RRD One Hour Wing at Circolo Surf Torbole

by Elena Giolai 3 Sep 22:43 NZST

The RRD One Hour Wing, an event organised by Circolo Surf Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy by delegation of the Italian Sailing Federation, ended on Sunday on Garda Trentino with better wind conditions than on Saturday, so much so that all competitors improved their performance, increasing the number of sides completed in the hour available.

Alessandro Josè Tomasi wins the RRD One Hour Wing improving on Saturday's race: he flew 26 sides in one hour 04' 17'.
Michele Capitani first under 20
Success of the event organised by the Torbole Surfing Club, with varied participation (from children to grand masters)

RRD One Hour Wing 2024 - photo © Elena Giolai

Alessandro Josè Tomasi from Riva confirmed his absolute domination of the regatta, as on the first day, winning the overall classification with 26 sides completed in 1h 04' 17'. Up to the halfway point of the race, however, he was followed by the talented Michele Capitani from Rome, who gave up only in the last few sides, but still achieved second place overall and victory in the Under 20 category. Third overall was local Riccardo Zorzi, second in the Under 20 category, followed by his brother Sebastiano.

In the one-design RRD category, with several children and youngsters competing, Filippo Dusatti won, followed by Valerio Ballardini and Pietro Zanoni. Among the women, victory went to Czech Kritsyna Chalupnikova. The prize was also awarded to the youngest: Liam Calò, only 11 years old.

RRD One Hour Wing 2024 - photo © Elena Giolai

The RRD One Hour Wing, which this year set a record number of participants with over 40 athletes at the start, confirms the validity of the one-hour challenge formula. An adrenalin-pumping event from the moment of the start (with the dinghy acting as a 'rabbit' to line up all the athletes at speed), which then turns into a race of speed and endurance along the course delimited by buoys, from one side of the lake to the other (Ponale-Torbole) in a crosswind gait.

RRD One Hour Wing 2024 - photo © Elena Giolai

There was great satisfaction for the Circolo Surf Torbole in seeing so many children and young people (18 under 20) take part, as well as many enthusiasts of the sport, including several masters and grand masters, demonstrating that wingfoil is a discipline open to all ages, despite the fact that it was only born a few years ago. The fact remains that foil in general, from windsurfing to wingfoil, has given a new boost to the entire movement, capturing the enthusiasm of many young people, who practise one or the other discipline both for pleasure and by engaging in national and international competitive circuits.