SUP and Foil Interview Melanie Lafenetre

Mélanie Lafenêtre is one of France’s most exciting stand-up paddle (SUP) athletes, known for her fierce competitiveness across multiple disciplines, including SUP racing, flatwater sprint, technical racing, and foil/downwind events. She has represented Team France at major international championships and has consistently stood out as a top performer on the world stage.

Her breakthrough came at the 2022 International Canoe Federation (ICF) SUP World Championships in Gdynia, Poland, where she captured her first ICF world title in the women’s technical race, outpacing an elite international field in a dramatic finish.

In 2023, she continued her rise by helping France secure team gold at the ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championships in Les Sables d’Olonne. She also claimed individual gold in the sprint discipline — a highlight achievement on home waters.

Her 2025 season was not as busy as in previous years, but whenever Mélanie is on the start line, she is always a force to be reckoned with. She finished 5th in the ISA Technical Race in El Salvador and was a strong contender in all the EURO TOUR events she entered.

Like many ocean-loving SUP athletes, Mélanie Lafenêtre is no stranger to downwind SUP foiling. She took to the new discipline immediately and has shown real talent in it as well. Her recent podium at Ze Race in Guadeloupe sparked our interest in sitting down with her to talk about foiling, her SUP background, and her relationship with her sponsor, Code Foils.

Aloha Mélanie, thank you very much for your time. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Stand Up Magazin.
We’ve been following your SUP career for a long time, as your name regularly appears at the top of the rankings. Before talking about the world of foil, let’s go back to SUP for a moment. Can you tell us, in your own words, how you discovered the sport and what sparked your passion for competition?

I discovered stand-up paddling at a fairly young age thanks to the president of my club, Yannick Pinaud, and my hometown of Sainte-Maxime, which is right next to the sea. At first, SUP was simply a way to spend time in nature, have fun, and share sessions with friends, without any specific goal.
One day I started taking part in a few local races, and I immediately connected with the atmosphere of competitions, the challenge of pushing myself, and the sense of community. The combination of endurance, power, technique, and reading the conditions really appealed to me.

One of Melanie’s first international appearance at the ISA in China 2018.

You’ve made your mark on both the national and international scene. We can see on your social media that SUP isn’t your only sport: You practice many water sports, from surfing to wing foiling, and of course SUP downwind foiling. This sport seems to be booming right now. At first it looked too difficult to reach a broad audience, but today more and more people are getting into it and we’re seeing a gradual structuring of the discipline. You just took part in Ze Race in Guadeloupe — can you tell us how big downwind foiling is in that region of the world?

I lived for two years in Guadeloupe, and this island gave me my love for downwind SUP racing. My first participation in Ze Race was in 2020. Guadeloupe offers consistent wind, courses of varying length, and easy water access — the perfect place to say “I’m going to try this.”
The warm water and the local community allowed me to progress in SUP race, downwind, and SUP foil downwind.

How did the race go for you?

It was one of my first SUP Foil competitions. The very first had taken place in Saint-Tropez, but unfortunately the weather conditions weren’t suited to my level at the time.
I arrived in Guadeloupe with a real personal challenge: Finishing the 40 km, whereas my training run in France is only 8 km. My main objective was simply to cross the finish line. Of course, my competitive mindset also pushed me to complete the race as cleanly and as fast as possible.
Once the start was given, I focused on reading the water, managing my effort, and keeping my balance on the foil to avoid falls. I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t see the time pass. In SUP race I had taken 5 hours 30 minutes, whereas on foil the race was completed in just 2 hours — a completely different and intense sensation.

We mentioned earlier the difficulties of downwind SUP foiling. How did your learning process go?

I have a real interest in downwind SUP racing. The feeling of glide in the open ocean is totally addictive, which is why I prioritize downwind competitions in my race calendar.
I officially started downwind SUP Foil a year ago. In reality I had already tried it three years earlier, but I didn’t enjoy it at the time. I was learning on my own with unsuitable equipment, which made progression difficult and frustrating.
Thanks to the Med Gliders group, I had the chance to access appropriate equipment and, more importantly, valuable advice on setup and technique. That completely changed my approach and my progression.
The transition to SUP Foil was relatively natural thanks to my paddling background. Nevertheless, balance on the foil is still a challenge today. It’s an extremely demanding discipline where learning never stops.

2022 was big for Melanie: The Gold Medal at the ICF in Womens Tech Race was a career defining moment. She also won Silver in Sprint and Bronze in Longdistance. She also won 2 Bronze medals at the ISA in Puerto Rico and she won the APP World Tour in Alicante that year as well. What a year!

I completely understand — connecting bumps on a SUP is already a challenge, but flying continuously from bump to bump on foil is extremely technical. However, once mastered, it’s a unique feeling. Downwind foiling is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. It’s great on one hand, but a bit sad on the other: Foil has drawn quite a few people away from SUP. You clearly remain committed to SUP. What is your message to those who struggle to get back on a SUP board after experiencing SUP foiling?

They are two very different disciplines, yet deeply complementary. For me, they simply allow me to be on the water every day, whatever the conditions. I practice stand-up paddling when the water is flat or slightly choppy. Foiling really makes sense when the wind picks up and bumps form. And when there are waves, we take out all the toys — each discipline has its playground and its moment.
I don’t see foil as a replacement for SUP but as a natural continuation. The two feed each other: SUP builds the athlete — power, endurance, reading the water — while foil refines sensations, precision, and anticipation.
My message is not to limit yourself to a single feeling. The ocean offers an incredible diversity of experiences. Restricting yourself means missing out on part of the joy.

Great words Melanie! Let’s talk briefly about your equipment. You ride with Code Foils. What is your setup for fast downwind?

I’m riding a POM board with Code Foils. Of course, the combo depends on the conditions, but if I have to give my favorite setup, it’s the one I used for Ze Race: an 80 cm mast, an R860 front wing, an S fuselage, and a 120 back wing.

High Modulus R-Series front wings are purpose-built for downwind SUP foiling, offering lightweight construction, exceptional stiffness, and long, efficient glide. Proven by James Casey’s major race wins, they deliver strong low-end performance, wide speed range, and excellent pumping efficiency. Larger sizes make downwind foiling accessible for learners and light-wind conditions, while smaller sizes target high-speed racing in open ocean. Find your Code Foils Dealer.

By the way, what’s your story with Code? How did this collaboration start?

Again thanks to the Med Gliders, I had the opportunity to try many brands and different foil models. The one I had the best feeling with was the Code 1069. It was obvious from the first minutes — an accessible, stable foil with great energy and natural glide.
When I decided to seriously commit to competition, I didn’t know anyone at Code. I sent a single email to a single brand, hoping for the best.
One month later I was riding foils I felt completely confident on. It’s a real satisfaction to evolve with a team and equipment that matches my sensations and my vision of the discipline.

It’s important to have solid support to take part in all these competitions. Can you tell us what you do outside of watersports?

I’ve just graduated in physiotherapy. I also teach stand-up paddle lessons when the conditions allow. I practice many recreational sports as well — padel, tennis, volleyball, tango, rollerblading, skateboarding…

Wow that is very impressive you are a multi talented woman. Finally, of course, we’d like to know where we’ll see you in 2026. Do you already have races planned in your calendar? Maybe even a race in Hawaii? What’s your plan?

I would love to come to Hawaii, but it’s still too early for me — I still have a lot to learn in SUP Foil downwind.
In 2026 my focus will be on SUP racing, with maybe one or two European SUP Foil events.

Thank you very much Melanie it was really nice to hear your perspective. We are looking forward to follow you along the 2026 athletic SUP Season.