Please select your home edition
Edition
HKJ YY 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.

Mitu Monteiro - one of many to answer the call of Tarifa. - photo © Ydwer van der Heide
Mitu Monteiro - one of many to answer the call of Tarifa. - photo © Ydwer van der Heide

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 talent runs deep across both discipline fields that have amassed here in Tarifa, including Freestyle World Champion Carlos Mario who, like many, took advantage of the ever-present light wind and shredded his hydrofoil - photo © Ydwer van der Heide
The talent runs deep across both discipline fields that have amassed here in Tarifa, including Freestyle World Champion Carlos Mario who, like many, took advantage of the ever-present light wind and shredded his hydrofoil - photo © Ydwer van der Heide

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.

Live legend - Jaime Herraiz interviewed by Jo Ciastula on the stream - photo © Ydwer van der Heide
Live legend - Jaime Herraiz interviewed by Jo Ciastula on the stream - photo © Ydwer van der Heide

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

Oman Kite Festival kicks off from Barr Al Hikman
With the official opening ceremony and race launch The Oman Kite Festival 2025 launched on the 15th of July on the scenic shores of Barr Al Hikman in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, welcoming more than 90 athletes from Oman and around the world. Posted today at 8:43 am Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 4
ILCA 6 & 7, Men's & Women's Formula Kite and 470 Mixed Teams Wrap Up The racing for the first 5 classes of the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta wrapped up with a twist in conditions and breeze just to mix it up for the competitors. Posted on 17 Jul Strong start on LA waters for Australian Sailors
A valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta Australia's top Olympic class sailors have wrapped up a valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta in California, gaining firsthand experience at the future venue of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 17 Jul Sail Canada Regional Championships Preview
More than 300 young Canadian sailors in action this weekend across the country More than 300 young Canadian sailors will be in action this weekend as Sail Canada will present its three regional championships: Sail East at St. Margaret Sailing Club, Sail Central at Hudson Yacht Club and Sail West at Gimli Yacht Club. Posted on 16 Jul Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 3
Mother Nature teases the competitors Mother Nature teased the competitors today and made them wait a bit, but she did not disappoint; the sun came out and a big westerly built to 18-20 knots! Posted on 15 Jul Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 2
Classic Long Beach conditions return The weather conditions at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta shifted noticeably today, delivering the classic Long Beach breeze that many expect from this world-class venue. Posted on 14 Jul 2025 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta kicks off
The first week of the OCR includes five Olympic classes The highly anticipated 2025 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta officially commenced on Saturday, 12 July, marking the beginning of Olympic campaigns since the venues were announced. Posted on 14 Jul Australian sailors take to Olympic waters
Regatta serves as an important test, not just for sailors, but also for organisers The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta is set to get begin, marking the first major combined event on the waters of the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 12 Jul Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta 2025 Preview
The fourth stop of the five series Sailing Grand Slam circuit Over 200 elite athletes from 42 nations have converged on Long Beach to test their skills on the same waters that will host sailing events during the LA2028 Olympic Games as they compete in the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta July 12-20 Posted on 12 Jul 20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 10 Jul
Copyright 2025 YY Online Services Ltd. registered in England no. 7895890
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy