First-ever world titles in the discipline for Italy and the Netherlands. Born in Pesaro but based in Quartu Sant’Elena—host city of the World Championship—“Ricky” triumphed over Maeder and Gomez. Behind the Dutchwoman were Moroz and Nolot
Riccardo Pianosi and Jessie Kampman are the new Formula Kite World Champions. They claimed the crown at the ninth edition of the Sardinia Grand Slam, which served as the 2025 World Championship for this rapidly growing discipline that made its Olympic debut last year in Paris.
The Grand Finals, held on Sunday, October 5 in Quartu Sant’Elena (CA) at the conclusion of the Medal Series, saw Pianosi and Kampman finish ahead of Maximilian Maeder and Benoit Gomez (silver and bronze, respectively, in the men’s field), and Daniela Moroz and Lauriane Nolot (second and third in the women’s).
It marks the first world title not only for Pianosi and Kampman individually but also for Italy and the Netherlands in Formula Kite. The Medal Series were contested in typical Mistral conditions, with wind speeds ranging from 14 to 20 knots.
PIANOSI: “THIS TITLE IS THE RESULT OF YEARS OF HARD WORK”
“It’s an incredible feeling to be here and to win. It’s such a great reward to finally earn this title after all these years of dedication – I couldn’t be happier,” said Riccardo Pianosi, newly crowned Formula Kite World Champion and the first Italian ever to claim the title.
“There was a lot of emotion during the race – it went really well. I had good sensations, sailed a perfect race, stayed in control, and managed to bring the title home,” added the athlete from the Italian Navy Sports Group.
Pianosi has long been based in Quartu Sant’Elena: “I chose to live here, in Sardinia. Unfortunately, I rarely get to spend as much time here as I’d like, but it’s always special when I do,” said the world champion, who now takes a major step on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
MEN’S COMPETITION: SILVER FOR MAEDER, BRONZE TO GOMEZ
In the high-speed opening race of the men’s Grand Final, Pianosi took the lead from the very first leg, fending off pressure from defending world champion Maximilian Maeder, who stayed close early on. Behind them, Slovenian Toni Vodišek crashed out, paving the way for Frenchman Benoit Gomez to secure the bronze.
At the front, “Ricky” held his nerve against a relentless Maeder and capitalized on the match point he earned on Saturday to claim the world title. Already this year, the Pesaro-born rider—now residing in Quartu Sant’Elena—had won the European Championship in Turkey.
Gomez’s standout performance came in the semifinal, where he eliminated both Toni Vodišek (2022 world champion and Olympic silver medalist) and Gian Stragiotti, reigning U21 world champion. Stragiotti had narrowly missed direct qualification to the Grand Final the day before. A fall at the start eliminated Poland’s Vojtech Koska from contention.
Gomez had launched his run from the Quarter Final Race, where he won ahead of Koska, who also advanced to the semifinals. Jan Matthis Voester and Jan Marciniak were eliminated.
KAMPMAN: “I GET THROUGH MY ERROR WITH GREAT CALM. THIS TITLE IS FOR MY DAD”
The women’s Grand Final was full of drama. Dutch rider Jessie Kampman, who started with a match point earned from topping the Opening Series, seemed poised to close it out early after crashes by all three rivals—Lily Young first, followed simultaneously by Daniela Moroz and Lauriane Nolot. But with just 300 meters to go, Kampman also went down, allowing six-time world champion Moroz to cross first and force a tie at “1 point” each.
In the second race, Kampman made no mistakes, breaking away from the competition to decisively secure the world title. Moroz took silver by virtue of her earlier win, while Nolot—the outgoing world champion and reigning European champion—claimed bronze. “It was fantastic to race in conditions like these,” said Jessie. “Although, when I fell at the end of the first race, I just wanted to slap myself. I know how to start, I know how to finish a race strong — but mistakes happen. I quickly got back on track and told myself: ‘It’s okay, I’ll win the next one.’ What really helped was feeling more relaxed than in the past few days. I felt completely calm and I truly enjoyed the races.”
WOMEN’S COMPETITION: MOROZ AND NOLOT ON THE PODIUM
Moroz had advanced to the final by winning the semifinal, finishing ahead of Britain’s Lily Young and eliminating Breiana Whitehead (Australia) and Elena Lengwiler (Switzerland). Lengwiler, who had staged a brilliant comeback in the last two days, was knocked out after a crash just seconds into the semifinal and another while trying to recover.
In the quarterfinals, Moroz had prevailed ahead of Whitehead, who had edged out Turkish rider Derin Atakan in a close battle. A fall at the start had taken Olympic champion Ellie Aldridge out of the race.
EVENT ORGANIZATION
The Sardinia Grand Slam is organized by GLEsport with the technical support of Chia Wind Club, under the auspices of World Sailing (International Sailing Federation), the IKA (International Kiteboarding Association), and the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV). The event is promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia – Department of Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce, and supported and sponsored by the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena. Event partners include Playcar and USE.
QUOTES
Mirco Babini (President of the International Kiteboarding Association)
“This marks the successful conclusion of yet another Formula Kite World Championship in the Olympic class, held in the Gulf of Angels,” said Mirco Babini, President of IKA. “Even more importantly, this was the first major event on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The athletes loved the location—the sea of Quartu Sant’Elena proved to be a winning choice. Thanks to the ongoing support from the Region and the organizers’ solid reputation, we’ve created a highly prestigious international showcase.”
Gian Domenico Nieddu (GLEsport)
“We won our bet,” stated Gian Domenico Nieddu, event organizer. “The coastline of Quartu Sant’Elena lived up to expectations. We were thrilled with the athletes’ feedback, confirming how ideal this destination is—not just for top-level competition, but also for enjoying a stay in Sardinia. The local community’s engagement was also a source of pride. It shows we met our goal. The Sardinia Grand Slam will return in 2026 with a new global format, and we’re already working on it.”
Bruno Perra (Preside Italian National Olympic Committee for Sardinia)
“The presence of these top-level athletes brings great prestige to our sporting movement, and we are proud and honored. My thanks go to everyone who worked hard to bring such a beautiful event to life—congratulations.”
Marzia Cilloccu (Department of Tourism, Trade and Crafts – Autonomous Region of Sardinia
“It’s a true celebration here on the Poetto beach, in this beautiful corner of Sardinia, in Quartu. It’s a spectacular event and a unique international showcase. The Region’s support has never been lacking—and never will be. In recent years, we’ve sown the seeds together with the local organizers and the federations. A heartfelt thank you to these incredible athletes—boys and girls alike—and a special mention to Riccardo Pianosi, Sardinian by adoption, which makes us doubly proud.”
Cinzia Carta (Councillor for Sport and Education, Quartu Sant’Elena)
“We’re truly proud to have hosted such an important event in our territory,” said Cinzia Carta, Sports Councillor for the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena. “It was a spectacular, well-attended event with an extraordinary atmosphere. We welcomed athletes from all over the world—focused, but always smiling and approachable, even during their interactions with local students. Quartu proved itself capable of offering a warm, comprehensive welcome. We’re confident this will be the first of many high-profile international sporting events hosted in our area.”
Photos: 1) Jessie Kampman and Riccardo Pianosi, the new Formula Kite World Champions (Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk); 2) Pianosi celebrates as he crosses the finish line in the first and decisive race of the Grand Final (Credits: Roberto Pili); 3) Jessie Kampman celebrates after a dominant week on the water (Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk); 4) The Dutch rider, on the left, defends against Lauriane Nolot’s attack (Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk); 5) Benoit Gomez claims World Championship bronze in Quartu Sant’Elena (Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk); 6) Pianosi “flies” back to the beach after his win (Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk); 7) Smiles all around on the podium: from left, silver medalist Max Maeder, gold medallist Riccardo Pianosi, and bronze medallist Benoit Gomez (Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk); 8) The top eight female finishers with local officials. In the center, Jessie Kampman flanked by runner-up Daniela Moroz and third-place Lauriane Nolot (Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk). Free usage granted with credits. Click on the pictures to download.