Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Champions crowned at first Twin-Tip Slalom Racing Worlds

by Ian MacKinnon on 24 Sep 2017
Final day – IKA TT:R World Championship Slalom Alex Schwarz / IKA
Germany’s Florian Gruber maintained his composure to see off challenges that could until the last race have derailed his bid for the inaugural International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) TT:R World Championship slalom title in China.

In clinching victory on the final day of competition in Pingtan, Gruber made it back-to-back TT:R world titles after seizing the twin-tip course racing crown in Weifang, China, a year ago.

But to ensure victory in Pingtan on the fifth day of competition Gruber—who began the day equal top on points with three other riders—knew he could not afford to put a foot wrong with European champion Martin Dolenc (CRO) breathing down his neck.



“I was defending my World title and it was fun,” said a delighted Gruber. 'But right up until the last race I knew Martin Dolenc had a chance to win too, so it was good to beat him, especially after he won the Euros.”

In the hotly-contested women’s division, 17-year-old local favourite, Jingle Chen (CHN), secured the World Championship title after a series of races that saw the overall lead change hands constantly as the breeze freshened to a punchy 17kts.

“I’m so happy that I could win here because I’m the local girl,” said Chen. “I know that the stronger winds are better for my style of racing. But, still, I was a bit nervous and excited beforehand, so it was great to come out on top.”

The championship on the East China Sea off Pingtan’s Beach was part of the China International Kiteboarding Festival that also hosted the third round of the 2017 IKA KiteFoil GoldCup being staged simultaneously.



The fast-emerging TT:R slalom-boardercross discipline of knock-out heats of eight riders is fast and furious. Riders race over five down-wind legs, jumping obstacles to spice things up, in mini-contests that last barely four minutes.

The format, devised to ensure ease of access for the most riders using twin-tip boards and inflatable tube kites, will be used at the Youth Olympic Games next October in Argentina. In Pingtan it attracted 65 riders from 17 countries to the TT:R Worlds and the U-19 TT:R Youth Open, made up of those who will be eligible to compete in Buenos Aires.

In the Boys’ competition the rivalry was particularly intense in five hard-fought elimination rounds staged over three days, though in the end Tiger Tyson (ANT) took the top podium spot, just edging his training partner Cameron Maramenides (USA), and Thailand’s Sarun Rupchom.



In a tense final day’s races, the trio traded the top three spots,. But it was Tyson who kept his nerve seeing Maramenides first crash as he led the penultimate finals race, and then disqualified after he crossed the line early in the last race.

“I’m really, really happy,” said Tyson, 15. “In the race where he crashed I was just behind him. We rounded the first and second marks cleanly, but he kept looking back. Then he just went flat on his face. In the last final I knew he [Maramenides] was over early, so I didn’t take any chances. By then I knew I could discard the score and couldn’t be beaten anyway.”

Gruber had no such margin for comfort in the Men’s title. A win by Dolenc in the final race would have given him the title. But the Croatian could only manage finishing third faced with Gruber’s superior pace, and ultimately took the second podium spot, with France’s Julien Kerneur just behind.



“In that last race I had a good start, and on the first reach I was always winning,” said Gruber. “That was definitely the goal. Once you have that spot you’re out of trouble and behind the others have to take care as you’re in control. I’m super-happy with the back-to-back world titles here in China.”





Overall standings

Men

1. Florian Gruber (GER) - 3 pts
2. Martin Dolenc (CRO) - 6 pts
3. Julien Kerneur (FRA) - 7 pts
4. Theo Lhostis (FRA) - 9 pts
5. Narapichit Pudla (THA) - 10 pts

Women and Girls
1. Jingle CHen (CHN) - 11 pts
2. Elena Kalinina (RUS) - 16 pts
1. Kirstyn O'Brien (USA) - 19 pts
4. Alexia Fancelli (FRA) - 22 pts
5. Benyapa Jantawan (THA) - 23 pts

Boys
1. Tiger Tyson (ANT) - 3 pts
2. Cameron Maramenides (USA) - 5 pts
3. Sarun Rupchom (THA) - 6 pts
4. Remel Trentillo (PHI) - 13 pts
5. Hiro Karamon (JPN) - 14 pts

Zhik 2024 DecemberAllen SailingRooster 2025

Related Articles

2025 Six Metre World Championship Overall
Bribon and Momo II are crowned champions at Seawanhaka Corinthian YC Three races for both divisions on the penultimate day of the 2025 Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, produced some great competition and a new race winner.
Posted today at 2:11 pm
29er Class open for championship bids
Inviting venues to submit proposals for the events The 29er Class Association is delighted to announce that bids are now open to host our upcoming major championships.
Posted today at 8:32 am
Switch UK Championship at the WPNSA Day 1
Finn Dickinson leads Sam Whaley by a single point Imagine stepping in to the Dolorian and arriving at the first ever National Championship of your class. Would those present be aware that they were in the throws of making history and how long in to the future will this journey take us?
Posted today at 5:51 am
2025 J/70 Corinthian Worlds at Massachusetts day 3
Light winds lead to leaderboard shake-up Mild breeze combined with a strong tide equaled a shake-up in the standings at the J/70 Corinthian World Championship in Marblehead, Massachusetts USA.
Posted on 26 Sep
2025 Formula Wing Worlds Sardinia day 3
Women's battle heats up in the big waves A change of wind and wave conditions on day three of the Formula Wing World Championships in Cagliari brought a change of fortune for some key players.
Posted on 26 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 4
Sled look to close out regatta win, American Magic Quantum Racing on the cusp of swansong 7th title The penultimate day of racing proved to be a sharp contrast to the two previous days of strong Mistral winds presenting the 13 teams from ten different nations with a different challenge as the conclusion of the 2025 season approaches.
Posted on 26 Sep
Melges 24 Worlds 2025 at Trieste, Italy Day 4
No wind again today, everything will be decided tomorrow The high-pressure system over the Northern Adriatic, and particularly the Gulf of Trieste, left no chance for the 2025 Melges 24 World Championship today, as Day 4 ended without racing.
Posted on 26 Sep
Multihull Cup 2025 Day 1
Allegra takes win in calm but enthusiastic start On what proved a mellow if challenging introduction to the delights of the Multihull Cup for the trio of first timers taking part, it was the Mallorcan event veteran Allegra which showed the fleet the way to go.
Posted on 26 Sep
Offshore Double Handed Worlds Qualifying Race 2
Worlds Apart, Side by Side The second qualification race of the 2025 Offshore Double Handed Worlds started from Cowes, Isle of Wight in a crisp northeasterly, 10 knots under clear skies. But what began as a gentle gradient breeze soon turned into a punishing test of endurance.
Posted on 26 Sep
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez starts tomorrow
245 competitors vying for 19 trophies Saturday 27 September heralds the start of the 27th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. A great many of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez's 245 guests have already made the famous port in France's Var department.
Posted on 26 Sep