Crozon Foil Festival 2024: Where Foiling Competition Entered a New Era – Results + Report

The inaugural Crozon Foil Festival 2024 took place last weekend in the stunning bay of Crozon, orchestrated by Amaury Dormet, a pioneer in water sports in France who has been at the forefront of SUP racing over the last decade. Dormet innovated once again with what is already considered the largest foil event in Europe, bringing together more than 110 SUP, surf, and pumping foilers. The event attracted some of the best athletes from all over continental France and French overseas territories—Tahiti, New Caledonia, Guadeloupe, and La Réunion—as well as from around the world, including Hawaii, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Puerto Rico, and Portugal. This ambitious and highly innovative event experimented with three disciplines spread across five stages over four days.

At the heart of the festival’s success were the standout performances of Naumi Eychenne from Tahiti and Gabriella Eliah Bella from Hawaii, who both emerged as the overall champions, showcasing remarkable versatility across all disciplines. In the men’s competition, Haunui Haumani from Tahiti was crowned the overall winner, proving his mastery in foil sports.

Looking to the future, the festival is already sparking behind-the-scenes discussions about potential collaborations with other events in 2025, as well as the possibility of establishing an international foil circuit. All eyes are now on next year’s edition, expected to take place around the same dates with an even larger scale. Here’s our Q&A session with Amaury Dormet, followed by our full event recap! – Photos: Loïc Olivier / Crozon Foil Festival

Congratulations Amaury on the success of this first edition of the Crozon Foil Festival! What were the challenges of organizing such an ambitious and innovative event? How much influence did the athletes have in the organizational decisions?

Hello Mathieu! It’s always challenging to launch new formats without prior experience. This time, I was starting from scratch. The event’s genesis dates back four years with a French Downwind Championship, followed by an Open de France Downwind last year. With the support of the Brittany League, we came up with the idea of a festival in Morgat, leveraging Morgat’s harbor as a natural platform, especially for the Pumping Foil event.

The format worked in the Crozon Peninsula, which has proven its capacity to host an event featuring three disciplines, five stages, and spread over four days, all in one location. The ambitious program with these three disciplines allowed all the international athletes to showcase their skills.

The Dockstart managed to attract a large crowd. The surf foil was more of a niche event, drawing an audience that naturally goes to the beach. As for the downwind, there wasn’t much of a live audience, but it provided stunning images of the territory.

No matter what, we’re 100% dependent on the weather, even more so with foiling than SUP racing. Ensuring the safety of all participants means we can’t always do whatever we want, and that’s the key difference between freeriding and competition.

As for the athletes’ involvement in decision-making: at every event, I had key advisors. For SUP foil, I worked with the Ligue de Surf de Bretagne (Brittany Surf League), notably Camille Dubrana, who had competition experience, and the league had already organized three surf foil competitions. For the Downwind Foil, we relied on the local SUP foil community beforehand, as well as input from international riders during the event. For the Pumping Foil with Dockstart, I leaned on the expertise of Swiss rider Steve Fleury and French rider François Prévost.

How did you manage to gather so many top-level riders for this event?

First and foremost, many people have known me for a long time and are aware that the events organized by my team in Morgat are synonymous with innovation, fun, and safety.

The success of last year’s Open de France SUP Foil Downwind also created buzz, due to the conditions here in the Crozon Peninsula and the format with multiple runs, with results accumulated over several days of competition.

Additionally, our main event partners Axis and Appletree also helped by sending their best athletes to the event as well as other brands.

In recent months, especially following the Triple Crown – a series of three SUP Foil races in Hawaii – where my friend Fred Bonnef was present—there was talk about a major international competition taking place in French Brittany. Word of mouth among friends and passionate riders worked, and by offering several foil formats, the Crozon Foil Festival quickly became “the place to be,” even before the event started.

The changing weather conditions posed a significant challenge. How did you handle the unpredictable elements, particularly for the two Downwind runs?

First, it’s important to note that currently in the Foil world, there are several essential questions which are debated and we encountered them all during the festival as, let’s not forget, we’re still pioneering this sport at a competitive level. For example, what’s the minimum swell and wind needed to glide in a Downwind? How much does having the right gear for the day’s conditions impact performance? Should a pro rider be prepared for any possible conditions, both physically and in terms of equipment? What’s the strategy for ocean swell versus wind swell, etc.?

The weather was particularly tricky. At the start of the week, the forecast showed little wind, forcing us to launch the first Downwind run on Thursday. In just two days, we had to reorganize six months of planning and set up a sea team that wasn’t initially planned.

Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky with the first run. One hour before the start, we gathered with a group of international athlete advisors, embarked on a boat and gave the go-ahead based on the conditions at that time. However, half an hour before the start, a cloud mass passed, the wind dropped and shifted, putting us in completely different conditions than forecasted.

At that point, we had two options: cancel or continue, with the main risk being hypothermia. We decided to proceed, ensuring safety from the rear. Out of 110 athletes, 84 decided to start. I have great respect for everyone who participated, and also for those who opted out, either because lightwind wasn’t their thing or they didn’t have the right gear.

In the end, more than half completed the race, including all three women, and some athletes really did enjoy the huge physical effort required to pump continuously in low swell conditions.

The second Downwind on Sunday went extremely well. There were 81 starters, no DNF, and we had a 15-knot wind established over a 9.5 km course with wind swell.

The Dockstart Pumping Foil was a massive hit, and the videos are buzzing across the web. Can you tell us the story behind this event and how it became one of the festival’s highlights?

We all know that Dockstart is booming, and it’s also a great entry point into foiling. I quickly realized I had a natural stadium to organize it, with a catway dock and a breakwater that could accommodate large crowds in the Morgat harbor. So, there was a huge potential to offer a spectacle to a big audience.

I worked closely with François Prévost and Steve Fleury, and a few months ago, we did some tests and realized that the format we originally imagined was a bit too risky. So, we scaled it down to the event we held last weekend. Adding just one buoy caused some falls, but not too many, and that became part of the show!

Catways are perfect for Dockstart Pumping Foil and can be found worldwide, so by the end of the event, we realized that you can actually train for this discipline under similar conditions anywhere in the world.

In the end, we had 55 participants—50 men and 5 women— and everyone raced at least twice. There were initial heats with five racers, then four in the repechage rounds with 40 athletes, quarterfinals with five racers, semifinals with four, and a final with four.

With the event overlooking the race, everything was designed to captivate the public: food trucks, commentary, a small exhibitor village, and we drew around 1,000 people throughout the afternoon, mostly locals from all generations. We discovered a sports spectacle accessible to everyone.

After such a successful event, there’s a lot of talk about a promising future with potential collaborations and even a circuit. How do you see the future, and are you already thinking about the 2025 edition?

Absolutely! Next year, we plan to stick with the same format, as we’ve validated our ambitious plan of three disciplines, but we aim to improve. We’re looking at mid-October for 2025, most likely the week of October 14-19, allowing time for athletes competing in events the previous weekend to join us, but starting earlier than this year to provide more flexibility in organizing around the conditions.

We also want to create a two-tier event, especially for the Downwind, with a waiting period during the week for around 50 pro riders, and a more open, uncapped Downwind on the weekend of October 17-18, while still keeping participation by invitation or skill validation.

We’re also realizing that foiling is attracting many new young riders who we don’t necessarily know yet but who are incredibly talented. One priority will be to give them a chance to shine.

Additionally, we plan to work on connecting two major foil events in France and Europe: the Crozon Foil Festival and LAST – Les Ailes de Saint Tropez, whose race director is my friend Fred Bonnef. Maybe in the future, we can work on creating a circuit that allows international riders to come to Europe for several weeks, but I want to take things step by step.

Our report + results of the 2024 Crozon Foil Festival

Downwind SUP Foil: The Challenge of Changing Conditions

The Downwind SUP Foil competition, held over two days, offered spectators a true test of endurance and strategy. From the first day, participants faced unpredictable weather, with shifting winds caused by cloud cover that turned the race into a light-wind challenge, testing the 84 starters, with only about 50 making it to the finish.

On Day 1, in the women’s division, 3-time SUP race world champion Olivia Piana, young Tahitian Naumi Eychenne, and Hawaiian rider Gabriella Eliah Bella all completed the race, an impressive feat in itself, setting the stage for intense battles among these top-tier athletes.

Downwind SUP Foil Results Day 1 – Women:

1. Olivia Piana – France
2. Naumi Eychenne – Tahiti
3. Gabriella Eliah Bella – Hawaii

In the men’s race, the French athletes adapted best to the local conditions, equipped with the right gear for the light winds. The first non-French competitor only placed eighth, with a trio of French riders topping the podium: European and world SUP surf champion Benoit Carpentier, double European champion and world runner-up Clément Colmas, and Tom Constant in third.

Downwind SUP Foil Results Day 1 – Men:

1. Benoit Carpentier – France
2. Clément Colmas – France
3. Tom Constant – France

The second run took place on Sunday, the final day of the competition, on the course from Telgruc beach to Morgat harbor. It was marked by stronger winds (15 knots) and more consistent swell. Clément Colmas from New Caledonia, a multi-discipline champion, once again demonstrated his mastery and experience, winning the men’s race. In the women’s category, Hawaiian Gabriella Eliah Bella, who gained momentum throughout the weekend, shone once more, confirming her dominance after already winning the Surf Foil event.

Downwind SUP Foil Results Day 2 – Women:

1. Gabriella Eliah Bella (Hawaii 🇺🇸)
2. Olivia Piana (France 🇫🇷)
3. Naumi Eychenne (Tahiti 🇵🇫)

Downwind SUP Foil Results Day 2 – Men:

1. Clément Colmas (New Caledonia 🇳🇨)
2. Tom Auber (France 🇫🇷)
3. Gage Schoenherr (Hawaii 🇺🇸)

Downwind SUP Foil Overall Results – Women:

1 Olivia Piana – France
2 Gabriella Eliah Bella – Hawaï
3 Naumi Eychenne – Tahiti

Downwind SUP Foil Overall Results Men:

1 Clément Colmas  – France/Calédonie
2 Ben Carpentier – France
3 Tom Constant – France
4 Thomas Goyard – France

Surf Foil: Spectacular Aerial Performances

The Surf Foil event was one of the highlights of the Crozon Foil Festival, with conditions described as “incredible” by the 40 competitors at La Palue beach. Many spectators claimed to have witnessed the first Surf Foil World Championship.
From the early heats, the competition level was exceptionally high, with riders from Hawaii, Australia, Tahiti, and France pulling off spectacular aerial maneuvers. The quarterfinals and semifinals showcased the diverse talents present. In the men’s final, young French surfer Keoni Van Der Bij lived up to expectations, triumphing with technical maneuvers and excellent wave selection.

In the women’s category, Gabriella Eliah Bella from Hawaii asserted her dominance on the second day, while Naumi Eychenne had been the standout on Day 1. Gabriella won the final with perfect wave choices, despite fierce competition from Naumi and local athletes Camille Dubrana and Margaux Heligoin.

Surf Foil Results – Women:

1. Gabriella Eliah Bella (Hawaii 🇺🇸)
2. Naumi Eychenne (Tahiti 🇵🇫)
3. Camille Dubrana (France 🇫🇷)
4. Margaux Heligoin (France 🇫🇷)

Surf Foil Results – Men:

1. Keoni Van Der Bij (France 🇫🇷)
2. Jack Ho (Hawaii 🇺🇸)
3. Oscar Johansson (Australia 🇦🇺)
4. Finn Spencer (Hawaii 🇺🇸)

Dockstart Pumping Foil: A World First in France

The Dockstart Pumping Foil event brought a new wave of innovation and energy to the festival. This was the first time the discipline was held in France, where competitors started from floating platforms on foil boards and had to pump with their legs to complete a round trip around a buoy. The competition thrilled the crowds at Morgat harbor, where spectators were treated to impressive technical demonstrations.

In the men’s division, Tahitian brothers Haunui and Toaura Haumani dominated, showing exceptional coordination and skill. Naumi Eychenne, also from Tahiti, easily took first place in the women’s division, confirming the strength of the Tahitian delegation at the event.

Dockstart Pumping Foil Results – Women:

1. Naumi Eychenne (Tahiti 🇵🇫)
2. Olivia Piana (France 🇫🇷)
3. ex aequo. Katrin Kolo (Switzerland 🇨🇭) + Gabriella Eliah Bella (Hawaii)

Dockstart Pumping Foil Results – Men:

Haunui Haumani (Tahiti 🇵🇫)
Toaura Haumani (Tahiti 🇵🇫)
Oskar Johansson (Australia 🇦🇺)
Gage Schoenherr (Hawaii 🇺🇸)
Naumi Eychenne and Gabriella Eliah Bella Tie as Overall Winners, Haunui Haumani Crowned Men’s Champion

In the combined rankings, Tahitian Naumi Eychenne and Hawaiian Gabriella Eliah Bella proved to be the most versatile and consistent across all three disciplines, tying for first place. Throughout the weekend, they engaged in an intense Polynesian battle, Hawaii vs. Tahiti, Maui vs. Huahine.

Among the men, the competition was much tighter, with consistency across all three disciplines determining the overall rankings. The young Haunui Haumani, one of the two impressive Haumani brothers from Tahiti, emerged as the overall champion, showcasing his exceptional talent and versatility. This international podium featured athletes from three different nations, including Frenchman Ben Carpentier, along with two competitors from Hawaii, making it a truly global showdown at the Crozon Foil Festival.

Overall Men’s Results:

1. Haunui Haumani (Tahiti)
2. Gage Schoenherr (Hawaii)
3. Benoit Carpentier (Brittany, France)
4. Kane Dewilde (Hawaii)

Overall Women’s Results:
1. ex aequo Naumi Eychenne (Tahiti) + Gabriella Eliah Bella (Hawaii)
3. Olivier Pian (France)
4, Margaux Helligoin (France)

Full results and more information:
Crozon Foil Festival – Official Website