TEAM NEWS : WORLD CHAMP, RUNNER-UP, AND THIRD PLACE MAKING IT A FULL GONG PODIUM IN FREEFLY-SLALOM!

Team News
Wing

28 november 2024 0

The GONG team dominates the season with a 1, 2, 3 finish in the Freefly-Slalom World rankings!

After a season of relentless heat victories and consistent podium finishes, Francesco Cappuzzo, Julien Rattotti, and Bastien Escofet stand atop the world in the discipline of Freefly-Slalom! This incredible result is a testament to the talent of our riders and the unwavering support from everyone at the GONG Space Center. From cutting-edge, reliable equipment to logistical assistance and physical preparation, this success is a true team effort.

This morning, everything was still up for grabs as the second day of competition kicked off in Jericoacoara, Brazil. After a strong first day, Julien Rattotti—second in the championship race thanks to two second-place finishes in Leucate and Fuerteventura—secured direct qualification for the finals alongside Oscar Leclair. To catch up to his teammate and championship leader, Francesco Cappuzzo, winner of the last two events, Julien needed a win and hoped for a slip-up by the Italian.

In the qualifying phases leading to the finals, team riders Bastien and Francesco gave it their all with impressive top speeds, intense pumping sections, and smooth maneuvers. Their efforts paid off for Francesco, who qualified for the final, while Bastien was narrowly eliminated. Nevertheless, Bastien ends the year with an excellent third place in the championship and a World Title in Wing Foil Racing Marathon under his belt. His numerous heat victories this season deserve recognition—under different formats, they could have carried even more weight. Bravo, Bastien!

The final featured Julien, Oscar, Francesco, and Gollito. With the title guaranteed for the GONG team, the focus shifted to who would claim it. Francesco had a comfortable lead, but Julien could still take the crown if he won and Francesco placed fourth. Meanwhile, Oscar only needed a single heat win to secure the event victory in Jericoacoara. The stage was set, and the race began.

Julien and Francesco made a cautious start—too cautious—allowing Oscar to build a significant lead early on. We then saw the surprise fall of Gollito during a maneuver, ending his podium chances. Despite a valiant effort from Julien to close the gap on Oscar during the pumping phase, the initial delay proved costly. Julien finished just behind Oscar, who took the event win, with Francesco securing third place and the 2024 World Champion title! Huge congratulations to Francesco for his triumph, and kudos to Julien for pushing the fight to the final heat, making the title even more meaningful.

Catch the GONG team back in action tomorrow in Surf-Freestyle with Bastien, Clément, and Malo!