NEWS: FRANCESCO CAPPUZZO JOINS THE GONG TEAM!

News
Wing

23 january 2024 1

The 2023 Wing Foil World Champ in Freefly-Slalom joins the GONG Team to pursue his competitive dreams and share his passion at the highest level!

We’re very happy to join forces with Franceso with whom we have led close races and heats throughout the last couple of years. His career so far and latest results are a testimony of his passion for the sport. He’s a fierce competitor, a gear enthusiast and a very versatile rider. So he should feel right at home with us. We’re looking forward to sharing the passion together and pushing performance at the highest level, in and out of the competitions.

Francesco’s will be working closely with our team riders and R&D department to help bring you the best production gear. We’re also very excited to work with someone that represents a nation of passionate riders with whom we have been building a great relationship over the years.

If you haven’t been following boardsports closely the last couple of years, here’s what the young italian has been up:

Which place do you call home?

“I’m from Sicily and I live in Puzziteddu, an iconic spot located northwest of the island. It’s where it all started for me. We have great conditions there. In the summertime we have thermal winds blowing at about 20 knots over flat water and during the rest of the year we’re often blessed with wave riding conditions. It’s not uncommon to have waist to head-high waves with side-off wind, both lefts and rights. So I’m basically living in one of the best playgrounds for watersports! When I’m home you’ll find me at the Windresort which is run by my family. It’s built right on the beach of Puzziteddu and is the best place to stay.”

How were your beginnings in boardsports?

“Well, I’ve always looked up to my father, he was one of the first windsurfers in Sicily and I wanted to become like him. I was his biggest fan. So at 3 years old I had my first ride with windsurfing equipment and haven’t stopped evolving in boardsports ever since.

I was totally hooked and wanted to be the first one in and the last one out of the water. So to take advantage of all possible conditions I’ve got interested in everything you can ride. I learned how to windsurf, kitesurf, SUP and surf. All these experiences as a waterman helped me to become one of the best wing foilers now.”

When did you start focusing on competition and how did you evolve?

“Pretty much since the very beginning. I started competing at 6 years old in windsurfing. My focus was primarily on freestyle where I managed to be twice Junior Vice-World Champion (2009-2011) and 8x Italian Junior Freestyle Champion (2007-2015). I also scored several top 10 positions in the PWA world tour rankings (2017-2018-2019).

Although freestyling was my primary focus, riding waves is what I love the most. My passion for wave riding led me to win 2 Italian Wave Championships (2016-2017).

In 2012 I started kitesurfing just for fun and decided to compete on the Wave tour, achieving the Italian title and top 5 finishes on the GKA World tour in 2018 and 2019.

2020 brought the worldwide pandemic, which led to significant changes in my life and the world at large. Amidst these changes, a new watersport emerged to which I was immediately hooked: wing foiling.

In 2021 I won the European title and became Vice World Champion. Throughout 2022, I fully immersed myself in wing foiling, reaping significant results, including winning my first ever World Cup event and scoring numerous podium finishes. Then there was 2023, a dream come true, clinching the wing foiling world title in Freefly-Slalom.”

What’s your main goal as a professional rider?

“My main goal as a rider has always been to share my passion. One of my biggest achievements is to have got so many people fully hooked on boardsports. I love watching all the excitement in my school and the stoked faces on the water. We have taught so many people how to ride who will keep doing it forever. It’s great to see.”

What are your goals for the year to come competition wise?

“I will be defending my World title in Free-fly Slalom on the Wing Foil Tour and give it my all on the IWSA Tour with the number one spot in mind too. And for sure I want to keep pushing in freestyle! So I‘ll be present full-time on the Wing Foil and IWSA tours. The adrenaline during the races gets me pumped up for more.“

Wing foiler: Francesco, GONG Team Rider, with the Pusle DP UPE Aramid.

Any goals outside of competition?

“Well, I love strapless kitesurfing and riding waves. So I hope to do a lot of that too. Be it on kitesurfing gear, a surfboard or a windsurfing kit. It all depends on the conditions. Ideally a lot of sun, head high waves and 25 knots blowing port tack ;)”

What GONG equipment did you choose for competitions?

“In Surf-Freestyle I’ll be on the Stunt FSP Pro, Droid UPE Aramid and Ypra Surf-Freestyle on which Malo won the last event. In Free-Fly-Slalom and Race I’ll be on the Lethal FSP Pro, Pulse DP UPE Aramid and Ypra-S.”

Francesco Cappuzzo,GONG team rider, and Patrice Guénolé, Boss & Shaper GONG.

Follow Francesco in our Magazine, on his Instagram account @fracapp333 and on his Facebook Page Francesco Cappuzzo Waterman. Welcome to the team and let’s do this!

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2024