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Kitesurf

ENGIE has proudly sponsored kiteboarding since 2009. This partnership fosters common values that transcend both the sport and its performance, such as using wind power – a renewable energy – as well as upholding environmental standards, promoting regions, and solidarity.

 

For ENGIE, our purpose – to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions – is expressed via our purpose statement: to bring this vision to life through our partnerships and share it.

The Group has been supporting French kiteboarding for nearly 14 years, primarily through two events: the ENGIE Kite Tour, which in 2022 will consist of four stages held between April and November, and the French Kitefoil Championships. And as proof of kiteboarding’s success, it has been chosen as an Olympic discipline for the 2024 Games.

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As an official partner of the French Federation of Free Flight (FFVL) since 2009, 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 kite practices, free flight sports include, for example, paragliding, hang-gliding, kite flying and boomerang.
 
Following the change of delegated responsibility in January 2017, ENGIE has also partnered with the French KiteFoil Championships organised by the French Sailing Federation (FFVoile).
 
Moreover, the Group is proud to have three ambassadors promoting the sport, namely Alex Caizergues, four-time kite speed world champion and current holder of the world speed record for kiteboarding, with an average speed of 107.3 km/h over 500m, Axel Mazella, three-time European champion, and Poema Newland, 2021 European champion and runner-up of the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. The support shown for kiteboarding over the 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 (kiteboarding for athletes with disability) and the practice of kiteboarding at all levels, whether it be young talents participating in national competitions or the general public.

2022 ENGIE Kite Tour

For the 14th year in a row, ENGIE is the Title sponsor of the main Speed Crossing circuit in France, known as the ENGIE Kite Tour. Created in 2004 by the FFVL (French Kitesurfing Federation), this tour has, in just a few years, become the go-to event for all kiteboarding fans, allowing men and women of all ages and backgrounds, whether members of the French team, high-level athletes or amateurs, to meet up on the same start line, whatever board they use (foil, twintip or directional) and whatever their level. 

The tour, jointly organised since 2019 by the FFVL (French Sailing Federation) and ENGIE, is a key competition promoting kiteboarding as a sport in France. Every stage of the ENGIE Kite Tour, which is held at different beaches around France’s coastline, is the scene of a great sporting show. 

In 2022, the tour will include 4 stages (including 3 new ones) between April and November, on the French coasts:

  • Cap d’Agde (15-17 April) 
  • Lorient-Gâvres (24-26 June) 
  • Saint-Jean-de-Monts (21-23 October) 
  • Cannes (18-20 November) 

Throughout the event, large crowds of avid spectators will come into contact with the top French athletes in the sport, including Alexia Fancelli, 3rd at the 2021 European Championships; Poema Newland, 2021 European champion and silver medallist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires; Anais Mai Des Jardins, 2021 France runner-up; as well as Axel Mazella three-time European Champion and runner-up at the 2021 World Championships; Nicolas Parlier, 3rd at the 2021 French Championships; Théo de Ramecourt , 2021 World Champion; and Benoit Gomez , Europe 2021 runner-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.

 

French Windfoil and Kitefoil championships

ENGIE is also a partner of the French KiteFoil, Windfoil and Kitefreestyle Championships, a competition during which the titles of French champion are put at stake every year. In 2022, the competition will be held in Martigues, on the Etang de Berre (Bouches-du-Rhône), from 20 to 26 August. In 2021, Loriane NOLOT finished in front of Anais MAI DESJARDINS and Alexia FANCELLI in the women’s category. For the men, Maxime NOCHET, took advantage of the absence of Axel MAZELLA, Théo DE RAMECOURT and Nicolas PARLIER to claim the victory. Alongside him on the podium were Benoit GOMEZ and Thomas LOMBARDO.

 

World record for Alexandre Caizergues

During the Salt and Speed event, organized in November 2017 at the Salin-de-Giraud site at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône in the South of France (Bouches-du-Rhône), kitesurfer Alexandre Caizergues, who has been sponsored by ENGIE since 2010, set a new world record on Monday, November 13, 2017: 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 and four-time world champion, has made yet another piece of history in his sport. Already, back in 2010, Alex Caizergues was the first man to sail at a speed of over 100 km/h.