Big shifts, tactical moves and rainbow chasing - International Kiteboarding Association

Offshore Mistral delivered a full on mind game (and some stunning rainbow views) on Day 2 of the Sardinia Kiteboard Grand Slam, presenting a completely different challenge on the waters of Quartu Sant’Elena.

Starting at around 16 knots before dropping down to a 6 - 7 knots by the final race, Thursday’s conditions called for maximum concentration. It was a real win-or-lose day - forcing the world’s best Formula Kite riders to adapt on the spot, execute multiple maneuvers, make last minute kite changes and keep their kites dry while fighting for every inch of position.

Mind games and tactical risk-taking

For France’s Lysa Caval, sitting second overall in the women's fleet, the key to surviving the day was adaptability and quick thinking.

“You really had to pay attention to every shift of the wind,” Caval explained. “You had to do multiple tacks and jibes. Normally you need two, but in this wind, you really had to adapt. It was a real fight because it wasn’t always the same riders up front - sometimes Elena Lengwiler, sometimes Lauriane Nolot, or Maya Ashkenazi. You could take a risk, tack earlier, and sometimes it paid off, sometimes they passed you. In one race while leading, I saw a rainbow and thought, 'This is perfect.' Just a super fun day on the water.”

Caval and Israel's Maya Ashkenazi were among the first to navigate the tricky light wind finish and reach the shore with dry kites, a victory in itself.

“You had to be on a good gust or shift and just go,” said Ashkenazi, who holds fourth overall. “It was a win-or-lose day, challenging, but so much fun. It wasn't the same racing as usual; you needed to think a lot more. Things were changing so fast - sometimes you’d look back and think, ‘Ah, I’m first!’”

Battles, equipment gambles, and boat-hopping in the men's fleet

In the men’s fleet, Croatia’s Martin Dolenc (6th overall) experienced the full rollercoaster of Mistral racing, including a race win.

“Very tricky day, gusty and shifty, and the races were tough - I was always fighting with someone,” Dolenc said. “I had a good start in one race, went to the right, hit the layline perfectly, and was far in front, which felt amazing.”

However, as the breeze faded ahead of the fourth and final race, Dolenc made a high stakes gamble to swap to his 21 meter kite. “I managed to switch and came back, but I missed the start by 20 seconds. It is what it is, but at least I tried. It’s a good lesson for next time - just get into the coach boat like Riccardo and head back straight to the race course.”

Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi executed that exact strategy, hopping onto a coach boat to reach the starting area in time on his bigger kite - a move that paid off with a victory in the final race of the day.

Austria’s reigning Olympic Champion Valentin Bontus (5th overall) also highlighted the technical demands of the offshore breeze.

“Nice offshore, shifty conditions with some real sailing tactics you needed to apply,” Bontus noted. “An interesting day - we didn’t expect that much wind to begin with. I switched to the 21m kite after the second race. It was awesome to get some offshore conditions. It’s been a while since we had wind coming off the land with shifts and difficult sailing situations.”