Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

GKA Kite World Cup Cape Verde - Registration day and opening ceremony

by Kate Chandler 1 Mar 2020 03:42 GMT 29 February - 6 March 2020
GKA Kite World Cup Cape Verde © Ydwer van der Heide

The GKA Kite World Tour is in Cape Verde for the first event of the season.

30 men (8 Cape Verdeans) and a record 23 women (2 Cape Verdeans) registered for the event this morning at Robinsons Club Hotel. Never before have there been so many women participating in the World Tour!

With International Women's Day approaching on the 8th of March, it seems only appropriate to celebrate some of the ladies that have been leading the way over the past 12 months.

Current female Kite-Surf World Champion Carla Herrera will be competing this week and we're excited to see her back in action after the winter training months. Carla and the other female Kite-Surf competitors have obviously been a great inspiration to other women in the sport, with so many new riders joining us in 2020. There are numerous new faces, both male and female, on the tour this year and we are looking forward to introducing them in the coming days.

In Cape Verde riders spent the afternoon warming up for tomorrow at Kite Beach, it looks likely that the event will be starting here, due to the conditions not being favourable at Ponta Preta. There was an autograph session at Robinsons Club Hotel after the warm-up session, riders got to meet and greet some of the crowd before the official opening ceremony at Odjo d'agua Hotel.

Matchu Lopes is back on the tour this year and is amped to be riding at his home spot for the first event of the season:

"2019 was a tough year for me, I had a lot of problems with my shoulder. At first I thought I needed surgery but finally just a lot of rehab and slow progress, and I'm good. I'm excited and I'm keen to compete. I've been travelling around the islands from Cabo Verde looking for waves, have had a free mindset, and a relaxed mood for myself. I'm feeling so excited, so ready and without pressure for the event. Yeah, I'm super super excited to see the results!"

There is a cross onshore wind predicted, and we will be running both wave and freestyle to make the most of conditions on offer. The main event's set to start tomorrow at 09:15 GMT.

The event will streamed live from round three onwards, so keep an eye on the official event page.

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 on 6 Jul
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