In this inspiring episode of the Waterspeed Podcast, Luc Moore catches up with French foiling standout Jean Le Gall(currently topping the DEFI Wind 20 km Water Speed Challenge leaderboard) straight from the beach. Fresh off setting a blistering 37.20 knots top speed and a 23:54.99 time on the iconic Gruissan course, Jean shares what it feels like to lead the pack for the first time in a major competition — and his hopes of wearing the coveted Golden Jersey at DeFi Wind.

Jean opens up about his setup: the 4.9 Nell Pride 2024 sail, a prototype 350 cm² front wing, and his GP board that helped him hit 37+ knots in the legendary Tramontana winds. He explains how foiling makes maintaining high average speeds over distance easier than traditional fin sailing, why Gruissan’s flat water and consistent conditions are perfect for long runs, and his simple race mindset: “Go as fast as you can and check the app after.”

The conversation dives deeper into Jean’s legendary 24-hour challenge — 561.6 km in just 15 hours of sailing (with a nighttime pause due to fires). He reveals how he managed fuel (energy bars + 3L water backpack), handled physical pain in his hands and grip, battled mental fatigue, and even MacGyvered broken boom + flashlights for a future 800 km night attempt. Jean also shares why live tracking via Waterspeed gives him confidence when pushing limits, especially at night or in offshore winds.

Episode Highlights:

- Leading the DEFI 20 km Water Speed Challenge and chasing the Golden Jersey
- Gear breakdown: sail, prototype wing, and board choices for speed + endurance
- Balancing top speed vs. sustainable average speed over distance
- The insane 561.6 km / 24h challenge — logistics, pain, mental game, and the 800 km goal
- Night foiling creativity (broken boom + flashlights), safety, and community tracking
- Why Waterspeed’s live tracking, leaderboards, and performance analytics are perfect for DeFi prep

Whether you’re training for DeFi Wind, dreaming of ultra-distance foiling missions, or just love hearing from riders who push the limits, this episode is packed with real talk, motivation, and practical insights from one of the most dedicated watermen in the game.

🎧 Tune in for stories of speed, endurance, and the pure joy of foiling in Gruissan’s perfect conditions.

Brought to you by Waterspeed — the ultimate app for tracking, analyzing, and competing in wind, wing, kite, and foiling.

Download now and join the next DeFi Challenge! 🌊⚡

Visit: https://defiwind.fr/en/