Wingfoil is becoming a trendy sport. The old windsurfing sport has been able to renew itself and regain all its credentials in the space of just a few years. The sport is so attractive because it is as interesting to practice as it is to watch. Experienced riders don’t just go with the flow, but also compete in spectacular tricks to win points in competitions. Many of these competitions are held in France. So if you are in the area, take the time to discover them.
Why go to a wingfoil competition?
Whether you are a novice, experienced or simply curious, competitions are always a friendly event where champions and enthusiasts meet around a common passion: wingfoil and gliding. For those who practice, going to a competition site allows you to observe, up close, the technique of the champions. You will be able to reproduce their gestures and movements to improve your practice. For the amateurs, it is a pleasant moment, in the open air, during which you can appreciate the beauty of the figures and jumps carried out and who knows? Perhaps you will discover a new passion?
Rendez vous in Ile-de-France
Contrary to what you might think, not all wingfoil competitions take place by the sea. The Ile-de-France region is full of water sports bases that regularly welcome competitors, sponsors and the public. This is particularly true of the spot at Vaires-sur-Marne. Located just 30 minutes from Paris, this spot is ideal for regional competitions, as there is little wind and the waves are quite small, unlike the spot at Jossigny which is suitable for high level competitors.
Port Leucate, a place not to be missed
At the end of 2022, the small town of Port Leucate gathered all the wingfoil lovers for the French Championship, and every year, Port Leucate becomes the capital of wingfoil by hosting the World Wind Festival. The seasoned competitors try to dominate the elements of nature to offer jumps, flights and acrobatic figures. If you want to discover wingfoil as you have never seen it before, take the time to go to Port Leucate, as many events take place there on a regular basis.
A diversion to the lake of Serre Ponçon
If we know Serre Ponçon, it is for its famous lake, but what we know less is that the place has become a landmark for competitors in recent years. Indeed, windfoil, a discipline close to wingfoil, will be at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. While waiting for wingfoil to be an official discipline of the Olympics, champions challenge each other during the various competitions and events that take place around the sport of gliding.
During these competitions, kitesurfing and wingfoil are regularly featured. Competitors take part according to their category: hopeful or senior for those over 18 years old. Going to one of these competitions is to enjoy a real moment of sharing with lovers and enthusiasts of water sports in an idyllic setting.
Marseille
Can we talk about wingfoil competitions without mentioning Marseille and its famous Prado beach? Many events are regularly organised there. One of the most prestigious is undoubtedly the Freestyle Cup, which will allow you to discover all the emerging disciplines of the surfing world. Apart from wingfoil, you can attend windsurf, kitesurf and paddle competitions and have fun in an explosive atmosphere. The city of Marseille is waiting for you. In 2023, another edition of the Freestyle Cup will also take place in the Var, in Cavalaire sur Mer.
At the foot of the Fort Boyard castle
Fort Boyard is not only the emblematic place of Father Fouras, but also of wingfoil competitions. Since its creation in 2006, the Fort Boyard Challenge brings together all competitors from amateurs to the pros of the sport. It is only in 2022 that the wingfoil made its grand entrance in the competition, one more reason not to miss this unmissable event. Moreover, for the occasion, many activities and animations are proposed around the site and during the competition. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience.