World speed record holder to defend Australia longest kitesurfing race

by Janine Pittaway on 13 Nov 2013 Australia’s longest kitesurfing race - Alex Caizergues defends record

An impressive selection of local and international talent is ready to hit the water on Saturday 14th December at the Australia’s open ocean classic kitesurfing race, the Lighthouse to Leighton.

World speed record holder and inaugural Lighthouse to Leighton winner Frenchman Alex Caizergues is returning to Perth to defend his record time of 24 minutes 34 seconds, set in the inaugural race in 2010. 2012 winner Jonathon Keys and 2011 winner Dale Stanton will also be competing, setting the scene for great rivalry between all previous winners!

Caizergues recently broke the World Sailing Speed Kitesurfing Record over 500 metres with an incredible average speed of 56.62 knots. When he comes to Perth in December he also leads the way for a strong field of international competitors including current IKA #1 world ranked racer Riccardo Lecesse from Italy and Marie Desandre Navarre from France.

Event Director Tim Turner said this year there were the largest amount of entry applications received in the four years of the event.

'We have been overwhelmed by the number of entries this year as we’ve had 197 people register to take part.

'With only 110 spots available it was a big process to select competitors.

'It’s great to have such a strong support for Australia’s biggest one-day race, we find the interest from interstate is increasing as they really enjoy the event and new international racers continue to apply with the word spreading.

'Being an event within this year’s Kiteracing Oceanics Championships has also added weight to the Lighthouse to Leighton race.'

Local kitesurfer Marc Sprod will be remembered at the race with The Marc Sprod Commemorative Trophy, a perpetual trophy awarded to the fastest Western Australian kitesurfer.

The Lighthouse to Leighton will see competitors race across the Indian Ocean from Phillip Point at Rottnest Island to Leighton Beach in North Fremantle, a crossing known as Gage Roads. Spectators can watch the competitors ride into the finish line at Leighton Beach.

The Lighthouse to Leighton forms part of this year’s Kiteracing Oceanic Championships, from 10 to 15 December 2013 at Leighton Beach in Fremantle. On the water there will be course racing and air jumps to wow the crowds. Back on land there will be a whirlwind of extra curricular activities including twilight movies in the sand, family entertainment, tasty pop-up food outlets, live music, street performers, kiting clinics, beach sports and more. For more information visit kiteoceanics or the Event Facebook page, and join the conversation with the hashtag #KiteOceanicsWA

The Lighthouse to Leighton is supported by the State Government through Eventscorp as well as Fremantle Ports.

For more information on the Lighthouse to Leighton visit Lighthouse to Leighton Website