Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

GKA Kite World Cup Tarifa: A new record for GKA as 84 riders register!

by Jim Gaunt 4 Jul 2019 06:53 BST
Top Swedish Kite-Surf competitor Johanna Catarina Edin... as you can tell! © Ydwer van der Heide

Wednesday morning was the turn of the Kite-Surf riders to register for this double-discipline event here in Tarifa. After we saw 44 Freestyle riders (34 men / 10 women) sign up yesterday, a further 41 Kite-Surf competitors (31 men / 10 women) joined today, giving an impressive set of heat ladders across the two disciplines, filled with of 85 riders hoping to compete for the GKA Kite World Cup Tarifa titles! A new GKA record.

The forecast this week is for Poniente wind, but the forecast is light for the weekdays with lots of promise for a big pick up in thermal wind activity for the weekend afternoons. Tarifa has never let us down, and it's not going to start now. Valdevaqueros beach delivers a football stadium atmosphere down here when the weekend crowds fill in and kiteboarding action fills the air.

The livestream came to life today to deliver timely updates and some really interesting interviews, including sporting legend and Tarifa event organiser Jaime Herraiz, who spoke to Jo Ciastula and put into perspective the development we've seen in the sport, since he - amongst others - paved the way as an early professional who brought competition kiteboarding to new and powerful levels. Still oozing so much passion, his is a really interesting opinion to hear.

Click here to head to the website and find two of the short interview streams from today. Scroll through the timeline to find interviews with the unmistakeable South African Oswald Smith who is fresh from a podium finish at the Red Bull Mega Loop Challenge, women's Kite-Surf tour leader Charlotte Carpentier from France and the stream kicked off with everyone's favourite ambassador, Mitu Monteiro and his F-One team mate, the total charger Camille Delannoy.

Thursday is a new day, and in truth we need the sun to beat down harder and get these temperatures up a bit more and then the thermals can really pick up. Otherwise we're still looking good for Friday through Sunday.

Enjoy your evening! We certainly will!

First possible start Thursday: 10.45am

For more information visit:

Related Articles

Red Bull Sailing Academy Opens
A new hub for current and future superstars to reach the top of their sport Marina Monfalcone, North Italy, made waves yesterday, as sports superstars gathered to open the Red Bull Sailing Academy, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport. Posted today at 12:53 pm
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 4
It's been a week of steady breeze and near-perfect conditions off the Calabrian coast It's been a week of steady breeze and near-perfect conditions off the Calabrian coast, and Gizzeria has put on a great show as host of the 2025 IKA Youth European Championships. Posted on 5 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 3
The invincibles stumble during qualifying The men's competition has moved into its decisive phase, with the top 22 riders now forming a gold fleet. After Saturday's racing, only the top ten will qualify for the medal series and today, the pressure began to show, even on the frontrunners. Posted on 4 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 2
Thrills and spills - with the speed came plenty of racing incidents Day 2 of the Youth European Championships in Gizzeria saw fantastic conditions that gave the racing added pace. With the speed came plenty of racing incidents. Posted on 3 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 1
Rising stars shine at Youth Kitefoil Euros kickoff Some of the world's best young kite foilers started racing today in southern Italy aiming to become Youth European champions. Posted on 2 Jul
World Sailing announces split venues for LA28
The boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port World Sailing has said it welcomes the confirmation of sailing venues for the Olympic Games LA28 the boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port. Posted on 30 Jun
Sail Canada introduces Canadian Sailing Team
21 athletes were selected based on the Canadian Sailing Team Sport Canada Carding Criteria Sail Canada is pleased to announce the list of sailors who will be part of the 2025-2026 Canadian Sailing Team. Posted on 26 Jun
2025 IKA Youth Europeans Oreview
Italy set to host the future of kitefoiling in Gizzeria, Calabria The Hang Loose Beach Club in Gizzeria, Calabria is once again poised to welcome kitefoiling's rising stars as the IKA Youth European Championships return to southern Italy. Posted on 25 Jun
Registration now open for GKA Youth events
Germany and Spain events will have U14, U16 and U19 divisions Registration is now open for the two upcoming GKA Youth events of the 2025 season. First up is the GKA Youth Big Air Kite World Championship in St. Peter Ording, Germany. Posted on 9 Jun
Whitehead finish 9th at Formula Kite Europeans
A confident return to international competition in Urla, Türkiye Australia's Breiana Whitehead has made a confident return to international competition, finishing ninth overall at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 20 May