Premier wind sports destination in southern France to stage wingfoil and groundbreaking SFT world cups
GWA Wingfoil World Cup France
16-21 April, 2025 | Mondial du Vent, Leucate-La Franqui
France’s iconic Mondial du Vent event is set to host the GWA Wingfoil World Cup for the fifth consecutive year in the tour’s opening stops of the 2025 Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom season.
For the 28th edition of the competition at Leucate-La Franqui, the GWA wingfoil world tour will be the focal point of Mondial du Vent with almost 70 men and women athletes from 14 nations around the world taking part. Almost 30 of the athletes will be French, cheered on by their fans on home waters.
In a mark of the six-day event’s efforts to continually evolve and innovate, this year’s edition will introduce two new competitions—the SFT Pump Foil World Cup and the SFT E-Foil Tour. The SFT Surf Foil World Tour is from the same stable as the GWA.
Consistent strong winds that blow for more than 300 days-a-year make the south-west Mediterranean region ideal for wind and watersports like wingfoiling, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. Expansive sandy beaches and reliable Tramontana breezes create a natural playground for both athletes and spectators.
Double world titles
The north-westerly Tramontana winds, in particular, that sweep down from the snow-capped Pyrenees in the early part of the year are renowned for being punchy and strong, perfect for the spectacular and fast-evolving Surf-Freestyle discipline.
Last year’s high-octane Surf-Freestyle contest at Mondial du Vent opened the four-stop GWA world tour season with some of the strongest winds seen, with the cool Tramontana winds blowing up to 50 knots.
For Spain’s Nia Suardiaz and the US’s Chris MacDonald, the victories in Leucate marked the beginning of their journeys to back-to-back GWA Surf-Freestyle world titles. Both will be at Mondial du Vent to open the defence of their crowns.
The remarkable Suardiaz also won the FreeFly-Slalom trophy at last year’s Mondial du Vent and went on to make a clean sweep for the season to take that world title too. Italy’s Francesco Cappuzzo also successfully opened the defence of his world in Leucate-La Franqui.
Buzzy hub
The Mondial du Vent festivities will extend beyond the contests on the water with the establishment of the “Village de la Glisse.” This buzzy hub will feature equipment exhibitions, interactive workshops, and opportunities for visitors to try out the latest in watersports’ technology.
Visitors can also join in hands-on sessions, allowing novices to experience the thrill of wingfoiling and other disciplines under expert guidance. The village also promises a lively atmosphere with evening events, building a sense of community among the athletes and fans.
In line with global sustainability efforts, the Mondial du Vent will also emphasise environmental awareness. Initiatives include waste reduction programmes, the use of renewable energy sources, and educational campaigns to raise awareness about marine conservation. These efforts will help ensure the natural beauty of Leucate-La Franqui is preserved for future generations.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Samuel Cárdenas
Spot Information
Climate
Leucate has a southern European climate with typical spring temperatures that can vary a lot in April. The average air temperature can be between 11°C and 18°C at this time of the year. The average water temperature in April is around 15°C, so don’t forget to bring a wetsuit. Sunrise is around 07.00 and sunset around 20.30.
Wind
The Tramontana is a strong wind that blows north to north-westerly, offshore. It can reach up to 40 knots. The Marin is a light-to-moderate side onshore sea breeze. The best online wind forecasts are found on Windguru.
About Leucate
The 2025 Mondial du Vent GWA Wingfoil World Cup is located on the Mediterranean, on France’s southern coast. The GWA chose this spot for the 2025 GWA Wingfoil World Tour due to the consistency of wind—it blows more than 300 days each year. Leucate also boasts ideal, wide, sandy beaches.
The Mondial du Vent is fuelled by the Tramontana, a reliable and strong north-westerly wind that blows side, to side-offshore. The 2025 event will be the fifth successive year the Mondial du Vent has hosted a GWA Wingfoil World Cup.
About Mondial du Vent
Rarely does a competition make it past the two-decade mark. But the Mondial du Vent that was established in 1997 has long surpassed that. The 2025 edition marks the event’s 28th year of hosting windsports’ enthusiasts from around the globe. The Mondial du Vent is France’s premier wind and watersports’ event.
For the 2025 season, the GWA will stage competitions in the new FreeFly-Slalom and Surf-Freestyle disciplines at the Mondial du Vent, with the SFT joining with line-up with Pump Foil and E-Foil competitions.
Event Information
- Location: Leucate, France
- Dates: 16-21 April, 2025
- The official Race Notice and event schedule can be found here.
- All event information is here.
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An event highlight video will be published at the end of competition. Written reports will be posted to the website at the end of the competition.
