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Lauriane Nolot won her third world kitefoil title in Viana do Castelo on May 16, following her triumphs in 2023 and 2024. On a Portuguese stretch of water renowned for its strong winds and short chop, the Frenchwoman dominated the final from the very first heat against Dutch title-holder Jessie Kampman. This victory comes after several months marked by a foot injury which had disrupted her 2025 season.
A return to the top after a troubled season
The previous season left a bitter taste in Lauriane Nolot's mouth. Third at the 2025 Worlds, the sailor from the Var region saw her hegemony interrupted by Jessie Kampman, a former French crew member now sailing under the Dutch flag. And in a discipline where gaps are often decided by just a few foil lengths, the slightest physical setback pays off immediately.
Results obtained this spring in the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Palma de Mallorca and then in the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères had already shown the boat's growing strength. But the Portuguese event served above all as a test against the direct competition in sustained conditions.
A duel with Jessie Kampman
The face-off between Lauriane Nolot and Jessie Kampman has become one of the landmarks of women's kiteboarding. The two sailors know each other very well, having sailed under the same French colors for several years.
Kampman's change of sporting nationality has also redistributed the European balance. The Dutchwoman now brings to the Netherlands a wealth of technical experience from the French kitefoil school, particularly recognized on Olympic formats.
This rivalry is also pushing the French team to raise its collective game. Lauriane Nolot has worked together with Lysa Caval, sixth in Portugal after her bronze medal in Hyères. The sailors share weather analyses, starting strategies and equipment adjustments during competitions.
Los Angeles 2028 is already on everyone's mind
Lauriane Nolot's next objective has already been identified: the Olympic waters of Los Angeles, which she will join in July 2026 for a World Cup race. The future U.S. Olympic venue has different characteristics to Marseille. Sailors will have to deal with more irregular thermal winds and long Pacific seas. Adapting foil settings and wing choices will be essential.
With two years to go before the Games, this third world crown clearly repositioned Lauriane Nolot in the Olympic hierarchy. And after a frustrating 2025 season, the Frenchwoman seems to have rediscovered what often makes the difference in kitefoil: speed, commitment and the ability to remain lucid when the wind picks up.
