Airton Cozzolino seals the deal in pumping Levante winds – Day Five GKA Kite-Surf World Tour Tarifa Yesterday’s faltering winds brought about the abandonment of the final, but the Levante winds built overnight and, as the crowds began to gather on Valdevaqueros beach on Sunday morning, a powerful wind was already blowing from the left with a forecast of up to 40 knots. Airton and Matchu were released onto the water at 11.45am to warm-up and their eagerness to get down to business was clear as they tacked back and forth gesturing to the race officials that they were ready to go. Trick for trick in the opening exchanges / Photo: Ydwer van der Heide The flags went up and Matchu opened his account with a beautiful double front roll early in the heat while Airton threw a huge crazy horse kite loop to the crowd’s delight. From there they traded blows on each tack with Matchu coming agonisingly close to landing a triple front! Matchu pushed his front rolls and almost landed a triple / Photo: Ydwer van der Heide Matchu then shifted focus to multiple attempts at a double front shuvit but this would prove to be his …
Tarifa Strapless Pro
GKA Kite-Surf World Tour Tarifa Day Three
Airton and Matchu surge towards a Cape Verdean Showdown in the finals – Day Three Tarifa Strapless Pro The riders were briefed just after 1pm today by Race Director Juan Antonio Aragon and head judge Dani Jimenez and today’s aim would be to complete the quarter and semi finals with an option to progress onto the finals as well. There were slightly lighter winds forecasted than yesterday but, as the riders left to prep their gear, the windline could already be seen advancing towards the shore and the first heats began at 1.30pm. Jan Marcos Riveras, at home in the stronger winds / Photo: Ydwer van der Heide The first heat saw Jan Marcos Riveras composed from the off as he despatched fellow North teamrider Ralph Boelen with some big backroll kiteloops close into shore as the home crowd cheered him on. He would go on to face Airton Cozzolino in the semi final but couldn’t match his barrage of powered, technical tricks. Speaking after his heat he said he felt positive about the result and is already looking ahead to tomorrow’s mini final in which he’ll battle Paulino Perreira for third place. Airton’s first heat against Mitu Monteiro was …
GKA Kite-Surf World Tour Tarifa Day Two
POWERFUL PONIENTE PRIMES VALDEVAQUEROS FOR THE FINALS – DAY TWO TARIFA STRAPLESS PRO Race director Juan Antonio Aragon laid out the schedule for the second day of competition here at the Tarifa Strapless Pro just after noon. The stronger Poniente winds were blowing more onshore and it was clear nobody would be struggling for power in today’s heats! As the wind continued to increase in strength, pushing up towards 30 knots, round two would consist of eight two-rider heats in which the competitors would be battle to stay in the competition. Great viewing at Valdevaqueros today / Photo: Ydwer van der Heide The Tarifa contingent rode well, cheering each other on in between heats alongside the Tarifenian crowds who rooted for their local heroes. Cape Verdean Luis Brito upset the party when he seized the advantage over David Marin, but his big crowd pleasing tricks close-in to the beach soon had them won over, such as crazy horse back loop kiteloops, one footers and sizeable kiteloops. Marin was landing tricks on both tacks but couldn’t match Luis for height or power. In heat 10 Carla Herrera Oria went head-to-head with Nicola Abadjiev and both riders seemingly struggled at first in …
