Formula Kite: light winds are making races harder for Olympic kiteboarders | Photo: World Sailing

The Formula Kite competition at Paris 2024 continues in the waters of Marseille, France.

Toni Vodisek reclaimed the lead in the men's kite, while Lauriane Nolot surged back up the standings in the women's division.

Another day of light wind meant the women were only on the water long enough to race once, but the men completed two races, and that was enough to reshuffle the standings.

Slovenia's Toni Vodisek made the most of his outing, winning race six, which was enough to edge him in front of Singapore's Max Maeder.

"My girlfriend's coming soon, so that's going to make everything easier. It's a bit unfortunate she couldn't be here before, as she brings the best out of me," Vodisek said.

"There's going to be another level when she turns up, and there'll be an end to the video games."

"Everybody's putting their best out there, but it's really fun, and I have to say, I'm really enjoying being on the biggest stage in the world."

Despite finishing fourth in race seven, Maeder was unable to hold onto the top spot after also placing 11th in the opening race of the day.

"There was an incident, so I had to take a penalty turn, and from then on, it was perhaps not the best race, but it was a thrilling one nonetheless, and good that I didn't get disqualified," added Maeder.

"It's a privilege to be here. Sometimes, the weather doesn't play well. It's part of the sport. I think we're all used to it. Of course, we'd love to go racing."

Austria's Valentin Bontus remained third overall, with a 20th-placed finish in race seven anchoring his performance.

France's Lauriane Nolot made the most of the day, winning the first and only race to move into the lead.

"I think I was super focused and even before we started, I saw the wind was dying on one side," stated Nolot.

"I had a good start and it was windy where I went. I think it's the light wind Olympic Games. Every race matters which is why I'm super focused in every single race." 

Some of the women didn't manage to keep their kite flying, and were not able to start the race.

Switzerland's Elena Lengwiler dropped out of the top three altogether following the DNS score.

Great Britain's Ellie Aldridge also received a DNS, but held on to second overall as USA's Daniela Moroz finished seventh, which was not enough to overtake the British athlete.

"It was very light wind, very tricky survival conditions again. I was happy to make it around and not swim," concluded Moroz.

"I had a really good plan in my head, and I executed it, but it didn't end up being the right plan for that race. Off the start I got pinned out going left."

Formula Kite at Paris 2024 | Results After 7 and 6 Races

Men

  1. Toni Vodisek
  2. Maximilian Maeder
  3. Riccardo Pianosi
  4. Valentin Bontus
  5. Jannis Maus
  6. Axel Mazella
  7. Bruno Lobo
  8. Connor Bainbridge
  9. Markus Edegran
  10. Qibin Huang
  11. Kameron Alexandros Maramenidis
  12. Denis Taradin
  13. Dor Zarka
  14. Martin Dolenc
  15. Lukas Walton- Keim
  16. Maks Zakowski
  17. Tiger Tyson
  18. Joseph Jonathan Weston
  19. Jean De Falbaire
  20. Victor Bolanos Lopez

Women

  1. Lauriane Nolot
  2. Eleanor Aldridge
  3. Daniela Moroz
  4. Annelous Lammerts
  5. Leonie Meyer
  6. Elena Lengwiler
  7. Breiana Whitehead
  8. Maggie Eillen Pescetto
  9. Julia Damasiewicz
  10. Gal Zukerman
  11. Alina Kornelli
  12. Gisela Pulido Borrell
  13. Maria Catalina Turienzo
  14. Mafalda Pires De Lima
  15. Jingyue Chen
  16. Derin Atakan
  17. Justina Kitchen
  18. Emily Bugeja
  19. Benyapa Jantawan
  20. Julie Paturau

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