It’s the French meeting point for wind sports. Leucate (Aude) is hosting the Mondial du Vent until April 26. This 29th edition brings together over 250 competitors in three disciplines: parawing, windsurfing, and wingfoil. In this latest discipline, it is not uncommon to have world champions barely over 15 years old.
Published on April 25, 2026, at 12:45, with a 3-minute reading time
Impossible to miss, known for his recognizable style that fits well in this sport: with his dreadlocks and youthful face, Danish Benjamin Castenskiold became world freestyle champion in wingfoil last year, at just 14 years old. “I have only been on the official circuit for a year,” says the young man. “Becoming world champion was a surprise, and first of all for me. It was probably the best day of my life. It wasn’t too difficult: all of this is just for fun, nothing more.” He is back for the Mondial du Vent, which started on Wednesday, April 22, and lasts until Sunday, April 26, in Leucate (Aude).
They are a small group on the beach at La Franqui in Leucate, a site known for being one of the windiest in France: boys and girls under 20, their foil-equipped boards laid on the sand nearby. They joke together and compete this week in the only French leg of the GWA wingfoil World Cup. They meet throughout the year at competitions worldwide. “It’s really cool, we all meet at the competitions and we’re almost the same age,” confirms Axel Gérard.
The Breton began with surfing before discovering wingfoil, a sport practiced on a board with an inflatable wing held in hand. He started competing at 12. This year, he is preparing for the baccalaureate in high school in Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d’Armor) while traveling the world for world cup events. “Before, my father accompanied me, now I can go by myself,” smiles the now 17-year-old adolescent. “For classes, I follow the specialties, mathematics and physics, through CNED, and the rest I do at school. I am absent almost two weeks per month throughout the year. It’s not always easy. I know that if I want to continue competing, I have to work hard. So, I don’t really have a choice.” The message got through to Axel Gérard’s parents.
At 24 years old, Kylie Belloeuvre is almost a veteran. Double vice-world champion in 2024 and 2025, the Frenchwoman studying aerodynamics in an engineering school in Lyon is not surprised by the success of this sport among the younger generations. “I think the equipment is particularly adapted for these children who practice wingfoil,” suggests Kylie Belloeuvre. “There are much fewer constraints than in windsurfing. Far fewer constraints on the back as well because the inflatable wing is lighter. The equipment adjusts, there are very small sail sizes. This means that everyone can sail with a compromise that suits them in all conditions.”
This observation is shared by federal structures: “Compared to all emerging sports, such as skateboarding or innovative street sports, young people embrace them quite quickly and these are young people who do just that,” notes François Bovis, in charge of these new disciplines at the French Sailing Federation.
“It shouldn’t be that we get put out to pasture by these young people!” Kylie Belloeuvre, double vice-world champion in wingfoil, on franceinfo.
And from a sports standpoint, the presence of these young athletes is a real challenge for the more experienced ones. “It’s stimulating because we know they progress much faster than us,” confirms Kylie Belloeuvre. “They don’t have as much apprehension as we do because they haven’t experienced the injuries that older ones may go through. They have more carefreeness actually. It’s impressive to see these little characters send it so strongly and so high with so many rotations. That pushes us to stay in the game.”
Many teenagers on the circuit also imply constant monitoring and follow-up: a challenge for the French Sailing Federation. “The dual project is very important,” emphasizes François Bovis. “We support our high-level athletes, not all athletes, but those in the high level. It is rare that we have major issues with sports and academic monitoring.”
With this enthusiasm, wingfoil, with its image of a fun sport for young people, is a candidate to be included in the program of the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia. “My dream would be to win everything every year, to win everything in every discipline, up to the 2032 Olympic Games,” jokes Benjamin Castenskiold. In Brisbane, the Dane will be 21 years old.
