Crozon Foil Festival 2026 Atlantic Downwind Racing

Two demanding SUP Foil Downwind races, powerful Atlantic swells, and the crowning of France’s first Surf Foil champions made the 2026 Presqu’île Crozon Foil Festival a major gathering of international foiling talent.

The Presqu’île Crozon Foil Festival 2026, held from October 13–18 on the rugged coast of Brittany, France, brought together international athletes for six days of Downwind SUP Foiling, Prone Surf Foiling, and Pump Foiling.

Organized by the Crozon Waterman Club with support from the French Surfing Federation and local authorities, the festival also served as the final stop of the French Open Foil season, with national titles on the line.

While the Surf Foil competition produced some impressive performances, the Downwind SUP Foil races were arguably the biggest attraction, with Australian Kai Thompson and 16-year-old German rider Marnie Bertram emerging as the dominant athletes of the week.

Atlantic swells deliver spectacular Downwind conditions

The first major Downwind SUP Foil race took place on Friday, October 16, in conditions that could hardly have been better suited to the discipline.

With Atlantic swells reaching two meters and a wave period of 12 seconds, competitors were greeted by powerful, long rolling ocean swells along the spectacular coastline of the Crozon Peninsula.

Following the race briefing at Morgat Harbour, 86 registered athletes prepared their equipment at Veryac’h Beach before heading toward Pointe de Pen-Hir and its famous offshore rock formations, the Tas de Pois.

At 1:44 PM, the field launched into the open ocean. A leading group quickly separated from the pack, connecting swells and maintaining impressive speeds across the course.

Kai Thompson claimed victory in 47:34.5, finishing just 12.3 seconds ahead of fellow Australian Alexander Tibbits. Axel Pham, representing French Polynesia, completed the podium in 47:56.5.

The organizers reported an average speed of almost 19 knots (35 km/h) for Thompson, illustrating just how fast modern Downwind SUP Foiling has become.

Marnie Bertram makes her mark at just 16 years old

One of the most remarkable performances came from Germany’s Marnie Bertram.

At only 16 years old, Bertram won the women’s Downwind race ahead of France’s Mélanie Lafenêtre and French Polynesia’s Naumi Eychenne.

In challenging Atlantic conditions, the young German demonstrated that the next generation of Downwind Foilers is already capable of competing at the highest international level.

Out of the 86 registered competitors, 69 finished the first race, including nine women. The challenging conditions forced several competitors to abandon the course.

Second Downwind race confirms the winners

The festival delivered another Downwind race on Saturday, October 17, and this time the results were even more decisive.

Kai Thompson completed the double, winning the second race in 48:51.9, more than a minute ahead of Axel Pham. Australian Jarrod Snow finished third.

Bertram was equally impressive, securing her second women’s victory in 1:03:12.8, ahead of Naumi Eychenne by 32.7 seconds.

Philippe Axmann also completed a double victory in the men’s over-40 category, demonstrating that the event attracted competitive athletes across different age groups.

Downwind SUP Foil – Race 1, Men

Rank	Athlete	Time
1	Kai Thompson (AUS)	47:34.5
2	Alexander Tibbits (AUS)	47:46.8
3	Axel Pham (PYF)	47:56.5

Downwind SUP Foil – Race 2, Men

Rank	Athlete	Time
1	Kai Thompson (AUS)	48:51.9
2	Axel Pham (PYF)	49:55.8
3	Jarrod Snow (AUS)	—

Downwind SUP Foil – Race 2, Women

Rank	Athlete	Time
1	Marnie Bertram (GER)	1:03:12.8
2	Naumi Eychenne (PYF)	1:03:45.5

Race 2 results are provisional. Sources: Webscorer official timing and AXIS Foils race reports.

More than Downwind – Surf Foil and Pump Foil complete the festival

Beyond the Downwind racing, the festival also hosted the first French Surf Foil Championships, attracting a strong international field to the beaches of Kerloc’h, La Palue, and Goulien.

In the French national championships, Axel Pham claimed the men’s title ahead of Clément Roseyro and Axel Gérard. In the women’s division, Manon Dupé secured the championship ahead of Julie Touzot and Servane Galand.

The international Open Surf Foil competition saw Finn Spencer take victory ahead of Cash Barzola and Clément Roseyro, while Naumi Eychenne won the women’s competition ahead of Marnie Bertram and Bowien van der Linden.

Young French talent Axel Gérard also captured the national U18 title, underlining the strength of the next generation.

The festival’s program extended to Foil Drive-assisted Downwind racing, with Luke Atkinson and Holly Pye winning their respective divisions in a roughly five-kilometer race from Cap de la Chèvre to Morgat.

Pump Foiling competitions and equipment demonstrations rounded out the event on Sunday in Camaret-sur-Mer, bringing the different foil disciplines together for the festival’s final day.

Crozon establishes itself as a European Downwind destination

The Crozon Peninsula is developing a reputation as one of Europe’s attractive destinations for Downwind Foiling.

Its exposed Atlantic coastline, powerful swells, and variety of launch locations provide an environment where competitive Downwind Foiling can thrive.

What makes the festival particularly interesting is the combination of elite racing with a broader foiling community. Alongside international athletes, the event brings together younger riders, masters competitors, equipment manufacturers, and recreational foilers.

The 2026 edition also demonstrated how rapidly Downwind SUP Foiling is progressing. With increasingly efficient equipment and athletes capable of sustaining high speeds across open-ocean swells, the level of competition continues to rise.

For the Stand Up Magazin, the most interesting takeaway is the growing international competition in Downwind SUP Foiling. Riders from Australia, French Polynesia, Germany, and across Europe are increasingly meeting at major events, creating a competitive scene that extends far beyond the traditional hotspots of Hawaii and Australia.

Two victories each for Kai Thompson and Marnie Bertram, demanding Atlantic conditions, and a strong international field made the 2026 Crozon Foil Festival a convincing showcase for the future of Downwind SUP Foiling.