2022 ENGIE Kite Tour: an excellent season bolstering ENGIE’s commitment

ENGIE extends its commitment to the Fédération Française de Voile

It was at the Paris Nautic boat show on Wednesday 7 December that Claire Waysand, Executive Vice President in charge of the General Secretariat, Strategy, Research & Innovation and Communication, and Jean-Luc Denéchau, President of the Fédération Française de Voile signed a new partnership agreement. ENGIE has been supporting the FFVoile since 2017 as official partner of the French Kiteboard Championships, and then since 2019, as the title partner of the ENGIE KITE TOUR. Our Group will once again be supporting this new discipline in 2023 in France.

We look back on the 2022 season and the big final in Cannes

Following Cap d’Agde (April), Lorient-Gâvres (June) and then Saint-Jean-de-Monts (October), the ENGIE KITE TOUR set its sights on Cannes in mid-November for the big final of 2022! Organised by the FFVoile (the French Sailing Federation) and the Mandelieu Kite Cannes and Cannes Jeunesse clubs, more than 70 enthusiasts from all over France attended this final stage. Despite a lack of wind on all but the last day, the event was all about sportiness and good humour, and involved plenty of discussion and the sharing of tips among members of the France team and all the amateurs who were also there… And as always, there was a wonderfully positive vibe among everybody taking part. 

THE 2022 ENGIE KITE TOUR – a few figures…

• 13 years of partnership
• 4 stages 
• More than 350 people registered
• 9 ambassadors, including 3 from Team ENGIE

Social media summary: 

• 515,100 impressions on the social networks
• 188,557 video views in total (FB + TW + IN)
• 40,906 interactions (FB + TW + IN)
• 9.54% engagement rate on Facebook

Press summary:

• 192 press articles (regional and national)
• 3.3 M impact
• 27.4 M total readers

This year’s ENGIE KITE TOUR: full of friendliness and sharing

As was the case with all the other stages making up this year’s ENGIE KITE TOUR, the event was about friendliness and sharing. One of the great strengths of the ENGIE KITE TOUR and indeed one of its distinctive features is that it provides amateur kite surfers with the opportunity to go up against the very best – in a friendly environment which brings everybody together so they can indulge their shared passion. ENGIE greatly enjoys enabling both tried and tested riders and amateurs alike to engage in kite surfing together – this new Olympic discipline that will feature as part of the Olympics for the first time in the Paris 2024 Games.

The big final in Cannes was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on a number of champions.... Alex Caizergues, the fastest kite boarder in the world and Lauriane Nolot, 2022 European kitefoiling Champion and World Formula Kite Vice Champion were among those present, mingling with everybody else in the ENGIE KITE TOUR village. Team ENGIE kite surfer Poema Newland was also there, gearing up for the Paris 2024 Games!

Eco-responsibility with the ENGIE Foundation and the Fondation de la Mer

Through its “Un Geste Pour La Mer” programme, the ENGIE Foundation is supporting the Fondation de la Mer, further extending its commitments to protecting the environment. This involves supporting high-impact projects, being part of the collective Agenda 2030 effort and embodying ENGIE's mission statement.

To mark each stage, the Fondation de la Mer organises a waste collection initiative on the beach involving a class of schoolchildren and / or members of the general public. The purpose of this initiative – which is also in line with the FFVoile's CSR policy – is to raise people's awareness (starting with the youngest) of the importance of the environment so as to get as many people involved in protecting it. 

Some fine winners at the 2022 ENGIE KITE TOUR

The years go by, but each is different from the last. Some fine winners have once again emerged from this year's ENGIE KITE TOUR: Paul Labordère and Alexia Fancelli won the kitesurfing, Sylvain Morin won the directional board competition, Samuel Michaille won the twintip kiteboarding and finally Noé Cantaloube and Farrah Hall won the wing foiling. Team ENGIE ambassador Axel Mazella came second in the overall kitefoil ranking.

See you next year for the 2023 ENGIE Kite Tour!

In 2023, the Fédération Française de Voile will once again be organising the ENGIE KITE TOUR. And once again, this major tour for kiteboard foil, TT, longboard and wing foil enthusiasts will be structured into four stages. Details of the various stages and their dates will be announced in January.

If you are a kiteboarder and want to compete in these stages, please feel free to contact us.

ENGIE will also be partnering the French Kiteboard Championships which – in 2023 – will be in a new format to make them the biggest kiteboarding event of the year.

The schedule will be announced between now and February.