Powerful ocean swell, committed riders and impressive speeds! The fourth day of the Presqu’île de Crozon Foil Festival 2026 delivered an exceptional spectacle with the Downwind SUP Foil event. In the Iroise Sea, with a 2-metre swell and a 12-second period, athletes pushed their limits to reach the finish line in conditions that were as demanding as they were spectacular.
Atlantic swell sets the stage for an epic race
At 10 a.m., participants gathered at Morgat harbour for the race briefing, led by race director Amaury Dormet and Mathieu Carpentier, representing the French Surfing Federation. After receiving their safety instructions, the riders headed by car towards the start area. Meanwhile, the on-water safety team made its way towards the starting line aboard a fleet of boats led by experienced local sailors. With the conditions looking promising and the wind blowing in the right direction, the organisers quickly realised that this could become a memorable downwind race.
From midday onwards, riders prepared their equipment on Veryac’h Beach, mounting their foils onto their downwind SUP boards before setting off towards Pointe de Pen-Hir and its famous rock formations known as the “Tas de Pois”. Following the safety checks, the competitors made their way to the starting line. At 1:44 p.m., the 86 registered competitors set off between two boats for an open-ocean race, paddles in hand, searching for the acceleration provided by the Atlantic’s long rolling swells.
A spectacular show in the heart of the swell
From the very first moments, the riders managed to lift onto their foils and glide above the water. A leading group quickly broke away and was never caught. From the safety boats, the spectacle was breathtaking. The competitors’ silhouettes appeared and disappeared behind the ocean’s powerful swells, only to re-emerge seconds later, flying across the water at full speed on their foils.
Kai Thomson takes the win at an average speed of nearly 19 knots
In the men’s race, Australian Kai Thomson proved to be the fastest rider. He completed the course at an announced average speed of 19 knots, or approximately 35 km/h an impressive performance in such powerful ocean swell. Just ten seconds later, his compatriot Alexander Tibbits crossed the finish line. Polynesian rider Axel Pham completed the top three, following his victory in the first French Prone Surf Foil Championship the previous day.
French rider Thomas Goyard also delivered an excellent performance, finishing in seventh place. The race confirmed the growing level of Downwind SUP Foil, where reading the ocean, positioning and the ability to link successive accelerations through the swell make all the difference.
Marnie Bertram, the young german rider who stole the show
n the women’s competition, the standout performance came from 16-year-old German rider Marnie Bertram. She claimed victory ahead of French rider Mélanie Lafenêtre and Polynesian rider Naumi Eychenne. In particularly demanding conditions, the young rider demonstrated an impressive ability to harness the swell and maintain her pace throughout the course. A remarkable performance that places her among the world’s top riders!
A discipline that continues to push the limits
t the end of this demanding event, 69 competitors crossed the finish line, including nine women. Twelve riders withdrew after tackling the challenges of an open-ocean course in such powerful Atlantic swell. These figures highlight the physical commitment required to complete a downwind race in such conditions. After the race, participants returned to their vehicles at Veryac’h before rounding off the sporting day with an evening at La Flambée and Café du Port, accompanied by a DJ set.
Congratulations to all the competitors who braved the swell and pushed themselves to their limits on this challenging course. Year after year, the level keeps rising, speeds continue to increase and performances become ever more impressive. The Presqu’île de Crozon Foil Festival continues to celebrate every aspect of foiling, bringing together elite competition, innovation and a deep connection with the ocean.
And the action continues tomorrow, Saturday afternoon, with another downwind event, following the Surf Foil finals at La Palue in the morning, promising another thrilling encounter with the Atlantic conditions.
