2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy - Day 4

Manowiecki first to finals but Ghio has grip on world title - 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk

After some crazy tight crossings, dramatic lead changes and even some crashes on Saturday, most of the medal series fleet has been determined, including the first riders to make the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy finals.

Three races were sailed in the morning, and then the men's fleet was split into gold, silver and bronze fleets. Women continued racing as a fleet of 20.

Starts couldn't have been tighter in both fleets, with riders weaving in and out of each other, their wings nearly touching. The top nine racers in the men's gold fleet and women's fleet grabbed a precious ticket into Sunday's Medal Series.

The remaining 53 men and 11 women are now left to duke it out Sunday morning as one massive fleet in the free-for-all Golden Ticket race.

Pianazza couldn't be contained, leading the fleet and first spot in finals - 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy - photo © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk

Mixed medal series emotions

It was Kamil Manowiecki (POL) and Mathis Ghio (FRA), and Manon Pianazza (FRA), and Maddalena Spanu (ITA) who crushed it Saturday and are straight into Sunday's finals.

Despite winning the last three races, a shocked Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA) missed out on a straight shot to the finals by a mere three-tenths of a point and ended up in third. Oscar Leclair (FRA) was the last man guaranteed a spot in the medal series in ninth.

Cappuzzo still can't believe his three wins - 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy - photo © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk

The battle for ninth in the women's fleet was not easier. Iset Segura (ESP) and Orane Ceris (FRA) sailed their best races in the event and came flying out of the left corner of the course in the final races to squeak into the medal series in 8th and 9th.

"I don't know what to feel because I haven't trained and on one hand I've felt bad to be in ninth, but on the other I'm still top ten in the world so, I don't know what to think," said Orane who had mixed emotions about her path to the medal series. "When everything is going right it is more exciting I think 'Maybe there is still something left for me to do on the tour. I'm not out of it.

Ceris nails a second place enroute to medal series - 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy - photo © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk

Almost a world champ

The biggest news of Saturday was Ghio closing in on the 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Champion title. He has booked his ticket to Sunday's final and even if he finishes fourth in the finals, he only has to show up at the next event in Brazil and he is world champion for 2024.

The Frenchman has already won this year's World Cup in Türkiye, the Europeans and World Cup in China.

"I had a chance to be world champion by the end of today and there was an added pressure for me in this gold fleet," said Ghio who faltered in the beginning of the afternoon, dropping to fourth overall at one point. "Being in the top two by the end of the day was my goal, of course winning would be the dream."

Depending on ranking, riders now in 3rd through 9th will move into either the repechage, quarterfinals or semifinals. The better ranked sailors have fewer races to sail to get into the finals.

Segura had her best day ever at a World Cup event - 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy - photo © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk

The rider's union

Sunday is a massive day for everyone but the riders are dedicated to this new discipline and stuck around to share their ideas on the future wingfoil racing in a semi-annual rider's summit.

"WingFoil racing is evolving super fast, both in terms of equipment and of the athlete's performance," said tour manager Marina Psychogyiou. "We are trying to adapt the format of our World Cup accordingly, while ensuring the stability and the fairness. At the same time we are trying to listen to all the ideas of the community. It is an exciting process."

From discouraging the use of super tiny foils that only elite riders can fly to riders having more of a say in venue selection, Psychogyiou said there are always interesting opinions heard. "We are taking the comments onboard to make the plan for the 2025 season and beyond."

Regardless of opinion, it's obvious that all the athletes here in Cagliari are committed to wingfoil racing and take this stewardship seriously.

Ideas flow at the post-race rider summit - 2024 Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy - photo © IWSA media / Robert Hajduk

With another full day of racing planed for the last day of the championship, it would be pretty radical if the two Golden Ticket winners Sunday can make it through the longest path and win a medal.

No matter where riders ended up Saturday, however, literally everyone has a chance to win the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Italy.

Results Men:

Results Women: