys was once again dominated by the Frenchman Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui), who claimed three wins from three, but behind him it’s all to play for with Storm Nicolai (Starboard), Thijs Hanemaaijer (FMX Racing / North Sails) and Ibrahim Ali Donmez (Duotone Windsurfing) all taking one second place a piece. 

The U21 Girls raced with the U17 Boys, which led to some epic battles between Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7) and Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) out in front. Behind them it was a tightly fought affair with the whole fleet pushing each other all the way to the finish on every race. 

Local boy Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7) is the one to beat in the U15 Boys after making a formidable start - currently boasting a 100% win record with three bullets out of three, but behind him things were super closer. 

The U13s are our youngest riders this week and they too were pushing hard. Julien Blom from Bonaire took two wins whilst Reef De Kanter from Curacao took the other. Big shoutout to all these little rippers - some taking on a full race course for the first time and smashing it! 

The plan was to go foiling this afternoon, but unfortunately, the conditions didn’t play ball. We’ll be back tomorrow with the skippers’ meeting at 8:30am (GMT-4) with a first possible start at 9:30am.

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

Lac Bay, Sorobon, will take centre stage after the opening event in Aruba, which concluded on the second of June, and with its idyllic conditions, there should be more great racing coming up.

Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui) will be the one to watch in the U21 Boys Fin Slalom after winning 13 out of the 16 eliminations completed in Aruba. However, in the U21 Boys Foil, things promise to be much tighter between Lorho and Kasper Nielsen (Duotone Windsurfing / F4 Foils), who produced a superb comeback in Aruba to win the event. 

Meanwhile, in the U17 Boys Fin Slalom, Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7) will be hoping to capitalise on his home water advantage to secure back-to-back event victories, while Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7) will be looking to secure another victory in the U15 Boys Fin Slalom.

Unfortunately, there won’t be a livestream from Bonaire, but we will be bringing you daily highlights.

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

Enjoyed watching? Leave a like, comment and subscribe to join my journey as a pro windsurfer. See you in the next one!

My sponsors: 
air up, Brightsourcing, Brightforward, Howden, Brouwersdam, Prolimit, Point-7, Patrik Windsurfing. 

Produced by: Zoom Productions & Courtside Studios. 

Got a question for me or want to see something specific in an upcoming video? Reach out to me on Instagram @bob_vandeburgt or send me an email: info@bob-vandeburgt.nl 

For business inquiries or collaborations, please reach out to info@no-spam-pleasebob-vandeburgt.nl / bas@no-spam-pleaseblt-consultancy.nl"

You can see episode five of 'Behind the Sails' @ https://youtu.be/-QluJ22uEiM?si=tDqrTIpnocCToeLE

If you were here, hit play and spot yourself in the crowd. If you watched from home, see what you missed and start planning for next year.

We want to thank every participant, volunteer, artist, sponsor, vendor, and fan who showed up and made it all happen. Drop a like, share your favorite moment below, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. See you again next year at Sarah-Quita Beach!

This Aftermovie is made by Noah Enderlé en Thomas from Startlooking:
 @noah_startlooking  

Drone Footage by Dutch Drone Gods:
@dutchdronegods  
www.dutchdronegods.com

Beach Cam Footage and Livestream by Nomobo:
www.nomobo.tv

Thank you to our event sponsors!
www.aruba.com
www.romartrading.com
www.windparkvaderpiet.com
www.boardwalkaruba.com/en
www.completedstudio.com
hpsaruba.com
www.setar.aw
successfully.aw/en/

Aruba Hi-Winds
The Premier Watersports Event in the Caribbean
Sarah-Quita Beach, Aruba
www.arubahiwinds.com"

The U21 Boys was all wrapped up beforehand, but Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2Maui) still won all the races and really showed he was on a different level today. Storm Nicolai (Starboard) tried to push him but couldn’t come close today, but this week still represented a great first event in the U21 division. The battle for the final place on the podium was more mixed with lots of the boys liking the stronger winds. In the end though, it was local boy Tame Mondria (FMX Racing / Point-7), who claimed third overall.

In the U17 Boys, Tycho Smits (Future Fly/ Point-7) had first place firmly lock up after winning every race with a truly dominant performance. However, the battle for second & third went down to the very last race between Sontje Alberto & Olivier van Sisseren (Weone). Unfortunately, van Sisseren broke a harness line on the final reach, which resulted in a nasty crash and a trip to hospital for van Sisseren, who tore a calf muscle. Everyone from the PWA wishes him a speedy recovery. 

Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7) dominated the U15 Boys, while Joey Ross (Starboard / Severne Sails) showed huge improvements from last year and heaps of potential and will be one to watch for the future. Jeffery Dijkhoff put in some great performances despite only starting windsurfing a year ago.

While there was no official podium in the U13 Boys division due to there being too few competitors, it was still great to see Julien Blom and Mattheo Nobels battling it out and both made massive improvements throughout the week. 

The U21 Girls was probably the most exciting battle of the event and going into the final day there was all still to play for for second place. Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde), who hadn’t put a foot wrong all week, made her first mistake, but it didn’t affect the outcome of the event. Meanwhile her sisters - Kit and Lone (Starboard / NeilPryde) shone in the stronger conditions. Lone, who started the day in fourth, won the opening elimination and jumped up onto the podium, but it wasn’t over yet. 3 more races saw big crashes between the girls and by far the most exciting and competitive racing of the event. Ultimately, Louise van der Meulen (Starboard / Severne Sails) missed out on the podium, but not without a fight and huge credit to her for balancing training with studying for her final school exams currently. 

That’s a wrap for the 2025 Aruba Hi-Winds PWA Youth Slalom We’ll be back in just over a week for another installment of youth racing - after a short hop, skip and a jump to Bonaire, which runs from 13th-18th June. 

You can see the current event rankings HERE.

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

What is more impressive, a rabbit start at the Defi or a PWA Slalom Foil final with all the top guns?

Justine Lemeteyer: "The rabbit start, definitely! The boat goes up the line at 40 knots of speed and it’s hard to time your start with so many riders around. And that’s something you can’t really practice! To have a good start, you have to mark your position early in the run up and slow down on your foil as much as possible until it’s time to accelerate. If you are behind, there’s a thick curtain of sails with dirty wind and you get stuck. Once the boat is gone, be careful over the wake of its massive engine, give all the gas only then. So far, my tactic always paid off.

Once you gybe mark 1 you are now facing more than a thousand sails. How can you deal with that?

Justine Lemeteyer: "First thing, you are now port tack. You have to keep clear. A new kind of slalom starts toward the next mark, 10km away. The wind is also well disturbed by so many sails. Some of them are stopped, they formed a group, you have to pump to keep the flight on your foil. Afterward, the fleet stretches out and it becomes easier."

Do you see your opponents on the course or are you lost?

Justine Lemeteyer: "The last time we officially competed, i was fighting with Marion Mortefon (Patrik/Patrik) and Delphine Cousin. All in all, we approach the first mark in the same group of riders. Races after races, we somehow have each other in sight. And that applies to all level."

What is the best memory you can get form the Defi?

Justine Lemeteyer: "The Rabbit Start is by far the most exciting moment. You get a large rush of adrenaline when you are aiming for the boat end in a chaotic environment! Clearly something to experience in a windsurfer’s life!"

The wind didn't show up today, leaving time to the riders to visit the small town of Gruissan, enjoy a glimpse of summer on the beach, and release the lack of Tramontana’s frustration at the final live music party.

Foil Slalom

The rider of the day on the Foil was undoubtedly Kasper Nielsen (Duotone Windsurfing / F4 Foils) from Denmark. The Duotone and F4 Foils rider had a difficult start to the event, breaking his foil by hitting a turtle, but today was undoubtedly his day, as he claimed five victories out of a possible six to jump to the top of the leaderboard in the U21 Boys Foil. Behind Nielsen, Benedikt Emser (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) also found form today scoring a string of second places and capitalising on a mistake from Brendan Lorho and Nielsen in the third elimination of the day to earn a crucial bullet, which puts him firmly back on the podium with one day of racing to go.

In the girls, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong is yet to make a single mistake with thirteen wins from thirteen races - it has been a spectacle to witness her flawless performance. Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde), two years her junior, is going to be causing her issues in the not too distant future however. Whilst her speed is not quite on Bobbi’s level yet, her racing tenacity and mindset are firmly locked in, and as she grows, she will be a real threat to Bobbi-Lynn in the years to come. 

Fin Slalom

Four more fin races were completed today and while conditions initially looked on the lighter side, with some clouds affecting the wind, but once racing was underway, it filled in perfectly to provide more great racing. 

Despite his mixed performance on the foil, Brendan Lorho was 100% in control on the fin as he claimed a further three bullets from a possible four, so at this stage it’s going to be extremely difficult for anyone to catch him. Storm Nicolai (Starboard) has been his closest rival all week, scoring two bullets yesterday, but he couldn’t close the gap today and remains in second place. Tame Mondria (FMX Racing / Point-7) had moments of brilliance today, looking fast in the lighter conditions, but couldn’t quite match the consistency of Lorho or Nicolai across the entire course as he failed to convert his strong starts into top finishes.

In the U21 Girls, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong admitted today that she was focusing more on the foil ahead of this event, yet that doesn’t show in her results. With another perfect string of results, the 15-year-old has left the battles to the other girls and they have been feisty - with only 2.3 points separating second to fourth position as Louise van der Meulen (Starboard / Severne Sails) and Lone De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) closed the gap on Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) today. So, it’s safe to say it’s all to play for on the final day tomorrow. 

In the U17, U15 and U13 Boys the results remain the same with Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7), Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7) and Julien Blom leading their respective age groups.

You can see the current event rankings HERE.

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

This year at Defi the focus is on the comeback of fin slalom sailing even if the foil will without a doubt will dominate the races. The organiser’s have decided to celebrate two winners, one for the Fin category or Unlimited (riders are free to adapt their gear accordingly to the wind strength between fin or foil), for both men and women. As seen on the market, the cards are redistributed: yes, Fin Slalom is back! The Defi which is run in windy condition is a guaranteed place for a solid competition at max speed on a fin - if the Tramontana shows up. Out of the 1,402 registered entrants, 1,014 are on Fin, 348 are Unlimited, and 40 are ready to complete the course on a Windsurfer LT. Let’s see what the professional windsurfers choose.

It is interesting to see that top PWA riders such as Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails), Pierre Mortefon (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils), Alexandre Cousin (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) and Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing), all top four in the current foil ranking, have chosen to compete on fin! This choice is not only tactical, but it shows how much love those guys have for an unleashed ride on a fin.

In the ladies division, surprisingly, the top four chose to go Unlimited. Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils), Lina Eržen (Starboard / S2Maui), Blanca Alabau (WeOne /Severne Sails) and Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails) opted for foiling as long as they can hold it in strong wind. The option is wise for the comfort the foil gives in the low end of the wind range on a course that can be tricky in gusty, shifty conditions. While in nuclear conditions, they can adjust their gear to feel safer and under control on a fin.

On the other hand, the equipment choice decision will be simple for riders like Nicolas Goyard (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) or William Huppert (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils), who didn’t even bring fin gear to Gruissan. Those riders will have to hold on to their tiny foil sails, Goyard only having a 4.5m sail as his smallest, but claiming: “It’s stable enough even in 40 knots!”

This Friday in Gruissan, it was more like boardshorts & T-Shirt dress code with a thick layer of sunblock to hang out in the Defi Village and visit all the windsurfing brands.

This morning the call was made to send the fin fleet out first and whilst gusty at times, it was consistently 15-22 knots, making for some great racing in all the fleets. The standout rider of the day was Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point 7) from Bonaire. The U15 and U17 Boys are racing together this week, and whilst only an U15, Gomperts absolutely nailed it today as he claimed five wins from five races. The opening race of the day was surely the closest with a photo finish between Gomperts and Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7) - both coming out of the Frans Paradise in Bonaire and teammates on Point-7 and Future Fly - these two are pushing each other to the maximum and providing some epic racing.

In the U21 Girls, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) still leads, but couldn’t continue her perfect run today after dropping a gybe in the third race of the day. Four wins out of five still equals a great performance from the 15-year-old Bonairean and she now has a strong hold on the top of the rankings. Behind her, it was a fierce battle between her younger sisters Kit and Lone De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) and Louise van der Meulen (Starboard / Severne Sails), who exchanged places back and forth throughout the day. After eight eliminations, it’s Kit currently occupying second, van der Meulen in third and Lone in fourth, but the points are extremely tight and it’s all still to play for. 

In the U21 Boys, the opening race of the day was one for the books… A drag race down the final reach between Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2 Maui) and Storm Nicolai (Starboard) was too close to call by the naked eye, but a video review gave Storm the victory - his first in the U21 division. Lorho regained control in the second, third and fourth eliminations with a hat-trick of bullets, but Storm got the better of him in Elimination 8 of the event to take his second win of the week. Tame Mondria (FMX Racing / Point-7) is Mr. Consistent in third position and has extended his advantage over Mario Boekstegers in fourth. 

Foil Slalom 

During the afternoon we switched to foil racing and much like yesterday the tropical weather played havoc with the racing. A rain shower passed over, killing the wind completely, but in true Caribbean style it wasn’t long before the sun was out and the wind was blowing once again. Three eliminations were completed and it was certainly exciting racing as unforced errors from all the top riders meant the lead continued to change. Three new winners emerged today in the U21 Boys with Kasper Nielsen (Duotone / F4 Foils) securing a bullet in Elimination 5, Benedikt Emser (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) won Elimination 6 and the youngster from Bonaire, Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7), capitalised on everyone’s mistakes in Elimination 7 to take the victory. That win bumps him ahead of Emser and onto the podium - overnight at least. Meanwhile, Lorho continues to lead ahead of Nielsen in second with the young Frenchman holding a commanding 5.9 point advantage.  

Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) put in another flawless performance as the 15-year-old reeled off an impressive hat-trick, but her younger sister, Kit, is on the hunt and with three secnd place finishes today and Bobbi-Lynn will have to watch out for her in the future. Kit’s twin sister, Lone De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde), had a better day today, taking home two third places, which sees her reduce the deficit between herself and Louise van der Meulen (Starboard / Severne Sails), who currently completes the top three, but now only two points separate van der Meulen and Lone. 

With Aruba’s trade winds in full flow, Saturday promises to produce another day of action packed sailing, so make sure you stay tuned to the PWA live stream to watch the next generation of racers continue to battle it out. 

You can see the current event rankings HERE.

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

40km long distance courses are the target along the beautiful shores of Gruissan, region Occitanie, South of France. The 10km stretch of wide open beach is swept by the infamously ferocious Tramontana wind, which are the two key ingredients eenabling the giant full fleet starts.

Who’s going to get their name engraved on the famous steel trophy this year? Will event title holder Nico Goyard (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phatom Foils) on foil and Lohan Jules (AV-Boards / S2Maui) on fin keep their yellow jersey's? Shall we expect Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails) or Marion Mortefon (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) to take victory? Or will current PWA Foil Slalom leader Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails) and Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) stay on command?

The DEFI WIND is not only a serious race, it is a large open air exhibition showcasing all the major brands that matter most in the windsurfing industry. Last, but not least, the DEFI parties are certainly ones to remember, and there, again, pros and amateurs share the unmatchable vibes of the surf culture together.

DEFI Wind teaser edit is available @ https://youtu.be/pVWz5UyjqDk?si=-o2BCUaEbpYMQ8Q4

Visiti the offical DEFI website @ https://defiwind.fr/en/ - for more information 

Foil Slalom

In the U21 Boys it was a flawless performance from Brendan Lorho (FMX Racing / S2 Maui) taking four wins from four eliminations to deservedly hold the overnight lead. The battle for second position was closely fought between Kasper Nielsen (Duotone Windsurfing / F4 Foils), Benedikt Emser (PATRIK) and Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7 / Z-Foils). Equipment choice played a big part in today’s racing with Lorho risking it on the small gear, whilst Nielsen and Emser tried to play it safe on the medium sizes. As the wind increased, Nielsen and Emser struggled to lock down the power, whilst Lorho smoothly accelerated away as his risk of taking the smaller gear paid off. Just two points currently separate second to fourth, so there’s all still to play for over the remainder of the event. 

In the U21 Girls, last year’s PWA Youth Foil Slalom Champion, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / Neilpryde) picked up where she left off - earning four wins from four races but it wasn’t all smooth sailing as she arrived very late on the first start and had to fight hard to take the win in the opening elimination. The fight between Louise van der Meulen (Starboard / Severne Sails / Z-Foils) and Kit De Jong (Starboard / Neilpryde / NeilPryde Foils) was back and forth. Kit’s gybing proved superior, sneaking ahead at the marks, but van der Meulen’s undeniable speed made for some epic battles and they finish the opening day tied on seven points. 

Fin Slalom

After lunch, the wind continued to increase and the call was made to swap to Fin Slalom, and with the wind now gusting over 25 knots, the scene was set for more epic racing. In the U21 Boys, Brendan Lorho continued his success from the morning, but was challenged closely by Storm Nicolai (Starboard) - the 2024 PWA U17 Fin Slalom Champion - who not only stepped up an age group this season, but also a gear in terms of his performance. Local boy, Tame Mondria (FMX / Point 7), was consistently in third place, and continually pushed things to the limit, but he pushed things a little too hard in Elimination 2, resulting in a disqualification for a premature start. 

The U21 Girls was once again dominated by Bobbi-Lynn De Jong, but neither van der Meulen, or either of her sisters - Kit or Lone De Jong - let her have it easy, constantly applying pressure and making De Jong B. couldn’t put a foot wrong. It was very close racing from all the girls and there promises to be more great racing in the days to come. 

Team Bonaire continued their success in both the U17 and U15 Boys divisions with the prodigies of Taty Frans - Tycho Smits and Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / Point-7), who are both teammates, having some fantastic battles and both lead their respective age groups at the end of the first day. 

Tomorrow looks like more of the same, with the forecast showing 20-30 knots of wind all day, so make sure you’re tuned into the livestream for all the action.

You can see the current event rankings HERE.

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

The racing will take place at the legendary Fisherman’s Huts and with a solid forecast to come - promising trade winds of 20-30 knots for the duration of the event - there promises to be plenty of action-packed racing. 

If you want to keep an eye on the next generation, then you’ll be glad to know that you’ll be able to watch all of the racing as it happens via the PWA livestream - either via the website or our dedicated YouTube channel. 

Also, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

Bob van de Burgt (PATRIK / Point-7): "In this fourth episode, we’re hitting the road to Lake Garda to get ready for the PWA World Tour in Guadeloupe (which, by now, has wrapped up). Join me for a training session, get some tuning tips and get a taste of the Italian travel vibes.

Enjoyed watching? Leave a like, comment and subscribe to join my journey as a pro windsurfer. See you in the next one!

This episode was powered by Howden. 

My sponsors: 
air up, Brightsourcing, Brightforward, Howden, Prolimit, Point-7, Patrik Windsurfing. 

Produced by: Zoom Productions & Courtside Studios. 

Got a question for me or want to see something specific in an upcoming video? Reach out to me on Instagram @bob_vandeburgt or send me an email: info@bob-vandeburgt.nl 

For business inquiries or collaborations, please reach out to info@no-spam-pleasebob-vandeburgt.nl / bas@no-spam-pleaseblt-consultancy.nl"

Simmer Style: "Marc Paré touches down straight from Maui to chase an epic — but brutally cold — forecast in the North Sea, also known as Cold Hawaii. Frozen hands, wild conditions, and world-class windsurfing! Chasing the elements.

Footage by Vandsoevisuals.dk and Peter Anjou"

You can see Marc Paré's latest edit @ https://youtu.be/hZOB10DhlVc?si=Mp4AfjKervRWeucH

Project New Horizon delivers its promise. SEVERNE announces a partnership that will send shockwaves through the windsurfing world: Antoine Albeau (Severne Windsurfing), the 27-time World Champion and undisputed speed sailing king, has joined team SEVERNE.

A Legendary Decision

After an unprecedented 27 years with the same brand, Albeau’s move to SEVERNE represents more than a sponsorship change; it’s a declaration of intent from one of windsurfing’s greatest legends.

“Yes, it’s true that after 27 years, changing is a really monumental shift,” explains Albeau. “But in the end, every story has an end. I saw that Severne is progressing significantly with their development. They’ve been improving a lot in terms of performance these last few years. So why not join them? This will give me motivation as well.”

The Cedric Bordes Connection

Central to bringing Antoine to SEVERNE was team rider Cedric Bordes, whose friendship with Albeau spans decades of training together on the PWA World Tour.

“I always say that he’s part of my titles, my success as well, because he was a really important training partner,” Antoine reflects. “The fact that Cedric is in the Severne team, testing and developing, is really great for me because we are good friends. I think it’s going to be amazing to test together again and create the best equipment.”

A Natural Alignment

While Cedric Bordes established the initial connection, what followed surprised everyone involved. From the very first conversations, it became clear that Antoine’s vision and SEVERNE’s brand philosophy shared remarkable common ground.

“We connected really nicely,” Antoine recalls. “They’re really interested in having me in the team, and I think we’re going to do something great.”

The conversations flowed effortlessly, with common goals emerging naturally around pushing performance boundaries, innovative development, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Both parties recognized immediately that this wasn’t just a sponsorship opportunity. It was a true partnership of shared values and ambitions.

R&D and Innovation Focus

What truly excites Antoine about joining SEVERNE goes beyond racing – it’s the return to active equipment development.

“I’ve been involved in development all my life. I was testing a lot with the designers, sails and boards, and this was missing in my past few years,” he explains. “To start again, to test the sails, to test the boards, to try to make the best, the best of the best, is really a target for me.”

Albeau will join SEVERNE as a rider and an R&D crew, working alongside Cedric Bordes and reigning World Champion Matteo Iachino to push the boundaries of performance across SEVERNE’s race lineup—from the Mach and Hydro to cutting-edge speed prototypes.

Breaking the 100 km/h Barrier

While Antoine may have stepped back from PWA racing, his hunger for speed records burns brighter than ever. Since breaking his first speed world record in 2008, no one has matched his achievements; a record he’s broken multiple times, most recently in 2024.

“Since 2008, when I first broke the world speed record, no one has beaten it. Next November, I will be in Lüderitz, and I hope that we are going to reach 100 km/h,” Albeau declares, his eyes firmly set on windsurfing’s ultimate speed barrier.

A Team of Legends

Albeau joins an already stellar SEVERNE roster including reigning World Champion Matteo Iachino, 42-time World Champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck, five times Wave World Champion Philip Köster, and legends Jaeger Stone and Scott McKercher.

“Matteo was one of my biggest competitors in the past few years on the tour, and we are good friends as well,” says Albeau. “I think it’s going to be amazing to be with him in the team, as well as Cedric, and sail together, compete together, and develop together.”

Antoine Albeau and Cedric Bordes testing the new SEVERNE Hydro foil racing board. Photo by Raphael Bauer.

The SEVERNE Vision

SEVERNE’s mission to create “the lightest, most responsive gear on the planet” aligns perfectly with Antoine’s lifelong pursuit of marginal gains and performance. Together, we’re posed to charge toward new speed barriers while continuing to redefine what’s possible in equipment design.

As Cedric Bordes puts it: “With Antoine’s name, he’s going to add another notch to the brand, even if the products were great before he arrived. And with his help, we can even take further steps.”

Looking Ahead

When asked to envision this partnership five years from now, Antoine’s ambitions are clear: “I would like to break a lot of records again, maybe win some world titles with SEVERNE. That would be amazing. And just enjoy as much time as possible on the water.”

The partnership also strengthens SEVERNE’s position in France, one of windsurfing’s largest markets, while adding global credibility to a brand already dominating across multiple disciplines.

The Journey Begins

From the upcoming Defi Wind where Antoine will make his first public appearance as a SEVERNE rider (with a signing party on May 30th), to his return to Lüderitz chasing the 100 km/h dream, this new chapter will be spectacular.

Welcome to New Horizon.

Lucas Meldrum: "Headed to Moulay, Morocco with @valtersvidenieks for the 3 Star WWT PWA. Conditions were epic, watch to find out what happened. Enjoy."

Fernandez spent more time in Chile than just the contest period and you can see some of the highlights of his most recent trip to Chile @ https://youtu.be/1ZF0ipk5U5U?si=AHSl-zL9n6iCzhlK

Victor Fernandez: "My 2025 Chile highlights. It was once more an incredible trip, perfect left-hand waves, great people to share the journey with, good food, and the lifestyle I love. We had some astonishing windsurfing sessions before and during the PWA World Cup. It is one of my top 3 favourite windsurfing locations around the world and makes me want to go back there year after year.

Rider: Víctor Fernández
Spots: Matanzas, Pichilemu
Film by: Moritz Mauch (Simmer / Simmer Sails), Finn Mellon (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing), Niall Mellon, Lucas Meldrum (Duotone Windsurfing)"

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) and Oda Brødholt (Starboard / Severne Sails) are the brains behind Windsurfing University - ready to share their wisdom with your on their latest camp in Karpathos in August. But to try and help you make up your mind if Karpathos is right for you they have put together a spot guide @ https://youtu.be/B6s7H4R9LGE?si=SoetmYapUA96ua1E

Windsurfing University: "Join us this August for unforgettable windsurf camps in Karpathos with @meltemi_windsurfing_karpathos.
Camp 1: 15.-18. August
Camp 2: 19.-23. August
We’ll show you just how easy it is to plan your trip to this windsurf paradise!

Spots are limited — to sign up:
booking@no-spam-pleasemeltemi.eu | windsurfuniversity@no-spam-pleasegmail.com

More info about Windsurf University: www.windsurfuniversity.com"

I was at the peak of my career, windsurfing better than ever.
But on the darkest and most painful morning of October 7th, without any warning, everything changed. 
All my plans were gone, and I was called back to the army for five months.
The hardest and saddest chapter of my life. I believe it was the same for most Israeli’s.
After that, I decided that once it’ll be over, I would travel again, windsurf as much as possible, and clear my head.

I entered a windsurfing competition and broke my foot. Once again, all my plans changed.

When I began to recover, I decided that I would travel to Brazil, Jericoacoara, a place where the wind never stops over the season. 
I dreamed of living by the sea, eating well, sleeping well, and windsurfing every day.

That’s how the story for this film came together.

The idea for the film was born from the collection of videos I had gathered during my trip, amazing shots by Felix Volkhardt.
I started playing around with the footage, mixing with some moments from the past year that eventually led me to Brazil.

So here’s the film. 
I hope you enjoy watching it
Remember, the most important thing is to love, to share love, and never fight against it.
Thanks.”

You can see Barefoot @ https://youtu.be/DZfpjr38Bn0?si=nrXiN0A7CWnGcf-L

Starring: Dudu Levi
Directed and written by: Dudu levi
Main filmer: Felix Volkhardt

Additional Footage: 
Timothy Cowen - Mothy Media
Adam Sims - AALVAA media 
Merlin Libicky
Maarten Molenaar 

Animation:
Nadav Vofsi 

Voiceover Record:
Oran Loyfer

Antoine Albert: "Recap video from a summer at home filled with plenty of freestyle training sessions around Noumea."

You can see Antoine Albert's latest edit @ https://youtu.be/lGzefL3v0dU?si=95oJXk41pv6weHjt

Hey Matteo, you absolutely dominated the event - not only did you win every elimination, but you won every single heat - that's going back to Dunkerbeck and Albeau levels of domination - how does that feel?

It feels amazing, especially after those two names you mentioned, it feels great to be able to do the same. I worked a lot to have this result in the past years and the last winter. I tried to adapt and work in a different way and it worked out, so it feels amazing to win every single heat.

When you're training in Tenerife do you keep a bit on the back burner to not let his rivals know how much got extra you have in the tank?

Yeah, when I train internally, for sure I don’t put all the best gear, but it’s not only to not show the whole potential, it’s mostly to save the gear, because we do test a lot of gear. Masts for example should be the same, but in the end there are little differences between them, so you have to test to try and find the best one. 

And it depends on the way you save your style, maybe it’s softer, stiffer, whatever, and then I kind of mark them so that I know which one is the best, and then I do one by one, so I never sail with the best combination of gear, because if I hit someone, or if someone hits me, or I break something, at least I don’t damage all of the best gear.

So that’s the focus — not only to not show the full potential, but also to kind of save the good gear.

It's been a while since we saw you dominate an event like this - how satisfying does it feel to be back on top - especially having been one of the best racers of your generation... But having got to the top of the sport you had to relearn the foiling aspect.. that must make it even more satisfying?

Yeah, it feels amazing. In foiling the gear matters the most, and I really had to change the approach to this discipline and kind of reinvent myself a little bit. Obviously, the fin racing and all the racing I had in the past 15 years on the PWA helped, definitely.

But yeah, you have new opponents, the discipline is changing, the whole world changed. So in the end, it has been a hell of a run, and it’s amazing to be back where I feel I deserve to be, because I really worked a lot, I put a lot of passion and a lot of dedication into what I do.

And that’s my main focus — my main goal has been the same for at least the last 10 years. It feels amazing to be back at that level. I’ve been there — I was there two years ago, I won, and last year I was there fighting, and on the fin I almost won, but yeah, it’s been a while since I dominated an event like this, and it feels amazing to start the season like that.

Thanks, Matteo and congrats again on such a great start to the season. 
 

Foil Slalom 

Women’s

Justine Lemeteyer made the perfect start to her world title defence as she claimed a hard fought, but dominant victory. The 22-year-old was able to win four out of the six eliminations completed, while she finished second in the other two races to show she’s the one that everyone else has to beat over the remainder of the season. Lemeteyer has also made a seamless transition onto her new PATRIK gear having changed sponsors during the winter. We caught up with Justine after making a great start to the season:

Hi Justine, you had to deal with all of the pressure being the world champion, but you smashed it, how good does it feel to make such a dominant opening performance on your new gear?

It’s absolutely amazing to be starting the season that way, I am super happy! It was indeed a new pressure to come on an opening season event and being last year’s world champion. But all the hard work I’ve done with my mental coach helped me a lot this week. I was feeling confident about my sailing and I am really thankful to Antho (my coach) for his support. 

I am also proud to be starting my partnership with PATRIK this way. It’s a dreamy week that just happened.

Lina [Eržen] was obviously pushing you hard - did that make you change your start line approach? Or were you confident enough to trust your speed?

Yes, Lina was fast and I was expecting her to be, I knew she would be here pushing hard and she did just that. I was confident about my speed, so I was trying to take good starts without taking the risk of being over early and then going full speed down the first reach to try and come out of the gybe in first and that worked. So super happy about the new PATRIK gear’s top speed.

How much confidence does it give you for the rest of the season?

I was coming into Guadeloupe with the confidence of being last year’s world champion, but I knew winning the first event here was also important for my mind, so I can look back at that event during the season and get the confidence that I can win races. So yes, that was important for me, also because we’re in the French Caribbean and that gave me even more motivation to win. Now I’m looking forward to the upcoming events and upcoming fights for the title.

Thanks, Justine and congrats again on a great start to the season.

Lemeteyer’s main rival here was Lina Eržen (Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foils), who showed that she was more than willing to try and really take it to the reigning world champion. The Slovenian briefly led the event after winning the second elimination and was able to secure one more bullet in Elimination 5, before she lost a bit of momentum after going over the start line early in Elimination 6, which proved to be the last elimination of the contest. Eržen still boasts a 100% podium record from her opening three racing events having won on her debut in Japan in 2023, while she finished second there last year and starts the year with an excellent second place here and looks to be a genuine title contender. 

Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails) recovered from a slightly slow start to the event to secure the last place on the prestigious podium. The 2023 world champion admitted that she had lost a bit of confidence after losing her foil while training in Guadeloupe in the build up to the event, but she managed to claim three top three finishes in the last four eliminations to climb into third.

Alabau just pips Femke van der Veen (Starboard / Severne Sails) to third with just a point separating them. The 24-year-old claimed second place in Elimination 6, but unfortunately for her there was no further racing, but fourth still represents a bright start to the season. 

15-year-old Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) completes the top five after just edging out Mae Davico (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) with just a point separating them after six eliminations. 

Men’s 

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails) made the best start to a season of his career as the Italian reeled off a flawless hat-trick on Day 3 to finish the event on a perfect score of 2.1 points. Iachino’s victory is made even more dominant by the fact that he didn’t just win every single final, but he won every single heat that he sailed at the event across a wide range of conditions, which must give him tremendous confidence for the remainder of the season, while breathing fear into his rivals. The 35-year-old has a wealth of experience and after such a great start he’ll undoubtedly have a third world crown in his cross-hairs. 

Pierre Mortefon (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) makes a solid start to his world title defence as the Frenchman sailed with his usual supreme consistency, but he couldn’t quite find enough, on this occasion, to land a blow against his longtime rival, Iachino. The reigning world champion looked on it throughout the event as he finished second in all three eliminations to finish as Iachino’s closest challenger and he’s set a solid foundation on which to build for the rest of the year. 

As a former Foil vice-world champion it perhaps shouldn’t come as much of a shock to see Alexandre Cousin (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) back on the event podium, but this represents his first top 10 result since May 2023, so it’s a great start to the season. The 36-year-old produced several miraculous comebacks to evade quarterfinal exits and then he truly compounded those efforts by recording two third places and a sixth to deservedly complete the podium.

Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) just misses out on the podium in the opening event of the season, but fourth place still represents a big step forward as it is the flying Dutchman’s best result at a foiling event, which should breed confidence for the rest of the year. Vonk had just got towards the top of the sport in fin slalom before foiling entered the fray, but it seems like he’s now ready to battle It out for the top positions whether he’s armed with a fin or foil. 

Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Point-7 / Z-Foils) and Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde) make solid, if unspectacular, starts to the season - finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Both men are potential world title contenders, but after each qualifying for all three Winners’ Finals, neither sailor was able to nail a top result - with Vrieswijk’s best finish being a fifth and Rutkowski’s a sixth. It’s a solid start to the season, but they’ll be fully aware that they’ll need to improve if they want to keep their name in the world title conversation. 

William Huppert (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils), who finished 12th overall in 2024, starts the season with a solid eighth place. The Frenchman was extremely consistent with results of a fourth, a ninth and a tenth. 

Young Talent Starts to Rise to the Top

Racing is undoubtedly a discipline where experience is certainly key, but in Guadeloupe a number of younger sailors are starting to make their impression on the world stage. Alexis Mathis (Tabou / GA Sails) - 22- finished in the overall top ten last year, so it perhaps isn’t much of a surprise to see him finish seventh here. 

However, after Mathis, there are a number of other fledgling talents starting to make their mark, namely; Benoit Merceur (Starboard / Severne Sails) - 23 - who secures his first top ten finish - 9th. Sem Stroosma (Tabou / GA Sails) - 21 - who looks to have taken a massive step forwards over the winter with the Dutchman not only earning his first top 10 finish, but also qualifying for his first Winners’ Final to cap a great event. 

Meanwhile, 19-year-old, Sacha Fortune (Duotone Windsurfing), just misses out on the top 10 in eleventh, but clearly looks to have a very bright future. Scotty Stallman (Tabou / GA Sails / F4 Foils) - 23 - finished level on points with Fortune, but has to settle for 12th on countback, while Lars Poggemann (S2Maui / F4 Foils) - 24 - finishes 13th - just half a point further back. The German suffered two quarterfinal exits in the openers before clicking into gear in the third to qualify for his first Winners’ Final, where he finished sixth. 

Back to the Drawing Board

Last year’s vice-world champion made a solid enough start to the event with a decent seventh place in the opening race, but then the wheels fell off as the Italian suffered back-to-back quarterfinal exits to plummet to a lowly 22nd place. Benedetti won one event and didn’t finish outside the top four in the other two last year, but will now have to quickly regroup. The positive note is that if he can get back on track in the Canaries, then he should still be able to discard this result come the end of the season, but there’s now not much room for error. 

While Guadeloupe may not have provided the five days of racing we all craved, it’s potential is abundantly clear and everyone from the PWA would like to pass on a heartfelt thanks to Tristan Algret and his team for their efforts in making the event happen. Without them, none of this would be possible and we are already looking forward to returning next year - where hopefully the wind gods are more on our side. 

Where’s Next on the PWA World Tour?

The World Tour will be heading to the Dutch Antilles at the end of May and beginning of June with two Youth racing events in Aruba and Bonaire. The Pro Tour will be back in July - kicking off with the Gran Canaria PWA World Cup on the 5th July, which will see the wave sailing and racing fleets in action once again. 

You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Guadeloupe — including live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Also if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

Current Event Ranking 2025 Riviera Guadeloupe PWA Windsurf World Cup - Women’s Foil Slalom
*After 6 Eliminations (1 Discard)

1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
2nd Lina Eržen (SLO | Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foils)
3rd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)
4th Femke van der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
5th Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

Current Event Ranking 2025 Riviera Guadeloupe PWA Windsurf World Cup - Men’s Foil Slalom
*After 3 Eliminations 

1st Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
3rd Alexandre Cousin (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
4th Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Point-7 / Z-Foils)
6th Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
7th Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
8th William Huppert (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
9th Benoit Merceur (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
10th Sem Stroosma (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)

Foil Slalom

Women’s

Justine Lemeteyer on making the perfect start to the season: “The event has been great, but I really wanted to win in the French Caribbean, so it feels even better to win here. I’m just super happy with the start to the season and I’m happy to be part of the PATRIK Team.”

On making the switch, Lemeteyer added: “It took some time during the winter to get used to it after four years on the same gear, but now,  I’m faster than before. I’m already looking forward to the next one.”

Men’s

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails): “I think I’ve never won every heat I’ve sailed. The closest I got was winning an event in Sylt before the last elimination was sailed. But it feels amazing to win every heat - even the heat today I was winning -it  feels amazing.”

Upon asking Matteo if he showed his full performance over the winter during training, he added; “We never show the top performance. Perhaps we have really good gear, but then when you find that magic setup you don’t want to use it during training. It’s not only me that tries to do it, but all of the top guys don’t show their full potential over the winter.”

Prompted by returning to the top of the sport, previously one of the consistently best fin racers , he said: “It feels amazing. After all the work required it feels even better.”

Over the winter did you make any changes to your training? 

“I don’t think I’ve done anything particularly different, but we’ve improved the board and the sails. The foil is the same.”

Have you changed your approach?

“I’ve adopted a different strategy on the racecourse because I was sailing a bit fin-oriented and now I have adapted. It’s worked out, so I’m happy. It’s the little things that make a big difference. “

We’ll go through the full results in the next couple of days.

You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Guadeloupe — including live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Also if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

Current Event Ranking 2025 Riviera Guadeloupe PWA Windsurf World Cup - Women’s Foil Slalom
*After 6 Eliminations (1 Discard)

1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
2nd Lina Eržen (SLO | Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foils)
3rd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)
4th Femke van der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
5th Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

Current Event Ranking 2025 Riviera Guadeloupe PWA Windsurf World Cup - Men’s Foil Slalom
*After 3 Eliminations 

1st Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
3rd Alexandre Cousin (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
4th Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Point-7 / Z-Foils)
6th Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
7th Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
8th William Huppert (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
9th Benoit Merceur (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
10th Sem Stroosma (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)

With plenty of downtime whilst waiting for the wind, we caught up with the current number two and three in the women’s fleet - Lina Eržen (Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foils) and Blanca Alabau (WeOne / Severne Sails):

Hi Lina, originally we saw you competing on the PWA Freestyle World Tour - how did you transition into racing and what made you make the move into racing over Freestyle?

During the pandemic there was not a lot competition for Freestyle and I love to compete, so it was hard to train, but not being able to show the work in the field.  In the mean time the new iQFOiL class was introduced to us. I remember my father telling me that it’s a foiling class which can eventually lead to the Olympics. I knew how to foil already just on some smaller gear, and of course as a dream for any professional athlete, I wanted to represent my country in the Olympicsl. Once I got caught up in the racing I never looked back.

Are you still Freestyling in your free sailing? And do you think we could see you make an appearance on the Freestyle Tour again?

I  haven’t Freestyled in quite some time. I put a lot of time towards the Olympic class and all the stuff it requires me to do (fitness, testing, training camps…). I also go to university, so there isn’t a lot of time to rest and I need to spend my time wisely. You never know what the future can hold for you, so I cannot say I will never make an appearance somewhere.

You’ve made a great start to your racing life on the PWA - winning your opening event in Japan in 2023 and then finishing third there last year - what are your expectations for the season ahead and are you planning on competing on the whole circuit?

This year I will be competing on the whole circuit. I always seek perfection in any aspect, and with that said, my goal is set as well.

You came from competing in the iQFOiL - are you still chasing another Olympic campaign?

It’s my dream and goal to compete in another Olympic games in the iQFOiL class.

Thanks, Lina. Good luck for the rest of the contest. 

Hi Blanca, over the winter you changed to WeOne boards - how's the change going?

Winter was really nice. I've been training in Tenerife. The change of the boards was actually a really good move, I think, for me because it makes me super motivated. I find more motivation to push the winter training and the board feels super good.  It's super steady, it's fast, it's all around really good and it's super nice to be more involved in the development and work with this team - that’s super nice for me. 

Last year you came 3rd overall - what are your goals for 2025?

My goal as every year is winning the title and last year I was a bit down, or a bit less motivated, because I had a really tough year, especially compared to the years before, and I wanted to give myself a bit of a different vibe in in training and be more relaxed and push myself, which is what I thought I had to do. However, this winter it was completely different, I was super motivated training in the water every day, at the gym, and I recovered from my injuries, so finally I feel ready to give my all this year. 

How's Guadeloupe been for you this far?

Guadeloupe has been really nice. We’ve been staying at Tristan Algret’s house [Event Organiser] and he’s been taking care of us. We had some great days sailing on 5-6m sails before the event, but then I lost my foil, which made me a bit nervous, so I didn’t start the event the way I wanted. I was feeling confident, but then this knocked my confidence a bit, which meant I didn’t feel too confident yesterday, but in the afternoon I sailed better, so my confidence is coming back. I know I have the speed and that my gybes are good, so step-by-step my confidence is improving and I know I can compete. 

Thanks, Blanca good luck on the final day of the contest. 

The forecast for the final day of the 2025 Riviera Guadeloupe PWA Windsurf World Cup looks better than today with winds between 9-15 knots currently forecast, which should hopefully lead to an exciting finale to the event. The sailors will meet at 8am (GMT-4) for the skippers’ meeting with the racing commencing from 9am onwards. 

You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Guadeloupe — including live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Also if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels:

- Facebook: @PWAWorldTourWindsurfing
- Instagram: @pwaworldtour  
- X: @pwaworldtour 
- YouTube: @pwaworldtour

Current Event Ranking 2025 Riviera Guadeloupe PWA Windsurf World Cup - Women’s Foil Slalom
*After 6 Eliminations (1 Discard)

1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
2nd Lina Eržen (SLO | Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foils)
3rd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)
4th Femke van der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
5th Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (NB | Starboard / NeilPryde)

Current Event Ranking 2025 Riviera Guadeloupe PWA Windsurf World Cup - Men’s Foil Slalom
*After 3 Eliminations 

1st Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
3rd Alexandre Cousin (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
4th Jordy Vonk (NED | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / Point-7 / Z-Foils)
6th Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
7th Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
8th William Huppert (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
9th Benoit Merceur (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)
10th Sem Stroosma (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)