The Italian and the Frenchwoman immediately capitalise on the match point secured in the Opening Series. Koska and South Tyrolean Marx take the men’s podium, while Caval and Ashkenazi finish second and third in the women’s event
Riccardo Pianosi and Lauriane Nolot are the winners of the tenth Sardinia Grand Slam, an event on the international Formula Kite calendar that concluded on Sunday, 11 October, in Quartu Sant’Elena. Pianosi and Nolot finished ahead of Vojtech Koska and South Tyrolean Flavio Marx, who took silver and bronze in the men’s competition, and Lysa Caval and Maya Ashkenazi, who finished second and third in the women’s event. The Medal Series took place in about 20-knots mistral winds, reaching up to 25 knots.
MEN: RICKY STUMBLES BUT COMES BACK TO WIN, MARX ON THE PODIUM Pianosi appeared to be firmly in control of the first Grand Final race, but crashed shortly after the halfway point, allowing Noah Runciman and Flavio Marx to take the lead. However, the 2025 world champion fought his way back and crossed the finish line first, living up to expectations with a truly dominant performance. The Italian had started with a bullet, as had Vojtech Koska, with the two riders having finished first and second respectively in the Opening Series. Flavio Marx finished second in the race and third overall. The 23-year-old from South Tyrol once again confirmed his remarkable progress over the past year.
Mistral winds of up to 24 knots made conditions challenging in the men’s quarter-final, although the wind was highly inconsistent and gusty, causing problems for almost all the competitors. Italy’s Flavio Marx and Israel’s Zohar Haruvi advanced to the next round.
In the semi-final, American Noah Runciman made the right strategic call, finishing the first leg almost 200 metres ahead of the rest of the fleet. South Tyrolean Marx gave chase and held on to second place, also benefiting from a less-than-ideal tactical decision by Olympic champion Valentin Bontus.
PIANOSI: “THE SEASON FINALE I WAS HOPING FOR” For Riccardo Pianosi, who was crowned world champion in Quartu Sant’Elena in 2025, this marks his second victory at the Sardinia Grand Slam. A crash in the final, however, threatened to derail his plans.
“I fell on the third leg of the race,” explained the 21-year-old from Italy’s Marche region. “The wind was very gusty and lifted me up as I was tacking. My foil wing came out of the water, and I couldn’t stay airborne because an air pocket had formed. But I managed to get going again fairly quickly. On the final downwind leg, I sailed a very precise layline, regained the lead and wrapped up the title in the very first race. It was a great way to end the season, just what I needed after a difficult year.”
MARX: “A TOUGH MEDAL SERIES — DELIGHTED WITH THE PODIUM” For 23-year-old South Tyrolean Flavio Marx, it was his first podium finish at this level. “It was a tough Medal Series,” he said. “We went out with the 15-square-metre kite [ed.], but I was already pretty overpowered on the 15 in the quarter-finals, and the wind kept building. In the end, though, I managed to hold on and finished the first race of the Grand Final behind Riccardo. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a bullet to my name, so I finished third overall, but I’m happy with that.”
WOMEN: NOLOT AND CAVAL SEAL A FRENCH ONE-TWO World and European champion Lauriane Nolot made no mistake, converting the match point she had earned by finishing first in the Opening Series into victory in the first Grand Final race, sailed in mistral winds of just over 21 knots. The 27-year-old French athlete took the lead from the very first upwind leg, leaving Israel’s Maya Ashkenazi unable to catch her as she secured the bronze medal. Lysa Caval, the other French competitor, finished third in the race and took silver at the Sardinia Grand Slam. She, too, had started the final with a bullet after finishing second in the Opening Series. Britain’s Ella Geiger finished fourth, having started from the quarter-finals.
The day had opened in rather “surprising” fashion, with three of the five competitors disqualified for an early start in the women’s quarter-final. Among them were both Italian athletes: Tiana Laporte, who had finished sixth in the Opening Series and was considered one of the favourites to advance, and Sardinian sailor Maddalena Spanu. Svetlana Trusova was also too eager off the start, learning of her UFD disqualification only after crossing the finish line ahead of everyone else. Katie Dabson and Ella Geiger advanced to the semi-final.
Extremely variable mistral winds, ranging from 18 to almost 22 knots, made the semi-final difficult for the competitors. Elena Lengwiler fell halfway through the race, while Ella Geiger and Lily Young crashed on the final downwind leg, despite having been comfortably in the lead. Maya Ashkenazi and Ella Geiger secured the two places in the final.
NOLOT: “THOSE GUSTS IN THE FINAL — I WAS INCREDIBLY FAST” Lauriane Nolot claimed her third Sardinia Grand Slam title, following her victories in 2021 and 2023. “The final was fantastic,” she said after the race. “The wind was really strong, and we went out with the 11-square-metre kite. It was a great battle. The girls were on fire, but I was incredibly fast, even though the manoeuvres were extremely demanding. The gusts were so strong that there was a risk of crashing at any moment. “I’m delighted. Now it’s time for a holiday before getting back to work on qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. See you in Fortaleza at the beginning of the new year!”
RESULTS — MEN’S TOP 10
Riccardo Pianosi (ITA)
Vojtech Koska (CZE)
Flavio Marx (ITA)
Noah Runciman (USA)
Sam Dickinson (GBR)
Valentin Bontus (AUT)
Zohar Haruvi (ISR)
Cameron Maramenides (GRE)
Martin Dolenc (CRO)
Paul Labordère (FRA)
RESULTS — WOMEN’S TOP 10
Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
Lysa Caval (FRA)
Maya Ashkenazi (ISR)
Ella Geiger (GBR)
Lily Young (GBR)
Elena Lengwiler (SUI)
Katie Dabson (GBR)
Svetlana Trusova (AIN)
Maddalena M. Spanu (ITA)
Tiana Laporte (ITA)
KROTSIS (IKA): “AMAZING WEEK, WE’RE WORKING TOWARDS ANOTHER BIG EVENT HERE IN 2027”
IKA President Spyros Krotsis says goodbye to Sardinia Grand Slam with a positive balance and a ‘preview’ of an important announcement: “We are very happy that we were more year in Sardinia, especially in Quartu Sant’Elena. The place here is amazing, the beach is always welcoming us. We had an amazing week, every day the wheater delivered us perfect conditions for sailing. This is why we would be happy to be also next year here with a very important event to be confirmed and hopefully we’re gonna see you every year in the next years to come”.
NIEDDU (GLESPORT): “ANOTHER MAJOR EVENT NEXT YEAR” Gian Domenico Nieddu, President of GLEsport, expressed the organisers’ “satisfaction with this tenth edition, the second to be held here in Quartu Sant’Elena. The event venue received top marks from all the teams. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year, probably in May, for another flagship event on the international calendar. All the details will be announced shortly. We would once again like to thank the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena for hosting us.”
ORGANIZATION Organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club, the Sardinia Grand Slam takes place under the auspices of World Sailing, the international governing body for the sport of sailing; the IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association; and the FIV, the Italian Sailing Federation.
The Sardinia Grand Slam receives funding and patronage from the Minister for Sport and Youth.
Promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, through its Department of Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce, the event also receives funding and patronage from the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena.
Partners of the Sardinia Grand Slam include Secauto and USE.
Quartu Sant’Elena (Cagliari, Italy), October 11th, 2026
Photos: Lauriane Nolot and Riccardo Pianosi, winners of the tenth Sardinia Grand Slam; 2) The embrace between Pianosi, on the right, and fellow Italian Flavio Marx; 3) The smile of good times on Riccardo’s face; 4) Flavio Marx, on the left, battling his way up from the quarter-finals to third place overall; 5) Another embrace, this time a French one, between Lysa Caval (with her back to the camera) and Lauriane Nolot; 6) Celebrating: you’re doing it right, Lauriane!; 7) The intense sporting battle in the Gulf of Angels; 8) Maddalena M. Spanu, already a world champion in wingfoiling; 9) A closer look at the men’s podium: from left to right, Sam Dickinson, Vojtech Koska, Riccardo Pianosi, Flavio Marx and Noah Runciman; 10) The women’s top three: from left to right, Lysa Caval, Lauriane Nolot and Maya Ashkenazi; 11) Flavio (right), why are you running away from the bubbles?; 12) Celebrations for everyone on the podium in Quartu Sant’Elena (Credits IKA Media / RobertHajduk). Free usage granted with credits. Click on the pictures for the hi-res version.
The final day of the Opening Series in Quartu Sant’Elena saw Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi and France’s Lauriane Nolot strengthen their leads and qualify directly for the Grand Final, each with a match point. The same advantage goes to Vojtech Koska in the men’s fleet and Lisa Caval among Women
The Mistral wind brought the best out of the leading contenders on the final day of the Opening Series at the Sardinia Grand Slam in Quartu Sant’Elena. On Saturday, October 10th, Riccardo Pianosi and Lauriane Nolot consolidated their respective leads, each securing two race wins and a second-place finish. Olympic champion Valentin Bontus and Lisa Caval also celebrated individual race victories.
They will be joined directly in tomorrow’s Grand Final, on October 11th, by Vojtech Koska in the men’s fleet and Caval in the women’s. Meanwhile, Flavio Marx, seventh in the men’s standings, and Tiana Laporte and Maddalena Maria Spanu, sixth and tenth respectively in the women’s fleet, will have to fight their way through the quarter-finals.
MEN: PIANOSI AND KOSKA ALREADY THROUGH TO THE FINAL Riccardo Pianosi once again demonstrated his dominance in Saturday’s three races, having held off Vojtech Koska’s comeback on Friday. The Italian, who has made Quartu Sant’Elena his adopted home, recorded two wins and a second place.
Pianosi was exceptionally fast, starting with the opening race on an 11m kite to make the most of the 21.9-knot Mistral, reaching speeds of 29 knots upwind and 40.2 knots downwind. Following the opening races, most of the riders switched from their 15 m to their 11 m kites.
The second race featured an outstanding tactical duel between Paris Olympic champion Valentin Bontus and 2025 world champion Ricky Pianosi, with the Austrian using the advantage of his 15 m kite on the downwind leg.
In the third race, American Noah Runciman made an early break, before Pianosi fought his way back to take the win ahead of Koska and Dickinson.
“We raced in some great, strong wind, although it was more stable than on Friday. The races were tactical, but less of a lottery than on the previous days. Training and racing here is always fantastic. I grew up here, and last year I won the World Championship. What am I looking for? Every day, I try to improve a little more.”
Tomorrow, 11 October, the 2026 Sardinia Grand Slam title will be decided. Who are his main rivals?
“Everyone who has qualified has a chance of winning. This format makes that possible, from Koska to Bontus, from Dickinson to my teammate Marx. It’s going to be fun.”
WOMEN: NOLOT SOARS AND NOT JUST UP THE STANDINGS
In the women’s fleet, leader Lauriane Nolot adopted a defensive approach in the first race of the day, having to fight her way back after a gust literally sent her “flying”. After switching from a 15 m to an 11 m kite, she managed the remaining two races like a true champion. “We went out for the first race with kite way too big for us, we used the 15m one and it was super super windy. So the first race was painful for me, because I took some gust and I was flying away. I was just trying to catch up at the end. After I switched for the 11m, as most of the girls, and the two other races were good because I was feeling really comfortable with the 11m, I like the really strong wind and it was a really good racing for me” Nolot commented.
In Race 2, Maya Ashkenazi delivered an excellent performance in the opening stages but was overtaken on the final leg by Lysa Caval. By the end of the afternoon, Elena Lengwiler had also moved ahead of Ashkenazi to secure a place on the Opening Series podium.
Tiana Laporte also put in some strong performances, finishing with a fourth place and two sixth places after repeatedly challenging for a podium position. The Italian-French rider, who was born in Spain, also finished the qualifying series in sixth place.
OPENING SERIES STANDINGS MEN’S TOP FIVE (15 races, 3 discards)
Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) — 23.0 points
Vojtech Koska (CZE) — 28.0 points
Sam Dickinson (GBR) — 40.0 points
Valentin Bontus (AUT) — 63.0 points
Noah Runciman (USA) — 72.0 points
WOMEN’S TOP FIVE (15 races, 3 discards)
Lauriane Nolot (FRA) — 15.0 points
Lysa Caval (FRA) — 33.0 points
Elena Lengwiler (SUI) — 44.0 points
Maya Ashkenazi (ISR) — 46.0 points
Lily Young (GBR) — 47.0 points
MEDAL SERIES TODAY: THE STARTING LINE-UPS The Medal Series take place today. In the men’s fleet, the action will begin with the quarter-final featuring the riders who finished sixth to tenth in the Opening Series: Cameron Maramenides, Flavio Marx, Martin Dolenc, Zohhar Haruvi and Paul Labordère.
The two highest-placed riders will advance to the semi-final, where Sam Dickinson, Valentin Bontus and Noah Runciman, who finished third to fifth respectively, will be waiting.
Riccardo Pianosi and Vojtech Koska are already through to the final, each carrying one bullet — meaning that both will start the Grand Final with a match point. The first rider to secure two race wins will be crowned 2026 Sardinia Grand Slam champion.
In the women’s fleet, Tiana Laporte will also start in the quarter-finals, alongside Elle Geiger, Katie Dabson, Svetlana Trusova and fellow Italian Maddalena Maria Spanu.
The two highest-placed riders will advance to the semi-final, where Elena Lengwiler, Maya Ashkenazi and Lily Young await. French riders Nolot and Caval have qualified directly for the final.
SCHEDULE AND LIVE STREAMING The Sardinia Grand Slam concludes on Sunday, 11 October, with the afternoon programme scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., subject to possible changes depending on the weather forecast.
Updates will be available through the official channels of the IKA — International Kiteboarding Association — and the Sardinia Grand Slam social media accounts.
On Sunday, the Formula Kite action will once again be streamed live on the Facebook and YouTube channels of the event and IKA, as well as on the IKA website.
The prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
ORGANISATION Organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club, the Sardinia Grand Slam takes place under the auspices of World Sailing, the international governing body for the sport of sailing; the IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association; and the FIV, the Italian Sailing Federation.
The Sardinia Grand Slam receives funding and patronage from the Minister for Sport and Youth.
Promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, through its Department of Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce, the event also receives funding and patronage from the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena.
Partners of the Sardinia Grand Slam include Secauto and USE.
Quartu Sant’Elena (Cagliari, Italy), 10 October 2026
Photos: 1) Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi, originally from the Marche region and now based in Quartu Sant’Elena, topped the men’s Opening Series at the Sardinia Grand Slam; 2) Vojtech Koska consolidated his second place in the men’s standings, qualifying directly for the Grand Final; 3) Intense action during the men’s Opening Series; 4) Lysa Caval (left) and Lauriane Nolot; 5) Nolot in spectacular action; 6) Elena Lengwiler climbed back onto the podium on Day 4; 7) Sam Dickinson, third in the men’s Opening Series; 8) Fierce competition in the women’s fleet; 9) Valentin Bontus won the second race of the day after an exciting, tactical head-to-head battle with Pianosi (Credits IKA Media / Robert Hajduk). Free usage granted with credits. Click on the pictures for the hi-res version.
The Italian kiter is closing in on the Top 5 after the third day. In the men’s fleet, a solid Koska is putting Pianosi under pressure, while Nolot leads the women’s standings and Lengwiler climbs back up the leaderboard with two wins
Swimming first, then sport climbing, and finally, now, kitefoil and the Olympic Formula Kite class. In her spare time, she also enjoys paragliding, padel, skiing and cycling, both on and off road.
Tiana Laporte, 30, is an all-round athlete and Italy’s leading female prospect as the nation looks ahead to Los Angeles 2028. Starting in January, the 2027 World Sailing Championships will offer a chance to secure an Olympic berth, and Quartu Sant’Elena, host of the Sardinia Grand Slam running through Sunday, October 11, will serve as her training ground on the water and in the wind throughout the autumn months.
“We’ll be back here in November and December, in preparation for the World Championships. There’s a Los Angeles 2028 place to fight for.”
Born in Madrid to French and Italian roots, Laporte lives in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where she works in marketing and accounting for her boyfriend’s paragliding business.
“That’s where I train on Lakes Biel and Neuchâtel,” she explains. “In winter, though, I focus heavily on physical conditioning: two to three hours in the gym with my strength and conditioning coach, four or five times a week, plus one or two cycling sessions.”
She discovered kiteboarding at the age of 12 at Chia Wind, under the guidance of Mirco Babini. Six years ago, she took a significant step forward.
“I started focusing on kitefoil, which I enjoy more. I’m working on improving and taking my performance to the next level.”
Laporte is now a regular competitor at the Sardinia Grand Slam. This year, she enjoyed a positive opening day in a light breeze, followed by productive sessions in the Mistral.
“On the second day, the Mistral was shifting considerably, which made things tough. But it was certainly good training ahead of January and the Olympic qualification campaign.”
MEN: PIANOSI HOLDS ONTO THE LEAD AS KOSKA SCORES A HAT-TRICK On the third afternoon of the Sardinia Grand Slam, with an unsettled Mistral breeze building to over 19 knots towards the end of the session, Czech rider Vojtech Koska stole the show. He claimed three race wins, narrowly missing out on a fourth after an early start.
Riccardo Pianosi remains firmly in contention, posting one win and two second-place finishes, along with a discarded sixth. After 12 races, he retains the overall lead by a single point over Koska.
“It was a very positive day for me. It’s the first time I’ve managed to score all the bullets in a single day. I was over the line at the start of just one race (R10 / UFD, ed.), so that one didn’t go as planned. But I’m very happy with my performance”, Koska explained. He added then: “The key is to be fast and get a good start, because that’s where you can really make the difference. The wind also plays a major role, as does choosing the right side of the racecourse, whether to go left or right”.
WOMEN: TWO RACE WINS EACH FOR NOLOT AND LENGWILER In the women’s fleet, leader Lauriane Nolot — world and European champion and silver medallist at Paris 2024 — shared the race wins with Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler, who now sits fifth in the Opening Series standings.
Maya Ashkenazi outperformed Lily Young to move into third place, pushing her rival down the leaderboard. Tiana Laporte is sixth, while ‘Maddy Spanu’ continues to build experience in kiteboarding, adding two seventh-place finishes to her scorecard.
“The conditions were quite challenging again – Lengwiler commented – with strong winds. I think I managed to focus on the areas I’ve been working on and handle them well. So it was a good day for me, in terms of working on those areas and improving my performance”. Elena knows she can do better in next days: “I think I managed to read the wind shifts quite well, but there’s still room for improvement. That’s one of the things I’m working on”.
TOP 5 LEADERBOARD AFTER DAY 3
MEN’S FLEET
Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) 19.0 pts
Vojtech Koska (CZE) 20.0 pts
Sam Dickinson (GBR) 28.0 pts
Valentin Bontus (AUT) 49.0 pts
Flavio Marx (ITA) 53.0 pts
WOMEN’S FLEET
Lauriane Nolot (FRA) 11.0 pts
Lysa Canal (FRA) 23.0 pts
Maya Ashkenazi (ISR) 32.0 pts
Lily Young (GBR) 32.0 pts
Elena Lengwiler (SVI) 37.0 pts
SCHEDULE AND LIVE STREAMING The Sardinia Grand Slam continues on Saturday, October 10th, with the afternoon session scheduled to start at 2 p.m., subject of course to changes due to the weather forecast. Updates will be available through the official channels of the IKA – International Kiteboarding Association and on the Sardinia Grand Slam social media channels. On Saturday, October 10th, and Sunday, October 11th, the Sardinia Grand Slam Formula Kite will be streamed live on the event’s and IKA’s website and Facebook and YouTube platforms.
THE ORGANIZATION Organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club, the Sardinia Grand Slam is held under the authority of World Sailing, the International Sailing Federation, and IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association, as well as the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV). The Sardinia Grand Slam is supported and endorsed by the Minister for Sport and Youth. Promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Department of Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce, the Sardinia Grand Slam also receives the support and patronage of the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena. Sardinia Grand Slam partners also include Secauto and USE.
Photos: 1) Tiana Laporte, her road to Los Angeles 2028 starts from Quartu Sant’Elena; 2) Paragliding, skiing and above all kitefoil: Laporte is a real sportswoman; 3) Vojtech Koska, tre wins out of four races in the Day 3; 4) From left, Lily Young and Elena Lengwiler; 5) Riccardo Pianosi, leader of the Qualifying Series among Men; 6) The kite show on the Golfo degli Angeli; 7) Italians Riccardo Pianosi and Flavio Marx (Credits IKA Media / Robert Hajduk). Free usage granted with credits. Click on the pictures for the hi-res version.
The 23-year-old from South Tyrol, one of the standout athletes at the Sardinia Grand Slam, talks about his growth since joining the national Olympic team
From Lake Resia to the Gulf of Angels, with a snow kite tattooed on his right forearm and a passion for skiing that proudly reflects his South Tyrolean roots. But now, after shining at the European Championships, 23-year-old Flavio Marx is doing a good job also at the Sardinia Grand Slam, a long-standing fixture on the international kitefoiling calendar. The event is currently underway in Quartu Sant’Elena and will conclude on Sunday, October 11. His secret? “Joining the national Olympic team in 2025 helped me grow a lot. Now I dream of competing at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, but also of winning a medal at the next European Championships and, why not, at the World Championships,” he says.
Even in a light breeze, far from his preferred conditions — “I like the Mistral: strong, gusty and tactical” — Flavio confirmed his continued progress on Day 1 in Quartu Sant’Elena, following up on the sixth-place finish he achieved at the European Championships. He first took up kiteboarding at the age of six, on Lake Resia. In 2020 came his first races, initially “just for fun”. Then, last year, joining the national team changed Marx’s approach and philosophy.
“Working with the Italian team staff and training alongside Riccardo Pianosi, as well as Vojtech Koska and Sam Dickinson, and spending a good part of each month together, has given me a lot. The friendships we’ve built also make a big difference.” Then there is the site itself. “I’ve competed in three Sardinia Grand Slams here, and we often come here to train. I really like this place. I love this sea, this wind and this climate,” he explains. Yet the mountains still have a firm place in his heart. “I’m passionate about skiing and snowboarding. I support Dominik Paris and Sofia Goggia, and I enjoy watching them compete.” And, in fact, the connection goes beyond passion. “The tattoo on my forearm? It’s about snow kiting. I got it in 2022.”
PIANOSI LEADS THE MEN’S FIELD, OLYMPIC CHAMPION BONTUS CLIMBS Meanwhile, at the end of a second day marked by unstable Mistral winds ranging between 9 and 13 knots, Riccardo Pianosi has moved to the top of the Sardinia Grand Slam standings. It was a consistent afternoon for the Italian, who built momentum throughout the day with a fourth, third, third and first-place finish in the four races contested. “Conditions were a bit tricky, but it was a good day,” Pianosi said.
Martin Dolenc, Vojtech Koska and Sam Dickinson also claimed race wins, with the latter two currently sitting second and third overall. Cameron Maramenides slipped to fourth, while Olympic champion Valentin Bontus climbed to fifth. “The wind was never really stable. After the second race – Bontus stated – I switched to the 21 kite. It was great to have offshore wind again; it had been a while since we’d had wind coming from the land, with shifts in direction and race situations that were difficult to read. I think tomorrow we’ll have even better conditions, with steadier and less light wind”. Flavio Marx currently sits eighth overall.
WOMEN: NOLOT LEADS, SPANU ON THE RISE In the women’s fleet, Lauriane Nolot added two more race wins and a second-place finish, while her fourth-place result in the final race of the day became her discard. Elena Lengwiler claimed a race win in R6, while Britain’s Katie Dabson took the final race of the day, completing a British double alongside a rising Lily Young. “The wind dropped throughout the day,” Young explained, “making things very challenging for everyone. But that also made it really exciting. I’m happy with how things are going. I’m here to train and get more hours on the water.”
That is also the goal for Sardinian rider Maddalena Spanu, who turns 20 in November and is using the Sardinia Grand Slam as an opportunity to gain experience after a string of major successes in wingfoil. Her standout result came with a fifth-place finish in the eighth race of Day 2. “I didn’t expect it. I’m trying to figure out how to sail and how to change my position, which is very different from wingfoil,” she said. “I used a 15 kite for all the races and I felt comfortable with it. I haven’t had much time to get used to it. I’ve just finished the Wingfoil Racing World Cup, so in every race I’m trying to improve”. Italy’s number-one ranked rider Tiana Laporte is currently fifth overall.
MEN – STANDINGS AFTER 8 RACES (2 DISCARDS)
Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) 14.0 pts (totale 66.0)
Vojtech Koska (CZE) 17.0 (tot. 34.0)
Sam Dickinson (GBR) 23.0 (tot. 36.0)
Kameron Maramenides 31.0 (tot. 76.0)
Valentin Bontus (AUT) 32.0 (tot. 58.0)
WOMEN – STANDINGS AFTER 8 RACES (2 DISCARDS)
Lauriane Nolot (FRA) 7.0 punti (Totale 13.0)
Lysa Caval (FRA) 14.0 (tot. 30.0)
Lily Young (GBR) 24.0 (tot. 45.0)
Maya Ashkenazi (ISR) 24.0 (tot. 43.0)
Tiana Laporte (ITA) 27.0 (tot. 45.0)
SCHEDULE AND LIVE STREAMING The Sardinia Grand Slam continues on Friday, October 9th, with the afternoon session scheduled to start at 2 p.m., subject of course to changes due to the weather forecast. Updates will be available through the official channels of the IKA – International Kiteboarding Association and on the Sardinia Grand Slam social media channels. On Saturday, October 10th, and Sunday, October 11th, the Sardinia Grand Slam Formula Kite will be streamed live on the event’s and IKA’s Facebook and YouTube platforms.
THE ORGANIZATION
Organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club, the Sardinia Grand Slam is held under the authority of World Sailing, the International Sailing Federation, and IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association, as well as the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV). The Sardinia Grand Slam is supported and endorsed by the Minister for Sport and Youth. Promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Department of Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce, the Sardinia Grand Slam also receives the support and patronage of the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena. Sardinia Grand Slam partners also include Secauto and USE.
Photos: 1) No clouds on the Italian arrows Marx, 32, and Pianosi, 38; 2) On the left, Flavio Marx in the action at Sardinia Grand Slam; 3) Solid performance for Riccardo Pianosi, leader of the race after Day 2; 4) Lauriane Nolot racing with the yellow bib as Women’s leader; 5) Somewere is raining, we enjoy the Rainbow; 6) Sardinia’s Maddalena Spanu, fifth placed in the Race 8 (Credits Robert Hajduk/IKA). Free usage granted with credits. Click on the pictures for the hi-res version.
The Greek-American and the Olympic silver medallist lead the standings after the opening day, characterised by light and shifty winds. Pianosi gets stronger as the day progresses, while Marx also claims a race win. Laporte lies third among the women.
Greek-American Cameron Maramenides, 24, finished the opening day of the Sardinia Grand Slam at the top of the standings. The traditional event on the international kitefoiling calendar got underway on Tuesday, October 7, in Quartu Sant’Elena and will run through Sunday, October 11. The son of a sailing family, with an American mother and raised in the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina, Maramenides leads American Noah Runciman and Czech Voijtech Koska.
The pre-event prediction has also held true in the women’s fleet, with French Olympic silver medallist Lauriane Nolot leading the way. Close behind are compatriot Lysa Caval and Italy’s Tiana Laporte.
MEN: OF THE FOUR FAVOURITES, THE FIFTH REAPS THE REWARDS Maramenides was the most consistent rider in dealing with the light and highly shifty breeze, which ranged from peaks of 10.1 to 6.5 knots. He ended the day at the top of the standings thanks to two second-place finishes and a third.
“In the first race I did very well. I managed to get a good start and led well up to the first gybe. In the second, the wind was super light and it was difficult to stay on my feet. The third was a head-to-head battle between Riccardo [Pianosi] and me, and then I finished the day strongly by taking the lead. I love Quartu Sant’Elena, especially when the wind is light like it was today – it’s perfect. I think we’ll have different conditions over the next few days, so we’ll see. But today it was really nice to race in these conditions.”
Riccardo Pianosi, the world champion in Quartu Sant’Elena one year ago, was sitting in second place before ritiring from the race-1 and slipping down in 12th. By the way, the rider from the Marche region, now something of a local in Quartu Sant’Elena, enjoyed an upward trajectory as the day progressed, taking a race win in the third and second place in the fourth.
“Difficult conditions,” he commented, “and there was a lot of position swapping at the front. I also fell in the second race and wasn’t able to get going again. It was a bit tricky, but there’s still a long way to go and it’s going to be a great event.”
The afternoon opened with a race win for Czech rider Vojtech Koska and ended with a victory for Noah Runciman, who are respectively third and second overall. In between, South Tyrolean rider Flavio Marx also claimed a race win.
WOMEN: NOLOT UNCHALLENGED, LAPORTE THIRD Lauriane Nolot left little room for her rivals from the very first of the four women’s races. The reigning world and European champion, who has already won the Sardinia Grand Slam in 2021 and 2023, took the opening race and then won twice more.
“It’s fantastic. I’ve been coming to Poetto every year since I started, and I think the Sardinia Grand Slam is a beautiful event. Today the conditions were difficult for everyone,” Lauriane explained, “but I really like them because they’re useful for working on your light-wind skills. At first I felt a little rusty, but I had some good starts and made good strategic choices. I had fun. As always, some of the best athletes in the world are here, and we can train and push each other.”
The only rider to break Nolot’s dominance was compatriot Lysa Caval, who won the third race. Behind the French pair, Italy’s Tiana Laporte currently holds third place, while neither Lily Young nor Elena Lengwiler have managed to find consistency, sitting sixth and ninth respectively.
“I’m very happy,” Caval commented, “because it’s been about a year since we raced in conditions like these. The races were really fun. I made a few mistakes, but I’m enjoying myself. Now, over the next two days, we’re expecting much stronger winds, but you can always have fun here in Sardinia.”
SCHEDULE AND LIVE STREAMING The Sardinia Grand Slam continues on Thursday, October 8, with the afternoon session scheduled to start at 2 p.m., subject of course to changes due to the weather forecast.
Updates will be available through the official channels of the IKA – International Kiteboarding Association and on the Sardinia Grand Slam social media channels.
On Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, footage from the Sardinia Grand Slam Formula Kite event will be streamed live on the event’s and IKA’s Facebook and YouTube platforms.
ORGANIZATION Organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club, the Sardinia Grand Slam is held under the aegis of World Sailing, the International Federation for Sailing, and IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association, as well as FIV, the Italian Sailing Federation. The Sardinia Grand Slam is supported and endorsed by the Italian Minister for Sport and Youth. Promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Department of Tourism, Crafts and Commerce, the event also receives the support and patronage of the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena. USE is partner of the Sardinia Grand Slam.
Photos: 1) Cameron Maramenides, leader of the Sardinia Grand Slam after the opening day; 2) Riccardo Pianosi, who claimed one race win and finished second overall on a challenging afternoon; 3) Lauriane Nolot won three of the four women’s races; 4) From left, Maramenides and Pianosi; 5) Light breeze over the Gulf of Angels on day one of the Sardinia Grand Slam; 6) Tiana Laporte, third in the women’s standings. Free usage granted with credits. Click on the pictures for the hi-res version.
Quartu Sant’Elena hosts the tenth edition of the event from October 7 to 11, with World Ranking points at stake this year. Among the favourites is Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi, who won the World Championship here last year.
Riccardo Pianosi, 2025 World Champion in the waters of Quartu Sant’Elena (Cagliari) and bronze medallist at the recent European Championships. Reigning Olympic champion Valentin Bontus of Austria. And France’s queen of Formula Kite, Lauriane Nolot, who this year also claimed both the World and European titles, leaving her rivals to battle for the remaining podium places.
As tradition dictates, autumn brings the biggest names in Formula Kite to Poetto, where from October 7 to 11 they will compete for the Sardinia Grand Slam titles. The event is a long-standing and eagerly awaited fixture on the international kitefoiling calendar and awards points towards the men’s and women’s World Rankings in the Olympic Formula Kite discipline, on the road to Los Angeles 2028.
Now in its tenth edition, the event awards valuable points for gaining or consolidating positions in the World Rankings. It is organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club and is held under the authority of World Sailing, the International Sailing Federation, and IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association, as well as the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV).
The event headquarters have been set up on the beach in front of the Blue Sky bathing establishment. On Tuesday, October 6, the venue will host athlete registration and official photo shoots.
MEN: PIANOSI, BONTUS AND MORE In the men’s field, the most eagerly awaited competitor is “Ricky” Pianosi, 21, one of the leading lights of the Italian national team. He finished fourth at the discipline’s Olympic debut at Paris 2024 and has won multiple European and World Championship medals. For him, the Gulf of Angels is no ordinary competition venue. Last year, he claimed the World title here. “It was a significant championship for my career, the first World title I had won. And this place has a special place in my heart,” Pianosi said ahead of the Sardinia Grand Slam. “I grew up here, I met my wife here, and I have had so many experiences in this sport here.”
Currently second in the World Ranking with 770 points, Pianosi will be looking to challenge World Champion Max Maeder for the top spot. One of Pianosi’s main rivals will be reigning Olympic champion Valentin Bontus, who also claimed World bronze and European silver during the season now drawing to a close. The World’s top five will also be represented by Czech sailor Vojtech Koska, who finished sixth in Quartu twelve months ago, and Britain’s Sam Dickinson.
WOMEN: NOLOT’S DOMINANCE AND THE ARRIVAL OF SPANU Third in Quartu last year and Olympic silver medallist behind Ellie Aldridge, France’s Lauriane Nolot is coming off an almost perfect 2026 season, claiming her third World title in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, as well as the European title in Akyaka, Türkiye.
She will be looking to put her name back on the Sardinia Grand Slam trophy, having won the event in 2021 and 2023.
Among her main challengers will be Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler, this year’s World and European bronze medallist and currently third in the World Ranking.
Also competing will be Britain’s Lily Young, who finished fourth in Cagliari’s waters last year, and France’s Lysa Caval.
For Italy, alongside Tiana Laporte, currently the highest-ranked Italian woman, all eyes will also be on Maddalena Maria Spanu, already a World Champion in wingfoil.
THE SCHEDULE Racing gets underway on Wednesday, October 7, with the first races scheduled not earlier than 1:00 p.m.
From Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11, racing will take place in the afternoon, starting at 2:00 p.m., subject of course to changes due to weather conditions.
LIVE STREAMING On Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, the Sardinia Grand Slam Formula Kite races will be streamed live on the event’s Facebook and YouTube platforms, as well as on those of IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association.
CUCCUREDDU: “A WORLD-CLASS EVENT THAT WE STRONGLY SUPPORT” As has become customary, the event is supported by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia.
“The Sardinia Grand Slam Formula Kite event is one of the major international events supported by our Department,” said Franco Cuccureddu, Regional Councillor for Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. “It is also the first event, chronologically speaking, following the resolution of September 30, through which we wanted to strengthen our support for projects, initiatives and events that promote Sardinia’s image, generate significant positive economic benefits and help create tourist flows in the territories involved.
“The list of international events,” Cuccureddu concluded, “was established together with the regional committee of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).”
THE ORGANISATION Organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club, the Sardinia Grand Slam is held under the authority of World Sailing, the International Sailing Federation, and IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association, as well as the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV).
The Sardinia Grand Slam is supported and endorsed by the Minister for Sport and Youth.
Promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Department of Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce, the Sardinia Grand Slam also receives the support and patronage of the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena.
Sardinia Grand Slam partners also include Secauto and USE.
VIDEO
Photos: 1) Riccardo Pianosi celebrating gold metal at the 2025 World Championships – Sardinia Grand Slam in Quartu Sant’Elena; 2) Lauriane Nolot, the queen of Women’s World Ranking; 3) The racing show on Quartu Sant’Elena’s waters; 4) Elena Lengwiler in the action at SGS 2025; 5) Kites, waves and light in the Gulf of Angels; 6) A demanding racing phase of the 2025 edition. 7) Mari Pintau beach, in the municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena (Courtesy of the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena). Free usage granted with credits. Click on the pictures for the hi-res version.
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