The Mondial du Vent Leucate 2026 hosted the historic debut of the SFT Downwind Parawing World Cup from April 22–26, 2026. This event marked a major milestone in foiling history, as it was the first time the Parawing discipline was given official World Cup status.
Held from April 22–26, the event transformed the emerging discipline of parawinging from an experimental activity into a structured international sport. Despite the typically fierce Tramontana winds being lighter than expected, the competition highlighted the discipline’s efficiency in varied conditions. The event was characterized by a collaborative spirit, with organizers and athletes—including a mix of seasoned windsurfers, wingfoilers, and downwind specialists—adapting race formats in real-time to define the future of the sport.
Key Event Details
- Historic Debut: This was the first official World Cup for the Downwind Parawing discipline, integrated into the 29th edition of the legendary Mondial du Vent festival.
- Competition Format: The races featured a hybrid challenge including long reaches, beam reaches, and technical downwind sections where riders had to “stash” their parawing to demonstrate pure foiling and glide efficiency.
- The Beach Finish: A standout innovation of the event was the beach finish, where athletes navigated open-water swells before crossing the finish line at full speed directly onto the sand.
- Diverse Field: A total of 39 athletes (30 men and 9 women) competed, representing a global pool of talent from France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, the USA, and more.
- Collaborative Evolution: Unlike traditional rigid tours, this event included open rider feedback sessions to help shape the official rulebook and racing structures for future stops.
Podium Results
| Category | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Tom Pansard (FRA) | Bastien Escofet (FRA) | Alan Fedit (FRA) |
| Women | Manon Dupe (FRA) | Mae Haas (FRA) | Viola Lippitsch (AUT) |
| Youth Men | Tom Pansard (FRA) | Luca Vuillermet (USA) | Hugo Babilon (USA) |
| Youth Women | Manon Dupe (FRA) | Sofia Ginzinger (ESP) | — |
Technical Highlights
- Equipment Trends: Riders experimented heavily with foil size; top finishers often pushed smaller foils (700–750 cm2) for speed, while the broader field utilized 900–1000 cm2 setups for better control.
- Prize Purse: Athletes competed for a total prize pool of €8,000.
- Global Circuit: This event marks the start of a broader 2026 tour, with upcoming stops scheduled for Tahiti, China, and Germany.
Visit Surf Foil World Tour for more information
