TEAM NEWS: BASTIEN ESCOFET CROWNED 2025 FREEFLY-SLALOM WORLD CHAMPION!

GONG’s only two riders on Tour finish the season ranked World #1 and #2.

In the 2025 GWA Wingfoil World Cup season, GONG entered the FreeFly-Slalom arena with only two team riders: Italy’s Francesco Cappuzzo and France’s Bastien Escofet. By the end of the year, the duo had propelled their Racer FSP Pro boards to first and second place on the world podium, a remarkable testament to GONG’s collective strength and determination.

2025 Freefly-Slalom podium with Bastien Escofet on top, Francesco Cappuzzo in second and Julien Rattotti in third. Photo: GWA.

Early Setbacks and Heroic Recoveries

Heading into the Abu Dhabi finale, Cappuzzo was the man to beat. Victories in Leucate and Fuerteventura had made him the favorite for a third straight world title. But his teammate Bastien Escofet, calm and clinical, was just behind. Two GONG riders in the title fight, pushing each other all season long.

The third stop at Barbossa Beach delivered light, unpredictable wind that turned racing into a test of patience and precision. Francesco struggled early, failing to finish the opener. Bastien, however, capitalized when Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi crashed at the last mark, snatching the win and the event lead on day one.

On day two, Francesco found his footing, winning a final heat that reminded everyone why he’s a double world champion. Bastien’s consistent podiums, though, kept him at the top heading into the closing rounds.

Wing foiler: Bastien Escofet, GONG team rider, on his Racer FSP Pro, Droid SP Aramid CZ, Ypra Race mast and Ypra Race foil.

Francesco’s Fight: Inches from Glory

As the semifinals approached, the title equation was simple: Francesco needed just one win to secure the championship. He stormed back from a poor start in the first repechage, showing incredible speed on the straights and sharp manoeuvres through the turns, finishing neck-and-neck with Rattotti in a photo finish, just inches too short. Then came disaster in the final repechage: an on-course mix-up while leading the race, followed by a DSQ, ended his run. It was heartbreak for the reigning champion, who bowed out after a season defined by brilliance and grit.

Wing foiler: Francesco Cappuzzo, GONG team rider, on his Racer FSP Pro, Droid SP Aramid CZ, Ypra Race mast and Ypra Race foil.

The Super-Final: Bastien’s Decisive Moment

The Abu Dhabi super-final brought together Tomasi, Escofet, Rattotti, and Ghio. Bastien entered as the event leader, already with one win in his pocket, but under the rules, two wins were needed to claim the event.

In the first run, Bastien started strong but hit a mark in a tight jibe and lost control, allowing Tomasi to surge ahead and tie him at one win apiece. The stage was set for a do-or-die second round, and the world title hung in the balance.

Title Math and High Stakes

Heading into the last race, the permutations were razor-thin:

If Bastien won the last race, he would become world champion.
If Bastien finished second and ahead of Julien, Bastien would win the title.
If Julien and Bastien finished 3rd and 4th, Francesco would take a third title in a row.

Final Run: Pressure, Precision, and Payoff

Julien launched fast and took the first mark, but the light wind sapped his power. Tomasi overtook, followed by Bastien, who cleanly passed Julien in a composed move. Tomasi won his second heat to secure the event victory, while Bastien finished ahead of Julien, enough to clinch the 2025 FreeFly-Slalom World Championship.

A well-deserved result for Bastien, who had come up short multiple times despite solid efforts in previous seasons. This time, it all came together for one of the biggest chargers on our team. We’re super proud of this result, thanks to Bastien’s and Francesco’s incredible seasons, we’ve matched last year’s performance, with top spots for all our riders engaged on Tour.

Congrats also go to our passionate staff working behind the scenes to support our athletes with logistics and next-level gear. The development and improvements on the 2026 Droid SP Aramid CZ proved decisive in the super-tight battles at this level. Production gear that is available to every racing fan out there!

Wing foilers: Francesco and Bastien, GONG team riders, with their Racer FSP Pro, Droid SP Aramid CZ, Ypra Race mast and Ypra Race foils.