Gruissan, South of France, is the centre of the windsurfing world this week with the Defi WIND. For the third day in a row, a solid Tramontana powered more than a thousand excited windsurfers on the famous 40km courses. Who’s the current leader after five races? WINDSURFING!
In the morning race, on a fin, Bruno Martini (WeOne / S2Maui) squeezed in a powerful win in between the event leaders Matteo Iachino (Starboard / NeilPryde) and Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde). In the afternoon, Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing / North Sails) eventually woke up to claim a first place on home waters. Kevin Grosjean, first amateur, sneaked his way through in the last race of the day to claim second position amongst the pros, between Mortefon and Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) who stated: “I never overtook anyone the way Grosjean overtook me!”. Germany’s Nico Prien now sits on top of the leaderboard, while on the ladies side, Jenna Gibson (Duotone Windsurfing) kept her dominance on a roll with five bullets out of the five races completed.
In the unlimited category (Foil or Fin), both Justine Lemeteyer (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils) and Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils) didn’t leave a single chance to their opponents. Lemeteyer played on a fin ahead of Blanca Alabau [WeOne / Severne Sails), while Vrieswijk completed all of his races on a foil. So did Alexis Mathis (Tabou / GA Sails) and John Soukos (WeOne / Challenger Sails), who flew at high speed to complete the top three after five races and a discard.
In the Windsurfers LT league, the french showdown turned into Luca Guiraud’s advantage against Christophe Pringuenon.
For the fun of it, fully within the spirit of Defi WIND, three riders decided to share their passion on the same board, a « tridem », with three rigs on a longboard. For the last race of the day, the three friends even invited a fourth passenger onboard! Together, the Motley Crew arrived at mark one together with Amado Vrieswijk who, on his side, was completing his second lap - obviously at a different speed.
The penultimate day of the Defi concluded in a high, smiles everywhere, with another wild concert that will be remembered as much as the five rabbits starts of the 2026 edition.
Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Men’s
1st Nico Prien (GER | JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Matteo Iachino Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / NeilPryde)
3rd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing / North Sails)
Defi WIND Fin Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Women’s
1st Jenna Gibson (GBR | Duotone Windsurfing)
2nd Mae Davico (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
3rd Femke Van Der Veen (NED | Starboard / Severne Sails)
Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 5 Races (1 Discard) - Men’s
1st Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils)
2nd Alexis Mathis (FRA | Tabou / GA Sails)
3rd John Soukos (GRE | WeOne / Challenger Sails / PATRIK Foils)
Defi WIND Unlimited Ranking After 5 races (1 discard) - Women’s
1st Justine Lemeteyer (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / PATRIK Foils)
2nd Blanca Alabau (ESP | WeOne / Severne Sails)
3rd Lola Brotschi (FRA | RRD)
Defi WIND Windsurfer LT after 5 races (1 discard)
1st Luca Guiraud
2nd Christophe Pringuenon
3rd Leerdam Arjan