Laurie GENOVESE is back in competition ...

Laurie GENOVESE joined Team Kortel in early 2020.

She took part in many World Cups since 2013, when she finally joined the French national team. She is the winner of the overall World Cup in 2014 and 2017, as well as the double French champion and Europe vice-champion in 2016.

After a break from the world of competition to pursue other projects, she's back this year with loads of motivation.

The first stage of the 2020 World Cup took place from 16th to 22nd of August 2020. Laurie showed her skills by by climbing on the 3rd step of the podium behind Seiko FUKUOKA-NAVILLE and Yael MARGELISCH who shared first place in a perfect equality! Laurie relates her return to competition.

"Finally ...

In this very special year, we were finally able to organize a World Cup. Probably the only one of this season, thanks to a super-motivated race director and a smooth organisation. Only the European pilots were able to participate.

For me, it was a chance to get back to the top. After a complicated year, a cruciate ligament injury and a surgery, I decided to get back to a competitive season. A year to get my legs back on the bike, to build a solid mental and physical support, to focus my motivation for the 2020 season. But Covid decided otherwise and brought us back to our human condition ...

So it was an opportunity to get back in the harness and test the equipment in race conditions.

The weather allowed us to run only 4 out of 7 heats. I took advantage of the breaks to rest after an intense summer in flying tandem, to get out the mountain bike and the pair of running sneakers.

First day, first apprehension... Not to compete (that made me smile 🙂 ) but to succeed in putting myself in the air ... with a good tailwind. It is necessary to know that the small weights (mainly girls) we are obliged to have a total flying weight of about 100kg to fly the smallest competition wing. The Kanibal Race 2 allows me to put 6kg under the board, 2 or 3 in the back and 2 in the cockpit. Once equipped, the problem lies in the speed needed to inflate and take off. You have to imagine running on a slope with a kayak on your back filled with water... Nothing obvious!

In the sky, the effort wasted on the takeoff were quickly forgotten. I had time during the first heat to test the stability control system, when everything was in the shade and we had to survive in very small thermals. Super efficient!

We were able to do 3 other runs in tricky conditions: low instability in the low layer. The 3rd round took us to Davos, with more than 100 km to cover on a day where the thermals were playing with our nerves. And yet it was the one that brought in the most points in the rankings. Sadly I didn't manage.

Happy with the way, I finished 2nd girl and 41st, just behind Rémi BOURDELLE!

A craving for more and the desire to confirm some sensations pushed me to participate in the Polish Open, which will take place in Italy in mid-September.

See you soon!"