Capucine Delannoy

At only 19, Capucine Delannoy has already established herself as one of the strongest riders in women’s kite-surfing, with four World Championship titles in the GKA Kite-Surf discipline. She was born in France and grew up racing slalom skis before her family moved to Preá, Brazil, where her interest in the ocean quickly turned into a focus on waves and strapless freestyle.

Her father introduced her to kitesurfing when she was seven, and from that point she kept progressing. Capucine is known for powerful strapless riding and a style that mixes precision with ease. She keeps pushing the sport forward, including landing a triple front roll in competition - the first time a woman has done it.

Watching her brother Camille compete in Cape Verde gave her the drive to aim for a world title, and that goal shaped her path. Now she divides her time between Europe and Brazil and has already become a reference point for younger riders entering the sport.