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.”
MEN – STANDINGS AFTER 4 RACES (1 DISCARD)
1. Kameron Maramenides (GRE) – 7.0 points (total: 18.0)
2. Noah Runciman (USA) 9.0 (total: 19.0)
3. Vojtech Koska (CZE) 9.0 (total: 20.0)
4. Sam Dickinson (GBR) 13.0 (total: 20.0)
5. Flavio Marx (ITA) 14.0 (total: 24.0)
WOMEN – STANDINGS AFTER 4 RACES (1 DISCARD)
Lauriane Nolot – 3.0 points (total: 5.0)
Lysa Caval – 7.0 (total: 19.0)
Tiana Laporte – 11.0 (total: 13.0)
Maya Ashkenazi (ISR) – 13.0 (total: 25.0)
Svetlana Trusova (AIN) – 14.0 (total: 26.0)
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.