The World Kite Tour Youth Cup 2016 ended up today, allowing the new generation of riders to be fully focused on the technical clinic in the morning. In front of an attentive meeting, judge Carlos Sáez started sharing his experience, delivering useful advices. The following few hours were spent waiting for the wind to pick up enough to finish the 2 hours left of the double elimination of the boys U15 and U19. However the wind never materialized and the event was called off at 4 pm. Later in the day, the event came to an end with the closing ceremony which crowned all winners: Kacper Lepicki (Poland, Boys U11) Mikaili Rocha (Brazil, Girls U15) Oscar Pirreneau (France, Boys U15) Claudia León (Spain, U17) Maxime Chabloz (Switzerland, Boys U17) They gave each other high fives, happy to win and already sad to leave the amazing kiteboarding spot at La Ballena Alegre camping, in Sant Pere Pescador. We have seen great performances during the event. Most of these young athletes are potential professionals of this sport. During the last six days, the riders made the most of their time getting to know each other and having fun, building unforgettable memories. They …
Sant Pere Pescador
Finals and high scores at VKWC Youth Cup 2015
Mexican Anthar Racca (U17), Brazilian Mikaili Rocha, Frenchman Oscar Pirreneau (U13) and British Tom Bridge (U15) have all won the single elimination of their respective categories of the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC) Youth Cup 2015. Competition started at 2:20 p.m. (GMT+2) with tougher conditions than the days before, but riders still managed to deliver great action in front of a large audience at the beautiful venue of Sant Pere Pescador. The day started with U13 boys. The winners final saw Frenchman Oscar Pirreneau up against Karim Mahmoud from Egypt. Despite severe gusts, they delivered an excellent heat completing the 12 attempts and suffering only a few crashes. Pirreneau cleverly built up his score while Mahmoud took more risks trying harder moves and crashing too much to match his opponent’s score. Oscar Pirreneau placed first of U13 category: “It went well even if the conditions were more complicated today. I didn’t do exactly what I wanted because of the gusty wind, but on the other hand the water was more flat. I landed one or two tricks I’m happy with and I am stocked to rank first so far. We’ll see who I’ll be up against in the double eliminations …
VKWC YOUTH CUP – DAY 2 Results
The second day of competition at the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC) Youth Cup 2015 saw amazing action and great crowds of onlookers who came to support the young athletes. Thermal winds picked up slowly under a blazing sun and competition only started at 4 p.m. (GMT+2). The firsts to hit the water were the young teammates Osaia Reding (ES) and Anais Desjardin (FR). Desjardin showed a little more variety in her heat and advanced into next round. Next in line were the talented Brazilian Mikaili Rocha and Claudia Leon (ES). Both girls gave an amazing spectacle by delivering trick after trick, not losing their time. Mikaili passed the trials in Barra Grande (Brazil) last year against seniors and impressed spectators, showing to everyone that things are in safe hands for Brazil. Despite her young age (10) compared to her opponents (because categories have been merged due to not enough participants), Mikaili Rocha showcased extreme confidence and strategy in her heats and managed to dispatch Leon as well as Nina Font (ES) in the semifinal. Rocha will meet Hanna Twarog (PL) in girls’ final tomorrow, while Font will meet Desjardin in the mini final. Mikaili Rocha: “I think I did …
VKWC YOUTH CUP – DAY 1 Results
Mediterranean venue of Sant Pere Pescador offered optimal conditions today with winds blowing around 16 knots to initiate Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC) Youth Cup. Families and friends enjoyed a perfect start to the week-end cheering for their kids on the sunny beach. Soon after the riders’ meeting – where groms were explained the competition format as well as judges criterias – usual thermal winds picked up quickly and competitors got their gear ready. The competition kicked off with the youngest talents. U13 were the firsts to hit the water around 1 p.m. (GMT+2) and were soon followed by the girls category (merged because there was not the minimum required of five participants in each category) and boys U15 and U17. Steady winds allowed them to give it all to seduce judges and advance into next round, and several names stood out already from the first rounds of the single elimination. From the U15, Christian Tio from the Philippines showed a very well-constructed heat with powerful manoeuvres. He left no chance to his opponent Lars De Groof (BE), who had already won his first heat showing that he is one of the top kids, but De Groof did not …
