Pianosi and Nolot Win at Sardinia Kiteboard Grand Slam

Sardinia Kiteboard Grand Slam – Results
Men’s winner: Riccardo Pianosi (ITA)
Women’s winner: Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
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Sunday, 11th of October 2026 marked a thrilling conclusion at Poetto Beach, where Riccardo Pianosi from Italy and Lauriane Nolot from France emerged as champions in the prestigious Sardinia Kiteboard Grand Slam. Both athletes displayed exceptional skill and dominance throughout the competition, culminating in a remarkable final-day performance.

The event unfolded over four days of qualifying rounds before transitioning into knockout finals. Competitors faced challenging conditions with a robust offshore Mistral breeze blowing between 18 and 23 knots from the north-west.

In the women’s fleet, Nolot and her training partner Lysa Caval had already secured their spots in the Grand Final. Pianosi and Vojtech Koska from the Czech Republic were the representatives in the men’s division. The remaining top ten contenders battled fiercely to claim the last available spots in the finals.

During the women’s quarter-final, three riders, including Svetlana Trusova, Tiana Laporte, and Maddalena Maria Spanu, were disqualified for crossing the start line early under the U flag rule. This left Great Britain’s Ella Geiger and Katie Dabson to compete for advancement, with Geiger and Dabson eventually moving on to the semi-finals.

The semi-final race saw Geiger and Dabson compete against Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler, Israel’s Maya Ashkenazi, and Britain’s Lily Young. However, errors plagued the race as riders struggled with the gusty conditions, leading to Lengwiler and Young’s downfall. Ultimately, Ashkenazi and Geiger advanced to the final.

In the final, Nolot’s speed proved insurmountable. While Ashkenazi and Geiger attempted a tactical shift, Nolot quickly gained the lead, winning the only race of the final and adding the Sardinia title to her already impressive season, which includes European and World titles.

In the men’s competition, Pianosi faced intense pressure from local challengers. After a shaky start, where competitor Koska was disqualified, Pianosi capitalised on his superior speed to secure his lead. Despite a momentary setback with a mistake during a tack, Pianosi managed to reclaim his position, finishing ahead of Koska and Noah Runciman, who took fourth place.

The event solidified Poetto Beach’s reputation as a top kiteboarding venue, and competitors are already looking forward to the World Championships in Fortaleza, Brazil, scheduled for January 2027, where qualification spots for the Los Angeles Olympic Games will be contested.

Text Credits: IKA Media
Photo Credits: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk
Video Credits: ICARUS Sports