Please select your home edition
Edition
Marine Products Direct 2023 - Calypso LEADERBOARD

2019 Formula Kite Asian Championships in Beihai - Overall

by International Kiteboarding Association 29 May 2019 15:10 BST 23-29 May 2019
Prizegiving - 2019 Formula Kite Asian Championships in Beihai © IKA

Poland's Magda Woyciechowska landed her first international title when she sealed victory in the 2019 Formula Kite Asian Championships "open" division with a steely performance in fickle breezes in China.

The 14-year-old was able to see off a strong challenge from her training partner and fellow countrywoman, Julia Damasiewicz, also 14, over four intense days of competition and 16 hard-fought races off Guangxi province's Beihai city.

Both finished ahead of China's Jingle Chen who racked up a formidable haul of bullets and looked as if she could storm to victory at one point. But she stumbled in the light airs, failing to finish some races. It proved costly and she ended fourth, though it was enough to secure the Formula Kite Asian crown.

By contrast Russian veteran racer Denis Taradin barely put a foot wrong. He seized a remarkable 12 bullets that gave a commanding points lead by the finish that landed him the 2019 International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) Formula Kite Asians "open" title.

Italy's Mario Calbucci pushed Taradin and pounced on any error by the Russian, snatching three bullets to add to his haul of high-placed finishes that saw him cruise to the podium's second spot.

Ejder Ginyol (TUR) traded blows with Calbucci in an enthralling battle on the water in breezes that varied between 6kts and 10kts. Ginyol's gritty performance earned him the third podium spot.

The regatta's youngest racer, Max Maeder (SNG), 12, found a turn of pace and tactical assurance to challenge and occasionally beat the leading trio, finishing sixth overall and securing the Formula Kite Asian crown.

But on the final day of the scheduled six, unsettled tropical conditions over the track off Beihai city beach meant the wind failed to build, preventing any racing.

By then, however, with 16 races each for the men and women on the rhomboid windward-leeward course, the victors had done enough to prove worthy winners in the sometimes marginal conditions.

Still, on the regatta's second and fourth days race officials managed to get six races away each for the men and women. The ideal foiling conditions of 8kts to 10kts for the competitors' 19m and 21m kites sparked breath-takingly quick action.

For women's champion Woyciechowska, who revels in the lighter airs, the conditions were perfect. She was a model of consistency, racking up four bullets and a raft of seconds with few of the costly errors that undid her rivals.

"I'm really, really happy," said a delighted Woyciechowska. "But it hasn't really sunk in yet. This is the first international competition where I've won. I had many second places and Jingle Chen was good, but unlucky when her kite went down. It's so important to be consistent."

Chen was slightly subdued despite lifting the Asian championship title, realising that her Achilles heal had been the lighter airs. In slightly stronger breezes she had looked unbeatable.

"I'm a little bit disappointed," said Chen. "But now I know I have to do a lot of practice in the lighter winds. I got eight bullets, but also many poor scores when I didn't finish the races."

Taradin used his experience to the full grinding out wins in all conditions, but acknowledged that his ability to make the most of the lighter breezes gave him the edge.

"It was a great regatta," said Taradin. "I can't remember the last time we had 16 races, so it was nice. It was good racing. I felt for me it was extreme because of the light wind. But with my experience I could make it work even in 5kts or 6kts when it was difficult for the others. I'm pleased with the result."

2019 IKA Formula Kite Asian Championships Results:

Men (Open)
1. Denis Taradin (RUS) 14pts
2. Mario Calbucci (ITA) 30pts
3. Ejder Ginyol (TUR) 39pts

Women (Open)
1. Magdalena Woyciechowska (POL) 22pts
2. Julia Damasiewicz (POL) 32pts
3. Natalie Flintrop-Clarke (AUS) 41pts

Men (Asia)
1. Max Maeder (SNG) 57pts
2. Qibin Huang (CHN) 86pts
3. Zhang Hao Ran (CHN) 95pts

Women (Asia)
1. Jingle Chen (CHN) 44pts
2. Benyapa Jantawan (THA) 55pts

For full results visit www.formulakite.com.

Related Articles

Lords of Tram Big Air Kite World Cup France day 3
Dominant performances from the Dutch pair of Pippa van Iersel and Jamie Overbeek The Dutch pair of Pippa van Iersel and Jamie Overbeek landed the win in the women's and men's events with dominant performances at the Lords of Tram GKA World Cup in Barcarès, southern France. Posted on 18 Apr
Kingston to host Sail Canada Nationals this summer
Youth and senior titles on the line in July and August The first championships will feature Formula Kite, one of the two new classes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer. Sail Canada's 2024 Senior Formula Kite Championships will be held July 4-7, during FOILKingston. Posted on 17 Apr
Lords of Tram Big Air Kite World Cup France day 2
Finals day is on! The Tramontana wind is pumping and today we will completing the competition in both the men's and women's divisions. So, sit back, tune in and enjoy the action. Posted on 17 Apr
Lords of Tram Big Air Kite World Cup France day 1
The top 24 men and 12 women are prepared and ready to kick-off this event The time has come and the action is officially ON! Tune in live and watch all of the BIG AIR action live from Barcarés, France. Posted on 16 Apr
Final opportunity to qualify Olympic spots
10 Canadian sailors will take part in the Last Chance Regatta in Hyères, France A total of 10 Canadian sailors will take part in the Last Chance Regatta in Hyères, France, April 21-27, which will be the last opportunity to qualify spots for countries at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Posted on 15 Apr
The team behind the team
US Sailing Team provides what it takes to support Olympic Class athletes through intensive regattas Last week, Palma de Mallorca welcomed over 1,000 athletes to Mediterranean waters for the largest turnout in an Olympic year in the Trofeo Princesa Sofía's 53 year history. Posted on 11 Apr
Upcoming Big Air event in France: a complete guide
The men's line-up contains six French riders, including a former GKA Freestyle world champion The world's leading Big Air kiteboarding athletes are set to battle at Lords of Tram in Barcarès, France, as the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour teams up with the renowned event for the second successive year. Posted on 11 Apr
Olympic qualifications and athlete selection
Country qualifications and athlete selection ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics In January, I wrote about 2024 being a year with an embarrassment of sailing riches. Last week's Trofea S.A.R. Princesa Sofia Regatta helped determine the American, Canadian, and Mexican sailors who represent their countries at this summer's Olympics. Posted on 9 Apr
Josh Armit top Kiwi at Trofeo Princesa Sofia
Four Kiwis make the top ten overall at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma Two of New Zealand's top sailors were denied a final medal tilt as the breeze disappeared on the last day at the Princess Sofia Regatta. Posted on 7 Apr
Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance 4th in 49erFX
At the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., took the 4th position in 49erFX at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta which ended on Saturday in Palma, Spain. Posted on 7 Apr