Ozone Double at Defi & Formula Wing Europeans

June 5, 2025 / Kite Wing

Newly-launched FusionV2 Ultra-X wing helps push Ozone to the top of the rankings in two epic European wing competitions at the start of the season.

Meanwhile, in the hands of Ozone R&D team rider, Axel Mazella, the Vortex Ultra-X kite delivered further evidence of what a potent multi-functional weapon it has become in the Defi Kite races

DEFI WING AND KITE
May 2025

The Fusion V2 Ultra-X (patented) high-performance double-surface wing with ram-air tech took the top spots among 600 riders at the Défi Wing event in Gruissan, France, as well as heading the order at the IWSA Formula Wing European Championships in Turkey.

Mathis Ghio the overall victor in both.

Fusion V2 Ultra-X

In addition, Ozone capped a successful run when it came out top in the Défi Kite event, where R&D team rider, France’s Axel Mazella, won out over 300 pro and amateur athletes using R1V5 and Vortex Ultra-X kites, with another Ozone rider, Nell de Jaham finishing second.

Axel also took runner-up spot in the Defi Wing overall, an incredible demonstration of all-round consistency… and love of speed!

We couldn’t be more pleased with how it all went, with several of Ozone sales and marketing team members taking part and loving the event atmosphere and super busy, challenging race distances. Next year, you should come!

OZONE DELIGHT AT DEFI WING

France’s Mathis Ghio landed the overall win over three days of intense long-distance racing at Défi Wing when the pace and versatility of the Ozone FusionV2 Ultra-X came into its own.

Of the seven races, some as long as 50kms with 10kms reaching legs, Ghio won three and came second twice to take victory in the event that is celebration of wingfoiling’s inclusivity with over 600 competitors.

“I loved that race,” said Ghio, after crossing the line.

“Fifty kilometres, crossing back on one another with 600 on the water, it’s so good. Finishing like this is so good. I had a decent lead in the end. [But] we had tight battles and I managed to increase my speed and take the advantage.

“The Ozone team riders have been pushing this week. We have made the top four in almost every single race.”

Five of the top ten men at the finish competed on the FusionV2 Ultra-X. Olympic kitefoiler, Axel Mazella, was able to take the second podium place at Défi Wing with a win and a clutch of second and third places.

Ozone team rider Kamil Manowiecki, of Poland, secured fifth place overall after a strong week in the long-distance format with a packed course that was a new experience for him.

“It’s my first Défi experience,” said Manowiecki.

“So many wingfoilers. I’ve never seen such a start. It’s definitely the only one in history. We had so many tough races. The toughest is to be in the middle of the mix; to avoid the others at the mark roundings. You have to be careful, and have fun. Because that’s what the event is about.”

Fifteen-year-old Baptiste Loire, from France, also riding FusionV2 Ultra-X wings, was a new sensation as he won the U16 division and landed seventh place overall.

OZONE’S DEFI WING OVERALL RESULTS:
1 Mathis Ghio (Fusion V2 Ultra-X)
2 Axel Mazella (Fusion V2 Ultra-X)

OZONE DOUBLES UP AT DEFI KITE

Ozone team rider Axel Mazella doubled up on his success on home waters where he beat off the stiff challenge of 300 riders over five races to take the overall win at Défi Kite.

In the hydrofoil division, Mazella was riding the Ozone R1V5 Olympic-registered foil kites and the Ozone Vortex in smaller sizes, when the wind gusted to 40 knots. He took four wins from five.

“That’s the most difficult thing in Défi Kite—300 people on the startline,” said Mazella.

“It’s never happened in any kite event. [Often] I crossed the buoy in first position and then on the way back you have to cross 299 riders coming towards you. It’s a really nice picture I have in my head because all of these kites, multiple colours in the sky, and you slalom around them. So it’s a good feeling.”

Ozone’s French distributor, Julien Kerneur, got the third place overall in the Twin-tip division, after displaying superb kite and riding skills to negotaiate his way through the crowds on port tack, tight along the shoreline in the busy, but flatter, waters.

OZONE’S DEFI KITE OVERALL RESULTS:
1 Axel Mazella (R1V5 and Vortex Ultra-X)
2 Nell de Jahamm (R1V5)

AXEL MAZELLA

DEFI KITE WINNER
DEFI WING RUNNER-UP

Inspiring all-rounder & fundamental part of Ozone’s full time R&D team.

OZONE SOARS AT FORMULA WING EUROPEANS

Just a week earlier, at the Formula Wing European Championships, in Urla, Turkey, Mathis Ghio and Kamil Manowiecki, riding FusionV2 Ultra-X wings, took gold and silver respectively.

The French and Polish team-mates were neck-and-neck throughout the qualifying series of races that featured long-distance and more traditional windward-leeward courses.

Ghio’s performances across the week gave him direct entry to the grand final in pole position with two “match-points”, needing only one win for victory overall. Manowiecki was just behind, starting with one “match-point”.

In a thriller, Ghio took the race win by a narrow margin, to give him the European title for the second successive year. Manowiecki was just behind the Frenchman to take second place.

In the women’s contest, Greece’s Emilia Kosti, also riding FusionV2 Ultra-X wings, led the fleet for much of the week and entered the grand final in pole position. But she was just pipped for the title and took silver.

FORMULA WING EUROPEANS

MEN
1 Mathis Ghio (FRA) Ozone Fusion V2 Ultra-X
2 Kamil Manowiecki (POL) Fusion V2 Ultra-X

WOMEN
2 Emilia Kosti (GRE) Fusion V2 Ultra-X

We’d like to say a huge congratulations to all the Défi athletes!

Mass participation, the challenging long distances, and the spirit of the organisation make this thing the stand out event that it is.

The 23rd edition of the Défi event with 2,200 competitors across wing, kite and windsurf was one for the history books. Congratulations to all the athletes who joined this unique celebration wind and watersports. See you there next year!

Defi kite results

Defi wing results

Words: Ian MacKinnon
Defi photos: JM Cornu and Louis McHugh
Formula Wing European photos: IWSA Media