10th Sardinia Grand Slam gets under way tomorrow with Pianosi, Nolot and other stars of Formula Kite

Riccardo Pianosi celebrating gold metal at the 2025 World Championships - Sardinia Grand Slam in Quartu Sant'Elena © Robert Hajduk / www.shuttersail.com

Quartu Sant'Elena hosts the tenth edition of the event from October 7th to 11th, with World Ranking points at stake this year. Among the favourites is Italy's Riccardo Pianosi, who won the World Championship here last year.

Riccardo Pianosi, 2025 World Champion in the waters of Quartu Sant'Elena (Cagliari) and bronze medallist at the recent European Championships. Reigning Olympic champion Valentin Bontus of Austria. And France's queen of Formula Kite, Lauriane Nolot, who this year also claimed both the World and European titles, leaving her rivals to battle for the remaining podium places. As tradition dictates, autumn brings the biggest names in Formula Kite to Poetto, where from October 7th to 11th they will compete for the Sardinia Grand Slam titles. The event is a long-standing and eagerly awaited fixture on the international kitefoiling calendar and awards points towards the men's and women's World Rankings in the Olympic Formula Kite discipline, on the road to Los Angeles 2028.

Now in its tenth edition, the event awards valuable points for gaining or consolidating positions in the World Rankings. It is organised by GLEsport in technical and sporting collaboration with Chia Wind Club and is held under the authority of World Sailing, the International Sailing Federation, and IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association, as well as the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV).

The event headquarters have been set up on the beach in front of the Blue Sky bathing establishment. On Tuesday, October 6th, the venue will host athlete registration and official photo shoots.

Men: Pianosi, Bontus and more

In the men's field, the most eagerly awaited competitor is "Ricky" Pianosi, 21, one of the leading lights of the Italian national team. He finished fourth at the discipline's Olympic debut at Paris 2024 and has won multiple European and World Championship medals. For him, the Gulf of Angels is no ordinary competition venue. Last year, he claimed the World title here. "It was a significant championship for my career, the first World title I had won. And this place has a special place in my heart," Pianosi said ahead of the Sardinia Grand Slam. "I grew up here, I met my wife here, and I have had so many experiences in this sport here." Currently second in the World Ranking with 770 points, Pianosi will be looking to challenge World Champion Max Maeder for the top spot.

One of Pianosi's main rivals will be reigning Olympic champion Valentin Bontus, who also claimed World bronze and European silver during the season now drawing to a close. The World's top five will also be represented by Czech sailor Vojtech Koska, who finished sixth in Quartu twelve months ago, and Britain's Sam Dickinson.

Women: Nolot's dominance and the arrival of Spanu

Third in Quartu last year and Olympic silver medallist behind Ellie Aldridge, France's Lauriane Nolot is coming off an almost perfect 2026 season, claiming her third World title in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, as well as the European title in Akyaka, Türkiye. She will be looking to put her name back on the Sardinia Grand Slam trophy, having won the event in 2021 and 2023.

Among her main challengers will be Switzerland's Elena Lengwiler, this year's World and European bronze medallist and currently third in the World Ranking. Also competing will be Britain's Lily Young, who finished fourth in Cagliari's waters last year, and France's Lysa Caval. For Italy, alongside Tiana Laporte, currently the highest-ranked Italian woman, all eyes will also be on Maddalena Maria Spanu, already a World Champion in wingfoil.

The Schedule

Racing gets under way on Wednesday, October 7, with the first races scheduled not before 1:00 p.m. From Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11, racing will take place in the afternoon, starting at 2:00 p.m., subject of course to changes due to weather conditions.

Live Streaming

On Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, the Sardinia Grand Slam Formula Kite races will be streamed live on the event's Facebook and YouTube platforms, as well as on those of IKA, the International Kiteboarding Association.

Sardinia's Assessor: "A World-Class Event that we strongly support"

As has become customary, the event is supported by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. "The Sardinia Grand Slam Formula Kite event is one of the major international events supported by our Department," said Franco Cuccureddu, Regional Councillor for Tourism, Handicrafts and Commerce of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. "It is also the first event, chronologically speaking, following the resolution of September 30, through which we wanted to strengthen our support for projects, initiatives and events that promote Sardinia's image, generate significant positive economic benefits and help create tourist flows in the territories involved. The list of international events" Cuccureddu concluded, "was established together with the regional committee of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI)".

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.