Ghio ready for the final push towards third world title

October 10, 2024 / Race Wing

Approaching the penultimate event of the Wingfoil Racing World Tour season in Sardinia, Mathis Ghio holds a commanding championship lead. If the French university student can finish no more than five places behind his Ozone team mate, Kamil Manowiecki, he’ll claim his third world title in a row, with one event still to run in Brazil

Photos: IKA Media / Robert Hajduk – China

Mathis and Kamil have both been ripping on the Fusion, Ozone’s unique, full double-surface wing design, in its first race season since launch.

They find themselves in the top two going into the last two events.

We’re thrilled to see what these awesomely fast riders have been able to do with the Fusion and wish them both the best as the face off for the 2024 title.

Here, Mathis shares his thoughts as he heads to Sardinia, for the penultimate World Cup event, that runs 16 – 20th October.

WINGFOIL RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN

WORDS: Mathis Ghio (FRA)

We’re just 8 days away from the penultimate World Cup event in Sardinia, a crucial 4-star competition for the world rankings. After winning the last four ranking events, this could be the decider before heading to Brazil for the season finale.

The level of competition is higher than ever, with the front pack getting increasingly tight. My speed has been consistently strong in recent events, allowing me to maintain the lead while others have experienced more fluctuating performances. This has created a nice points gap between myself and Kamil, who is also my teammate and currently ranked 2nd.

The overall pace and technique have dramatically improved with double-surface wings. We’re now hitting 15-20 knots upwind and over 30 knots downwind in mid-race — nearly three knots faster than last year. I feel constant pressure from the competition, but handling that is part of the game.

Heading into Sardinia, I’m confident in my preparation. Training with the French team recently has been invaluable, thanks to the federation’s camps. Of course, there’s some stress, as I need to secure my #1 ranking in this event to relax before the final stop in Brazil.

Cagliari is a unique spot. Last year’s World Cup there saw everything—from light thermal onshore winds with tricky coastal effects, to strong offshore gusts and unpredictable conditions near the beach. It’s a highly technical and strategic venue with major wind shifts, but my RS and IQFoil background, along with support from our French coach, gives me confidence.

I’m taking the ferry to Sardinia soon, ready to relive last year’s memories and approach the event with focus. To secure the 2024 WingFoil World Championship, I only need to finish within five places of Kamil.

That’s my goal, and I’ll give it everything.

Kamil’s side of the story

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