We Are Racing – Under the spell of the rings

Kiting is an integral part of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, so very exciting times are coming to our sport. The relay race is a new format in kite racing and challenges us as manufacturers to develop new technologies, attract more people to the sport and promote gender equality in kitesurfing. But the common kiters opinions on the decision of the format are dividing the kite sport.

For more than 4 years, we have been working hard on the success story around our SONIC Race / VMG product lines in order to form a solid base for our athletes to fulfill their dreams. The FLYSURFER R & D team works continuously with Florian Gruber, Theo de Ramecourt, Daniela Moroz and Olly Bridge on the Olympic Kite. Previous successes in Foil-Racing, Ski-Racing and Buggy-Racing in recent years gives us an extremely positive perspective:

Our team shines with 70 first places, 37 second places and 22 third places from podiums around the world!

Just the last two weeks Theo de Ramecourt, Florian Gruber, Leonie Meyer and Katja Roose were victorious in foil-racing competitions.

After four days, our French team mate Theo secured victory in the most prestigious race in the San Francisco bay between the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz. The regatta is considered to be the toughest of the whole Hydrofoil Pro Tour, because the gnarly conditions with oblique offshore winds of up to 35 knots and strong currents really challenge the athlete and its gear. Theo and Nico Parlier set a new record during the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge Challenge with an average speed of 33.9 knots over 6,1 miles! Immediately after his first victory on the Hydrofoil Pro Tour, Theo continued to compete in the Indian Ocean in Mauritius for the next race. In a smaller field and in a unique environment, he underlined his current form and also decided the third stop for himself!

„2nd victory on the Hydrofoil Pro Tour in a row, so stoked about it. It was so good to race in this incredible lagoon, such a unique feeling to foil in crystal clear water with this amazing landscape“

The increasing number of women is extremely important for kitesurfing, because the five rings bring quite a bit of explosiveness, because in 2024 there is only one set of medals for men and women.

The format is a “mixed relay race of a special kind” describes our multiple world champion Daniela Moroz, after the test runs at the World Cup:

„The timing of the handover will be the key to success, and we’ve already seen how much will depend on us. (women) I’m curious to see how the fleet at the European Championships will increase and whether we will be for the first time with more than 40 girls at the starting line. The pressure will be on us in the next few years, because only the best get the full support and a ticket to the Olympics.“

Of course, the dream of an Olympic gold medal gives hope especially to the offspring. Reigning Asian Champion and FLYSURFER figurehead Maximilian Maeder from Singapore is just 12 years old and lets the competition, especially the men, guess what’s coming in the next few years. He has impressively given away another talent test with a top 5 finish in the men’s competition in Mauritius just last week. But a disadvantage could be lack of training partners and coaching. Here in Europe, especially among the national associations of the French, English, Russians, Poles and Italians, one is ahead of the other countries.

Max Maeder is a good example for all those who want to start Foil-Racing, because the expenses for the equipment and the competitions compared to the sailing sport are manageable. The gear is standardized and blocked for four years making the competitions fair, as well as exciting and leaves the newcomers a realistic chance to win. If you fly across the water at a speed of up to 40 knots at a height of 1m and want to represent your nation at a major sports event, then go and get your hands on a FLYSURFER SONIC Race!