Flora Artzner is way more than a waterwomen, find out why here.

We’ll start with this - all sports need women like Flora Artzner. She isn’t just a competitive professional rider, she’s also a successful event organiser, and an ambassador for the environment & gender equality. We really enjoyed chatting to Flora, read on to see our interview with her.

Hey Flora! Thanks for joining us, I’ve got so many things to ask you, but to start with could you just tell our readers a little about where you’re from and what your background in watersports is?

Hey Jack, thanks for your message! So briefly, I come from the south of France, where I was used to windsurf for fun when I was younger. I am also an environmental engineer, and addicted to outdoor sports, especially now to wingfoil >

Aren't we all? Earlier this summer you won the Defi Wing for the second time running, congratulations! Sounded like it was a super windy edition, did everything go as planned?

This year's edition was an unlikely one for me: I decided to take part really last minute, and so it was a gift to win it for the second time. What I like most about this competition is being mixed with all types of riders, men and women as well as professionals and amateurs. We ended up doing all the heats in 40 knots for several days. I was so overpowered that I often couldn't even put my harness on, otherwise, I'd get catapulted into the gusts. I was a few kilos or a tiny sail short of what I needed, and it was all in my arms (and in my head) as I racked up the miles, but that's also what I like: the challenge, the stormy conditions, getting out of my comfort zone and pushing myself.

Sounds super tough. You’ve also joined Slingshot this year, what equipment did you choose for the race?

Yes, it's an important moment for me this year, it's a great story to build together. For racing, I like to use the Slingshot Slingwing v3 hard handle model and for the Defiwing, I used the Flying Fish v2 35 L board and 580 foil.

I feel like the Defi is such a cool spectacle for wing foiling as a whole, do you know how many competitors were on the start line? Must’ve been challenging on the start line!

There were 300 of us on the start line, which was very long, so everyone positioned themselves wherever they wanted. You have to be technical not to get bogged down with so many riders on the start line at the same time.

What was the reason you moved to Slingshot? It looks like you’ve already been a couple of cool photoshoots with them.

I have a great relationship of trust with Slingshot, I feel respected as a rider. That's an essential aspect when wingfoil becomes your full-time job. We've got lots of great projects in the pipeline, it's exciting!

For those that don’t know, you own & run an event called ‘The Roca Cup’. It looks awesome, with disciplines like boardercross & synchro freestyle winging included. What inspired you to get it started?

Yes, as I said, I like to challenge myself, I like to be stimulated by projects that really make sense, and the Roca Cup is totally that. It's an incredible adventure, I started from scratch 3 years ago, with no experience of event organisation at all. Fortunately, it was a huge success from year 1, without counting the hours but I am motivated by the desire to create a crazy event with strong values (100% equal and eco-friendly). I feel it's great to have fun during sports events. That's why I organised parties with concerts every night at the Roca Cup and the coolest wingfoil disciplines we've found. This year, over 4 days, we had 100 riders, including the best in the world, and we implemented a boardercross wingfoil contest, downwind, mixed relay, freestyle synchro, and an amateur competition. We also had 5 concerts, 10 brands, 15 environmental associations, 50 volunteers, 30 partners, 8,000 people, and just as many smiles.

The Roca Cup prides itself in being an environmentally conscious event, is that something that you hold close to your heart? How does the event achieve this, I feel like many event organisers could learn from you!

Sure, I build the Ecowave NGOs involved in environment protection, and in concrete terms, we have set up for the Roca Cup : 

  • - A zero waste event: no distribution of plastic, goodies, same for food, eco-cup, promotion of cycling and public transport to get here, free stands offered to 15 environmental associations with workshops, public awareness, litter-picking/ waste collection campaign. 
  • - Environmental awareness workshops with 100 primary school pupils before and during the Roca Cup. In class, the pupils created works of art from the rubbish collected, which were exhibited during the 4 days of the Roca Cup. 
  • - The furnishings (armchairs, chill-out areas, etc.) were created entirely from recycled materials. 
  • - No water wasted: dry toilets, water taps, awareness-raising.
  • - Inclusion and social values were also important to us: we worked on accessibility of the site for people in wheelchairs by installing adapted mats throughout the site, the entire event (including concerts and evening events) was free and open to all, regardless of their age or background. We had free white card for riders who have fewer financial resources and amazing hosting thanks to our sponsor "Domaine Rocabella" in Le Pradet city. 
  • - Etc.

The Roca Cup now has the Environmental national label from the French Ministry of Sport (we were invited to sign this label with the minister herself last year!). 

Love it. Another thing that I saw is that The Roca Cup is focusing on gender equality, with equal prize money being a key part. Where do you think we’re at in terms of female participation within our sport?

I think we still have a long way to go, but we must continue to encourage young girls to take up extreme sports, to take risks, to try tricks, to compete, and to value them just as much as men, in terms of performance and not physical appearance.

Absolutely. How’s competing on the GWA going this year so far? I know you compete in the freestyle too, which discipline would you say is your priority?

I love waves but I'm bringing home medals in race discipline. 

This 2023 year, the budget and the number of destinations for the GWA World Cup are greater than last year (besides, it's the brands, and therefore the consumer, who ultimately pays...). I didn't take part in all the competitions this year, so unfortunately, I won't be able to claim a world title at the end of the year… On the other hand, I came first or second in all the World Cup and European GWA races I took part in, with good equipment that I was less familiar with, and that's a great victory.

It sure is! I can see you’re a trail runner too, it’s something I also do a lot of when I’m not on the water. Do you see it as an important part of your training?

I love nature and let’s say I am more of an outdoor sport addict in general : climbing, hiking, biking, etc.! 

What’s your focus within your riding at the moment? Any tricks you’re working on or new disciplines?

Once again it's riding swell at home (Mediterranean Sea). It's what brings me the best feeling of freedom and makes me smile nonstop during good wave sessions. 

Any final words of wisdom for our readers?

You don't have to go to the other side of the world to experience the thrill of wingfoiling. Discover the wild, unexplored places close to home. Grab a bike, a cart, some wingfoil gear, some crazy friends, and get off the beaten track. Strong happiness is often just around the corner.

Thanks for taking the time Flora, good luck with the rest of your competitions this year! Jack

By Jack Galloway

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