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Kitesurf

The values of kitesurfing, a fast-growing sport which draws its energy from the power of the wind, are similar to those of ENGIE when it comes to developing green energies to enable businesses, local authorities and private individuals to be supplied with electricity guaranteed to come from 100% renewable energy sources.

ENGIE has been a back of kitesurfing in France since 2008. The Group's support for kite surfing is channeled through its partnerships with two federations (FFVL and FFVOILE), the ENGIE Kite Tour events, a 5-stage series hosted throughout France between March and October, and the French KiteFoil championships.

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As an official partner of the French Federation of Free Flight (FFVL) since 2008, the Group is committed to promoting free flight sports and supporting the development of their practice in France, including a CSR (handikite) version. In addition to the various practices of kite, the sports of Free Flight are for example paragliding, hang-gliding, kite flying, boomerang.

Following the change of delegated responsibility in January 2017, ENGIE has also partnered with the French KiteFoil Championships organized by the French Sailing Federation (FFVoile).

The Group is proud to have Alex Caizergues, four-time kite speed world champion and current holder of the world speed record for kitesurfing with an average speed of 107.3 km/h over 500m, as an Ambassador for promoting the sport. This support of kitesurfing for over ten years also reflects the Group’s policy with regard to sport sponsorship, with sustainable support based on loyalty, a desire to contribute to developing practice of the sport and excellence at the elite level.

ENGIE also promotes the development of handikite (kitesurfing for athletes with disability) and the practice of kitesurfing at all levels, whether young talents participating in national competitions or the general public.

The ENGIE Kite Tour 2020
 

For the twelfth year in succession, ENGIE is the Title Sponsor of the main Speed Crossing circuit in France, known as the ENGIE Kite Tour. Created in 2004 by FFVL (French Kitesurfing Federation), this event has in just a few years become the major event for the  spectators and the best French kitesurfers and represents the biggest competition to promote kitesurfing and its practice by the greatest number of people in France. Since 2019, the circuit has been jointly organized by FFVOILE (French Sailing Federation) and ENGIE.


As a result of the current health crisis, changes are being made to the series of events as the season progresses. Initially planned to include 5 stages, the ENGIE Kite Tour 2020 will now be reduced to 4, following postponement of the Lorient event initially scheduled between June 26 and 28. This event will now be included in the 2021 program. The Wimereux stage, scheduled between June 12 and 14, has been postponed to September 11-13.

Each stage of the ENGIE Kite Tour 2020 will be an spectacular sporting showcase on four spectacular French beaches:
 

  • Arcachon (March 13 to 15)

  • Lorient-Gâvres (postponed until June 2021)

  • Wimereux (September 11-13)

  • La Grande Motte (September 25-27)

  • Hyères (October 9-11)

     

Large crowds of avid spectators will come into contact with the top French athletes in the sport, including Alexia Fancelli, who finished 3rd at the 2018 world championships in Aarhus, Poema Newland, silver medalist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, and Anais Mai Des Jardins. The four top kitesurfers in France - and perhaps the World - Axel Mazella (World Gold Cup champion and European Formula Kite champion 2019), Nicolas Parlier, (three-time Formula Kite World Champion), Théo de Ramecourt (fourth in the Formula Kite World Championship 2019) and Maxime Nocher (2019 French Foil Kiteboard Champion) will join this prestigious line-up.Naturally, the speed record holder, four-time world speed champion and Group Ambassador for more than 10 years Alex Caizergues will be there for every stage.

You can keep up-to-date with all the news of the competition on the official ENGIE Kite Tour website.
 

World record for Alexandre Caizergues

 

At Salt and Speed, organized in November 2017 at the Salin-de-Giraud site at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône in the South of France, kitesurfer Alexandre Caizergues, who has been sponsored by ENGIE since 2010, was hoping for a good weather window that would give him a chance of beating his own world speed record for kitesurfing.

 

On Monday, November 13, 2017, Alex Caizergues set a new world record of 57.97 knots over 500 meters, equivalent to 107.36 km/h, beating his own previous record, set back in 2013, of 56.62 knots, equivalent to 104.8 km/h).

The French kitesurfer, a four-time world champion, has made yet another piece of history in his sport. Back in 2010, Alex Caizergues was the first man to sail at a speed of over 100 km/h.
 

French Windfoil and Kitefoil championships

 

ENGIE was also sponsor of the French Kitefoil, Windfoil and Kitefreestyle championships, which were held from August 26 to 30, 2019 at Port-Leucate, in south-western France. The titles of Men’s and Women’s French champions are decided annually at this event.


In 2020, the Group will once again partner with the French Championships in Narbonne between October 17 and 23 October.