IKA Kiteboarding World Championships at El Gouna, Egypt
by IKA 27 Mar 2016 07:48 BST
21-26 March 2016
Karolina Winkowska during the 2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championships © Christian Black
After fierce competition in strong winds, Carlos Marios (BRA) and Karolina Winkowska (POL)win the Kiteboarding Freestyle competition in El Gouna, Egypt.
Element Watersports in El Gouna played host to the first round of the 2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championships for both Freestyle and Big Air disciplines this past week.
Both riders and staff were impressed to find such an organized and receptive location for the first event of the new era in competition kiteboarding. With world class conditions and so many things to do in and around the water it will no doubt be remembered as a standout event for the year.
Day one started early for both riders and officials with qualifications kicking off at 7am sharp. Qualifications were stacked with a field of talented men and women both giving it their all, fighting for a spot in the main event.
Brazilian Set Teixiera had an early scare loosing his kite in one of the days early heats, luckily he made his way back through the second chance draw and into the main event. It was however undoubtedly the French team that stole the show, with great performances in both the men's and women's field, securing a number of places in the main event.
Young French rider Delmas showed he may have a bright future ahead of him, first passing the qualifiers and later coming all the way through the main event and into the Quarter Finals. Be sure to keep an eye on him throughout the next events.
Another early start on day two again had riders in the water at 7am. With the wind forecasted to drop around midday it was the best chance possible to complete the full Freestyle draw.
Luckily the forecast was right and riders had a great three hours of solid wind on the water. Conditions were almost as good as it gets at the Element Watersports center, with a steady twenty knots and a small wind chop through the event area.
Both the men's and women's competition was fierce! The day started with Round 4 which is a conciliation round and the last chance for all the riders to land themselves a place in the final rounds.
In the men's draw both Tonijuan and Neto joined Valentin Garat and Cloetens advancing through to round five. Whilst in the women's draw it was to be Taabbel and Novotna, showing a more consistent heat and taking out Soloveykina and Whitely respectively.
Round five is arguably the most important round of the competition, a loss (third place) in round five will see riders exiting the competition. In the women's draw whether a rider comes first or second (in round five) will determine whether they will be in the winners or losers final respectively. Whilst in the men's round five only the first place getter from each heat will progress to the final rounds.
It's a cut-throat draw and it was quite clear that all riders knew this well. Both men's and women's round five draws saw what could be regarded as the most competitive heats of the event with the best riding. Unsurprisingly it was the top seeds in every heat of both men's and women's Round Five match ups that came through in first place.
On the women's side of the competition it was to be a classic Winkowska vs Kayija final whilst Van Westerop and Taabbel would battle it out for third and fourth places.
Van Westerop showed us a consistent heat over Taabbel including a nice Backside 313 and Frontmobe which undoubtedly secured her a deserved 3rd position. Taabbel went out hard but couldn't quite stick her biggest tricks. Taabbel is only new on tour but she's no doubt got a great future ahead of her, keep an eye out for her in future events!
The final with Winkowska vs Kayija was as to be expected, both ladies came out all guns blazing! From early on it looked as though Kayija may have the upper hand, landing a huge Backside 313 and showing us a power that we hadn't seen often since her knee injury. It was Winkowska's big clean Backmobe however that was the turning point for the heat, slowly reeling Kayija back in afterwards.
Kayija was going for it hard attempting a few big Frontmobes but coming up short with each attempt, at one point crashing hard which may have rattled her a little bit. Both girls finished strong with very similar tricks (Back to Blind, Front to Blind), however it was Winkowska narrowly edging out Kayija this time and taking the win. Kayija coming in a deserved second place.
The men's semifinals were a heat full of World Champions, with Hadlow vs Zoon and Pastor vs Mario. Hadlow and Pastor both didn't have their best heats in the Semis with both riders going big but not riding away clean enough to place the high scores they needed. In this stacked scenario it could have been anyone's day but both Mario and Zoon kept the pressure on their opponents, landing the big tricks they needed (such as 317s and Frontmobe 720s). These tricks require a high technical ability and were no doubt what Mario and Zoon needed to seal their spots in the final.
The losers final was a formidable match up, both Pastor and Hadlow have beaten each other on numerous occasions and it was clear it would come down to the wire as to who would take third place. Both riders were going big and both riders were crashing hard. Both riders attempting massive Frontmobe 720s but not quite pulling them off. In the end it was Pastor with a more consistent and well executed approach (including a massive Backside 317) that would seal him a third place finish and push Hadlow into the fourth spot.
The men's final was a spectacle to behold with young versus old. Two riders with a similar style and almost the same equipment choice fighting it out for the first place rank for the year. Zoon came out on fire, as he had for the last three heats, he started with what was considered as the biggest Backmobe 540 of the competition putting the pressure on the young Brazilian Carlos Mario. Mario look rattled, he got off to a slow start but by the middle of the heat it was clear he had sorted out his wobbles. Mario answered back with a few huge tricks of his own and a huge Backside 317 to get himself back in the game, he had no doubt got his confidence back and sealed the deal with a super clean KGB 540 and a slightly butt-checked Frontmobe 720. Carlos Mario taking out the event with Youri Zoon in a deserved second place. Surely this will not be the last time we see this particular matchup this season as it appears Zoon is back on form with his new equipment choices.
Unfortunately the conditions didn't play ball on the final days to run the Big Air discipline. Most riders weren't too concerned however with so many fun activities to do in and around El Gouna including Dirt Biking, Wakeboarding and Diving it was a great chance for most to enjoy the touristic side of competition life.
With the next event planned to take place in Leucate, France, from April 15 to 22, the competition for the 2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championship titles is no doubt just starting to heat up!
Overall Results:
Freestyle Men
1. Carlos Mario (BRA, Slingshot)
2. Youri Zoone (NED, Slingshot)
3. Alex Pastor (ESP, Airush)
Freestyle Women
1. Karolina Winkowska (POL, Slingshot)
2. Bruna Kayija (BRA, Airush)
3. Annabel van Westerop (ARU)