Water Festival 2025 Results: Young Italian Paddlers Lead the Way

On the first weekend of May, Water festival took place in beautiful Sicily, the sunny shores of Mondello Beach set the stage for an unforgettable weekend. As one of the most anticipated stops on the Italian FISSW SUP circuit, this third edition delivered sup racing race and a vibrant atmosphere filled with music, energy, and shared passion.

On the Sup Race side we had two days of action, Saturday Technical Race and on Sunday Long distance. On the women field, the overall ranking was win by Sveva Sabato and in the men divisions has been won by Ricardo Rossi.

Organized by Vincenzo Michelucci, the festival extended beyond the water, offering a rich tapestry of activities including yoga sessions, slacklining, e-foil demonstrations, wing foiling, beach volleyball, and live music performances. This fusion of sport and culture created an electric atmosphere that resonated with both participants and spectators alike.

Overall Men’s Winner: Riccardo Rossi Infinity team rider

Overall Women’s Winner: Sveva Sabato NSP Team rider

TECHNICAL RACE

The competition opened on Saturday with the Technical Race, a fast-paced event on a buoy-marked course with beach starts. Paddlers faced a calm sea and a light breeze

In the men’s division, Riccardo Rossi claimed the win ahead of Stefan Alex, a standout junior from the U16 category, and Enrico Mandoloni, a promising 20-year-old paddler and son of coach and Italian SUP League president Roberto Mandoloni.

On the women’s side, Starboard Dream team rider Cecilia Pampinella led the field, followed by junior athletes riding NSP Claudia Postiglione (the two-time 2023 ICF Junior World champion)  and Sveva Sabato from Paalde academy Taranto Club, both demonstrating technical precision and speed that belied their young age.

LONG DISTANCE

The festival’s second day shifted the spotlight to the Long Distance Race, with a scenic course winding near the Isola delle Femmine. Though the wind picked up, creating new tactical challenges, the sea remained flat, perfect for pushing physical limits.

In the men’s long distance, Riccardo Rossi doubled down on victory, taking first place once again, ahead of Enrico Mandoloni and junior Gianluca Corriero, who delivered a notable performance in his category.

The women’s podium was dominated by the juniors of the Paddle Academy Taranto and NSP riders. Sveva Sabato took the win, followed by teammates Claudia Postiglione and Velia Pisanelli.

TEAM RELAY RACE

This mixed-gender relay saw four athletes per team, all representing the same club. The fast-paced race unfolded a circuit marked with buoys,  each athlete completing a segment before sprinting ashore to tag the next teammate. The race  test the speed and coordination but also reflect the  energy and team dynamics.

SUP Academy Taranto clinched the win, the  Club where are women long distance top 3 is from (Sveva Sabato, Claudia Postiglione and Velia Pisanelli).

YOUTH COMING STRONG

Youth categories showed great participation, with young paddlers demonstrating impressive grit and technique throughout the course. Several ParaSUP athletes also took part, bringing passion and high sporting value to both days of competition. They were honored by the mayor of Isola delle Femmine, Orazio Nevoloso.

TECHNICAL RACE RESULTS

LONG DISTANCE RESULTS

For more information , go to:
www.waterfestival.it
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