Kiteboard North American Champs - Kerneur poised for a double victory

by SDYC on 10 Oct 2014 2014 Kiteboard North American Championships - His fellow competitors can't stop talking about the high tides, large surf and light winds, but back on the beach Julien Kerneur was all smiles. The French native finished first in each of the three races on the third day of the 2014 Kiteboard North American Championships.

'I'm good in the light wind,' Kerneur said. Unlike many of the fellow competitors used to racing in winds of at least 12 kts, Kerneur says he is very comfortable with the lighter breezes that have been present throughout the competition. 'I practice in these conditions, so it's familiar. Without the kelp on the course today is very clean racing. It's easy for me to look and take the speed.'

Today's race course was mostly kelp-free, a welcome sight to the many athletes who have spent the past two days getting tangled in the patches of green. 'Once you get out there, it's about as perfect as you can ask for,' Leif Given said after competing in the day's two kitefoil races. Unfortunately for the kiteboarders, the breezes became patchy in the early afternoon and the Organizing Authority suspended all racing after the boards completed their first race of the day.

Those hoping to knock Kerneur out of his first place spots, which he currently holds in both kitefoils and kiteboards, will be crossing their fingers for stronger winds tomorrow. One of those hopefuls is British kiter Oliver Bridge, currently sitting in fourth for kitefoils and second for kiteboards. Bridge is no stranger to the top of the scoreboard, having recently won the 2014 Formula Kite European Championship in Poland.

After today's racing, competitors in both fleets became eligible to throw out their lowest scores. Winds permitting, the final day of racing is scheduled to begin Friday, October 10 at noon. Tomorrow's racing will take place near the Hotel del Coronado, in front of Avenida de las Arenas.