Event Reports

Search Our Site

Register

Defi Wind Gruissan

The 15th edition of Défi Wind hit the ground running as the 1,200 registered windsurfers began to arrive, some rocking up even before the Défi Kitesurfers had left. And being the 15th year, Défi were doing things in style, bringing together 15 of the world’s greatest champion windsurfers at Gruissan.

Representing the ladies were; French riders, Alice Aruktin and Delphine Cousin, Karin Jaggi from Switzerland and Sarah Quita, Offringa from Aruba. And for the men, well there were certainly some legends; Antoine Albeau, France, Anders Bringdal, Sweden, Andrea Cucchi, Italy, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Spain, Cyril Moussilmani, France, Finian Maynard, France, Jason Polakow, Australia, Patrice Belbeoch, France, Philip Koster, Germany, Pierre Mortefon, France and Thomas Traversa, France; all in Gruissan for what was billed as an unforgettable event.

The growth of Défi Wind has been exponential; starting out with just 100 windsurfers in 2001, the event has gone on to register record numbers from 34 nationalities. For many windsurfers Défi Wind is definitely one to tick off the Bucket List and this showed in January when registration opened for Défi Wind 2015. In less than 10 days all 1,200 places were taken, with a further 400 windsurfers signing up to the ‘stand by list’; absolutely unbelievable!

What makes Défi Wind so appealing and yet nerve racking at the same time is that windsurfers of all abilities compete against each other. Young and old, experienced or rookies; if you’ve got determination, stamina and just a little bit of craziness thrown in, then Défi’s for you.

An endurance race in every sense of the word, Défi Wind is fuelled by the Tramontane, a powerful thermal wind that whips through Gruissan. Accelerating as it passes through the narrow corridor between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central; the Tramontane is created by high pressure from the Atlantic meeting with the low pressure of the Mediterranean in the Gulf of Lyon.

Live tracking of such a huge windsurfing event is near impossible without some serious investment and equally serious technology. But with Microsoft onboard demoing their Dot Vision live GPS tracking; the competitors and spectators at Défi Wind had a taster of what can be done.

 G2D3512AOn Thursday morning expectation filled the air as windsurfers milled around the event site. 4 days of Tramontane were forecast and everyone was poised, ready and waiting. After what has to be the biggest rider’s briefing we’ve ever seen, the countdown to the first race of the event began. With 60 minutes to go, the windsurfers scurried about like worker ants, prepping sails and boards and donning wetsuits and most important of all, As the wind grew stronger, topping around 39 knots, it became apparent that for some windsurfers, today just wasn’t for them. With a look of resignation and frustration, they watched as the mass of sails lined up for the start. Whilst all 1,200 competitors had the opportunity to start the race, thanks to the harsh conditions, only 377 managed to complete the ??? km gruelling course.
With a few surprises Thursday’s Results were:
Men
1.    Pierre Mortefon
2.    Nicolas Warembourg
3.     Diony Guadagnino
4.    Antoine Questel
5.    Alexandre Cousin
6.    Pierre Moretti
7.    Antoine Albeau
8.    Cyril Moussilmani
9.    Andrea Cucchi
10.    Ben Van Der Steen

Women:
1.    Marion Mortefon
2.    Delphine Cousin
3.    Lena Erdil


 g2d3640aFriday morning brought with it sunshine, wind, rain and rainbows all in the shortest of spaces. At the second riders meeting at noon things were looking doubtful for the day, with the likelihood of postponement due to the strong wind warning from La Région Languedoc Roussillon. But less than an hour or so later and it was all change and the 60 minute count down began.
Whilst the organisers of Défi Wind welcome riders of all standings; at the briefing, riders were reminded to consider the conditions and to be realistic about their own abilities. Taking on the challenge is one thing, risking your life and possibly endangering other windsurfers is something that no one wants to see happen.
As the minutes ticked by the beach was awash with the distinctive orange and yellow rash vests as the riders prepared to hit the water. After Thursday’s conditions, the fleet was smaller for Friday’s race, with many taking heed of the earlier warning. To compensate for the wind, a shorter course was set, with a start line closer to the main beach, giving the hordes of spectators lining the beach and rocks a perfect view of the Rabbit Boat as it made its way along the competitors, marking the start of the race.  As usual the pro’s made it look all too easy with Pierre Mortefon taking his second win in as many races.
Friday’s Results:
Men
1.    Pierre Mortefon
2.    Antoine Questel
3.    Nicolas Warembourg
4.    Finian Maynard
5.    Antoine Albeau
6.    Julien Quentel
7.    Cyril Moussilmani
8.    Pieter Bijl
9.    Ben Van Der Steen
10.    Steve Laubaney

Women:
1.    Delphine Cousin
2.    Karin Jaggi
3.    Marion Mortefon

By Friday evening the wind was nuking with the icy Tram howling its way through the camp site. Talk about a night to remember; let’s just say vans were rocking, and not for the usual reasons!!!!!!!

Despite predictions that the wind may subside on Saturday, the Tramontane had other ideas and it was said that the wind speed on the water for the first race was stronger than any other day.
3 times Défi Wind Champion Antoine Albeau nailed his first win of the event, knocking Pierre Mortefon into second place. And it was second all round for the Mortefon’s as Lena Erdil took first place for the ladies.
And it was a double win for Antoine Albeau as he also took first place in the Gran Canaria Dunkerbeck Défi Wind Speed Challenge. Organised by Björn Dunkerbeck, competitors registered speeds on their own GPS devices, with the overall winners being the fastest on the 500m run. Windsurfing speed record holder Antoine Albeau had an outstanding run, notching up 34.8 knots; not bad when faced with 50 knots of wind and 800 competitors. Lena Erdil came in first for the ladies with a  speed of 25.67 knots.
Saturday’s Results:
Men
1.    Antoine Albeau
2.    Pierre Mortefon
3.    Pierre Moretti
4.    Björn Dunkerbeck
5.    Anders Bringdal
6.    Diony Guadanigno
7.    Nicolas Warembourg
8.    Cyril Moussilmani
9.    Antoine Questel
10.    Julien Quentel

Women
1.    Lena Erdil
2.    Marion Mortefon
3.    Karin Jaggi

On Sunday Pierre Mortefon was back on form as the wind registered 35knots on the water. In his best race of the event, Pierre flew past Antoine Questel at the second jibe to take the lead, winning his third race of the event and taking his second Défi Wind Championship title.

Whilst Delphine Cousin took the win for the ladies, with Marion Mortefon coming in third place it wasn’t enough to secure her the overall title. With a first, second and 2 third places, Marion made it a double win for the Mortefon’s, as brother and sister were crowned Défi Wind Champions 2015.

Sunday’s Results:
Men
1.    Pierre Mortefon
2.    Nicolas Warembourg
3.    Antoine Questel
4.    Björn Dunkerbeck
5.    Thomas Goyard
6.    Diony Guadagnino
7.    Ben Van Der Steen
8.    Pierre Moretti
9.    Finian Maynard
10.    Steve Laubaney

Women
1.    Delphine Cousin
2.    Lena Erdil
3.    Marion Mortefon


Défi Wind 2015 Men’s Final Results:
1.    Pierre Mortefon
2.    Nicolas Warembourg
3.    Antoine Questel
4.    Antoine Albeau
5.    Diony Guadagnino
6.    Pierre Moretti
7.    Björn Dunkerbeck
8.    Cyril Moussilmani
9.    Ben Van Der Steen
10.    Finian Maynard

Défi Wind 2015 Women’s Final Results
1.    Marion Mortefon
2.    Delphine Cousin
3.    Lena Erdil

Sign up to the ExPix Newsletter to get the latest news, articles, images, event info & exclusive offers!