Defi Kite Gruissan 2025 – United by the Wind

Wed 28th May, 2025 @ 10:08 am

Kitesurfing News
Defi Kite Gruissan 2025 – United by the Wind

If you’ve never seen 300+ kites launch into a 40 km-long race through howling offshore wind, you haven’t lived the Defi Kite. Held each spring in Gruissan, France, the event is part marathon, part survival mission, part international kite tribe reunion – and 100% wind-driven madness.

In its 10th edition, the 2025 Defi Kite brought together over 300 riders from 18 countries — from Wallis & Futuna and New Zealand to Qatar and Hawai‘i. Some were seasoned pros with Olympic medals. Others had just learned to kite a few years ago. But when the tramontane blows at over 30 knots, nobody’s level really matters, only the will to charge hard, hold on, and make it to the finish line.

The Wild Zone

The race format is as simple as brutal: one or two laps of 20km, between Gruissan and Port La Nouvelle, in full offshore wind. No buoys to hide behind, no shelters, just miles of open sea and hundreds of kites slicing through it at full speed along the wild sand beach.

“I was fully committed and battling at full speed with Nel De Jaham until the end,” said Axel Mazella, pro rider from the French team and eventual overall winner. “The organizer put us straight into the wild zone. It was really a great race.”

On the women’s side, UK Olympic wingfoil champion Ellie Aldridge joined the madness for the first time, swapping wings for a kitefoil. “It was amazing,” she said. “The wind was pretty strong, I went with my 5m kite for the first race and a 6m for the second. I don’t normally do races like this, but it’s good practice. It stretches your legs over long distances, and having all these kites around me was incredible.”

But it was France’s Lauriane Nolot who clinched victory. After winning the first race, she summed up the Defi in a sentence: “There is no tactic at all – you just push and pray not to crash.” With legs suffering from the effort, she added, “I was battling with my friends, and until the end, it wasn’t done. Now my legs are dead.”

Everyone Lines Up Together

What makes the Defi unique isn’t just the format — it’s the lineup. There’s no separation between age groups, skill levels, or fame. Pros and amateurs ride the same course, in the same wind, simultaneously.

On one side of the beach, you had Christian, who celebrated his 80th birthday during the event. “I started kiting at 65, after I retired as a surgeon. It was tough to learn initially, but now I’m an average-plus kiter. I did my last Defi at 70, took a break, and decided to come back for my 80th with my kids. My goal? Finish the 40km in one piece.” He smiled before heading down the beach: “It’s not about winning, it’s a Kite Marathon.”

At the other end of the age spectrum was Lucas, just 14 years old, the youngest participant of the event. “It is my first Defi. I just want to finish the race, challenge myself, and have fun.” Seeing him take off with confidence reminded everyone that passion, not age, matters on the water.

And then there was Benjamin, who flew over 22,000 kilometres from Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific. “We are building a new event in our islands, and the Defi organisers have supported us from the beginning and invited us to compete this year. For me, the hardest part is managing the adrenaline and the stress of riding in such a massive pack. Technically, it’s not that complicated with only a few jibes, but a 40km race is physically intense. Still, the best part of this event is the spirit. As an amateur, it’s unreal to line up next to world champions. It feels like one big kite family.”

Behind the Scenes of the Beast

Pulling off an event like the Defi is no small task. The beach village — complete with brand booths, food trucks, live music, and pumping parties — takes weeks to build. On the water, teams of lifeguards patrol on jet skis and zodiacs to ensure every rider makes it back safely.

“It’s like managing a moving village, both on land and at sea,” said Race Director Franck Roguet. “The tramontane wind is flat but offshore, so it pushes everyone out into the open. Our safety teams are constantly on the move. Luckily, this year we’ve had perfect conditions and no significant issues to report on the water.” He paused, smiling as he looked out at the endless lines of kites zipping by offshore. “It started as a French event,” he said, “but now we’re truly international. The challenge is massive, but so is the passion.”

A Family on the Water

Gruissan doesn’t just host a race; it is a ritual. One that binds the global kite tribe together year after year. There are bigger prize purses elsewhere and slicker formats. But nothing beats the Defi for raw soul, wind-fueled grit, and the feeling that you’ve survived something together.

By the time the sun sets behind the beach bar, the DJ and live music kick off, drinks flow, and stories from the day spin all around. Some came to win, most came to survive, but all came to live it.