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.