Sharon Kantor and Luuc Van Opzeeland were named winners after a week of intense competition in the island’s southern waters
The Lanzarote iQFOiL Games topped off the island’s sporting year with a few days of spectacular action under perfect conditions that consolidated this competition. Steady winds of 12 to 15 knots set the tone in the Medal Series, where the top ten wind surfers in each category battled it out for the title.
The undisputed leaders of the championship, Sharon Kantor, and the current world champion Luuc Van Opzeeland, were proclaimed winners. In this idyllic setting, in which Lanzarote’s landscapes added their power to the competitive energy, exclusive interviews and an unsurpassed level of competition, the athletes shared their impressions and left their mark on this unique event.
The first to test the challenging racecourse were the 72 women athletes, divided into blue and yellow groups. With four races on the opening day, Spain’s Pilar Lamadrid stood out with a growing performance, securing provisional third place. Sharon Kantor, unstoppable, took the top position with four wins.
In the men’s group, the 88 windsurfers faced two races each, with a three-way tie at the end of the day between Nicolo Renna, Nicolas Goyard and Kiran Badloe. The day featured remarks from Nicolo Renna, who noted that the competition was important as preparation for the upcoming world championships.
The second day brought imposing waves and ten knots of wind, allowing five races to be completed for the men’s class and four for the women’s. Luuc Van Opzeeland stood out, leading the men’s category, while Sharon Kantor maintained her dominance in the women’s.
The third day witnessed a tight general classification, with multiple early starts due to the pressure to enter the top ten. Kantor held firm in the first women’s position, and Van Opzeeland, after a brilliant performance, consolidated his lead in the men’s category.
For its part, the penultimate day included a challenging marathon between Lanzarote and Isla de Lobos, followed by the last rounds of the Final Series. Leaders Van Opzeeland and Kantor advanced directly to the Grand Final. Nacho Baltasar, despite the breakage of his board, made it into the quarterfinals. Victory in the men’s marathon went to Van Opzeeland, while Kantor regained the lead in the women’s.
In the Grand Final, Van Opzeeland demonstrated his unbeatability and took the final victory in the men’s category, with Baltasar finishing in eighth position. In the women’s event, Kantor sealed her supremacy with one last victory, consolidating herself as the undisputed winner. Pilar Lamadrid was placed ninth.
The event, organised by Marina Rubicón, was a success, demonstrating Lanzarote’s unique potential for foil windsurfing. The awards ceremony was attended by local authorities and representatives of the collaborating bodies. Marina Rubicón is now preparing for future events, including the iQFOiL World Championship in January and the 49er and 49er FX in March.
In summary, the Lanzarote iQFOiL Games were not only an elite competition but a unique experience, bringing together sport, nature and emotions in a perfect combination. With ideal conditions, revealing interviews and unforgettable landscapes, this edition will go down in history as one of the best. Until the next edition!
