Whilst in Denmark Whilst the Waveriders were treated to superb conditions on the German North Sea coast at the weekend, slalom racing was on the programme in Calais, France. The Strait of Dover proved merciless during the third round of the French Funboard Tour (AFF). In Sangatte, the athletes faced a two-and-a-half-metre swell, extreme tidal currents and gusts of wind approaching the 30-knot mark. This combination turned the French Funboard Championship into a pure test of survival, as Francois Lorho reports. In these brutal conditions, Pierre Mortefon and Justine Lemeteyer stood out in particular, having used the event as preparation for the World Cup on Sylt.
Saturday’s slalom: Macquaert springs a surprise, Mortefon strikes back
Saturday pushed both riders and equipment to their absolute limits. With seven women and 19 men on the starting line, the race turned into a battle against the elements. Local rider Pierre Macquaert surprised the favourites by winning the first two races. But Mortefon quickly found his rhythm again. With a 6.0 sail, he kicked off a winning streak and secured the overall lead. Brendan Lorho completed the podium in third place. In the women’s event, Slalom X World Champion Justine Lemeteyer demonstrated her class with a flawless performance. She won all five heats and gave her closest rival, Maé Davico, no chance. Charlotte Philip, competing in the U21 category, rounded off the podium.
Windfoiling on Sunday: Lighter conditions, clear weather
Sunday morning brought a change in the weather, with significantly lighter winds. The race committee decided to send the entire fleet out onto the water on foils. As the swell subsided, seven further races were held. Mortefon proved virtually unbeatable, winning six of the seven races. Benoît Merceur and Alexis Mathis followed in second and third places. In the women’s event, Lemeteyer suffered two crashes in the first race, which was won by Maé Davico. However, the 2024 and 2025 Foil World Champion reacted quickly, adjusted her setup, dominated the following six races and secured a one-two finish.
